Some Kind of Hero

Some Kind of Hero is a 1982 American comedy-drama film starring Richard Pryor as a returning Vietnam War veteran having trouble adjusting to civilian life. Soon he is involved in an organized crime heist. It co-stars Margot Kidder and was directed by Michael Pressman.

Some Kind of Hero
The movie poster for Some Kind of Hero.
Directed byMichael Pressman
Produced byHoward W. Koch
Written byRobert Boris
James Kirkwood Jr.
Starring
Music byPatrick Williams
CinematographyKing Baggot
Edited byChristopher Greenbury
Distributed byParamount Pictures
Release date
  • April 2, 1982 (1982-04-02)
Running time
97 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Budget$8 million
Box office$23,671,186

Although James Kirkwood and Robert Boris are jointly credited with the screenplay, the script was in fact Boris' rewrite of Kirkwood’s adaptation of his novel. Originally intended to be a straight drama, the studio insisted that Pryor perform comedic scenes as well. However, Pryor agreed with the importance of the screenplay's serious tone and maintained a dramatic performance when filming.

Plot

Eddie Keller is a U.S. Army conscript Corporal who was captured while defecating. He was held in a POW camp for years. Due to his resistance in signing a confession admitting to committing war crimes he ends up being one of the last POWs to be brought home from Vietnam. Keller endures several years of torture and deprivation at the hands of the North Vietnamese Army. He finally relents to signing a "confession" admitting to war crimes to save the life of his cell mate.

Having returned home, Eddie finds the world has moved on without him. His wife has fallen in love with someone new, and had a daughter, just after he became a POW. His mother has suffered a stroke, and requires constant (and expensive) medical attention. Eddie is initially called a hero when he is finally released, but when his signed confession is discovered (and no one can track down the other prisoner he tried to save), his veteran's benefits are suspended by the U.S. Department of Veteran's Affairs pending further investigation.

Eddie tries to reintegrate into society, but finds himself stopped at every turn. The Army refuses to help, he cannot find a job, and he is running out of options. The only bright spot in his life is Toni, a high-priced prostitute who picks Eddie up at a bar. Despite Toni's profession, the two begin a romance.

While trying to secure a loan, Eddie is witness to a bank robbery. He begins to plot a way to gain the funds he needs to provide for his mother, and also to avenge himself on a system that abandoned him in Vietnam, then turned him into a traitor.

Eddie plans to hold up a bank, but fails repeatedly in his efforts to embark on a life of crime. Eventually, he succeeds in stealing a briefcase full of bonds, which he arranges to sell to a mobster for a large sum of cash. The mobsters plan to kill Eddie and take the bonds. Eddie turns the tables on the mobsters, leading to their arrest at his hotel. As the police evacuate the building, he wears his Army uniform and is escorted away from the scene. He meets with Toni, where he reveals he kept the bonds for their newfound life together.

Cast

Production

The film had been in development for a number of years. Eventually Richard Pryor agreed to do it.[1]

Reception

The film gained mixed reviews,[2][3] and was a minor success at the box office.[1]

See also

References
  1. Harmetz, Aljean (23 May 1983). "How Paramount 'Seven' Fared at the Box Office". New York Times. p. C13.
  2. Canby, Vincent (1982-04-02). "Movie Review - Some Kind of Hero - PRYOR IN 'SOME KIND OF HERO' - NYTimes.com". Movies.nytimes.com. Retrieved 2012-07-09.
  3. "Some Kind of Hero (1982); Richard Pryor Vs. Existentialism - Yahoo! Voices". voices.yahoo.com. 2012-06-05. Retrieved 2012-07-09.
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