Heroes for Sale

Interesting, bleak depression-era story of man whose life swings back and forth from success to horrible tragedy. A lot like WILD BOYS OF THE ROAD, another great but weird slice of depression era bleakness directed by William Wellman. Here, Richard Barthelmess survives WWI only to get addicted to morphine, rises to the top of the business world before he's cheated out of his work, and that's just the beginning of his troubles. The portrait of labor strife, Bolshevik organizers, and violent oppression by the cops presents a far more political portrait of the depression from the perspective of the poor than usually seen in these films. It's a schizophrenic but fascinating film, bouncing between goofy comedy, heavy tragedy, and gritty, grim resolve. The armies of homeless men tramping the rails and the countryside is an image that won't go away soon.