Heróis Sem Causa

Disturbed Vietnam veteran escapes from an East Coast institution and travels by bus to Northern California to meet up with his war buddy to start a worm farm; an attractive young woman--and runaway bride!--takes a liking to him after the two share a few calamitous run-ins. Henry Winkler and Sally Field (and Harrison Ford in a small but telling role) excel in one of the odder star-vehicles of the 1970s, more interesting as a serious character piece than as the comedy it often tries to be. Director Jeremy Paul Kagan (who had earlier directed Winkler in the TV movie "Katherine") and screenwriter James Carabatsos (with uncredited help from David Freeman) aren't afraid to pace their film carefully by allowing the characters to talk things out and find each other emotionally (they set the movie's rhythm, not the plot situations). As such, the finale is remarkably sensitive and brave. *** from ****

When I saw this film I was quite young and it gave me a humanizing portrait of Viet Nam veterans for the first time. Harrison Ford's performance gave a great glimpse into the personal demons of the war, and coupled with Henry Winkler's fellow veteran offered a range of the complexities of the impact of the war and the responses of the public to our soldiers coming back. I thought it was much subtler than some of the other Viet Nam films of the era and portrayed more everyday people. As a kid in the seventies, veterans were always seen as men that were just walking around with the constant threat of exploding, one-dimensional beings of violence. The movie crosses my mind occasionally because of the impact on my youth but also more now because of the large number of veterans that will become a returning part of our society. I wonder if a movie like Heroes will have added significance because it didn't feature 'heroic' war activists but instead the mechanic next door and the kind misfit you meet on a bus.

"Heroes" is not as much about Vietnam vets as it is friendship, the human spirit, loss and dreams.

Winkler plays the vet whose simple dream of starting a worm farm sends him off to find four other vets (including Ford). Fields is the girl he meets on a bus trip and who goes along with him on his journey.

I can't say too much about the movie; this is one film best left to experience on one's own. But if you can find it, watch it till the very end - and if you can honestly not watch the final scene then hear Kansas' "Carry On My Wayward Son" and be moved, something is definitely wrong.

The message may not be earth-moving and the way it reaches it may not be original but "Heroes" still stands by one simple truth - nothing is stronger than the human spirit, nor more fragile.

Nine stars. Watch "Heroes" - be moved.

To see that someone else has had the same memories for as long as I have about a particular movie, really makes me smile.I have tried for years and years to tell folks about this movie and no one seems to remember it. Heck, I even remember who I went with and the day of the week. The song had a profound affect on me as well and I can't hear Kansas's Carry on Wayward Son without thinking of the movie.. it so touched me!Thanks for being a great site and for helping me put together some memories that were turning into tiny pieces. And now, I'm going to go out and rent the movie just so I can watch Harrison Ford, I can't for the life of me remember his role...

I was a teenager when this movie first came out 1977 and I just HAD to see the Fonz in anything I could. At the time I thought he was just a fox, and then I found he really can act! I actually was fortunate enough to meet him once years later, and I told him that "Heroes" was the best movie I had ever seen him in since "The Lords of Flatbush". I cry every time I watch this movie, but the saddest part is the last scene. Its so sad because its true! I think everyone should go out and rent "Heroes."