Heroes for Sale (1933): Cast & Plot
Heroes for Sale is a 1933 crime drama directed by William A. Wellman, starring Richard Barthelmess as Tom Holmes, Margaret Seddon and Ronnie Cosby. It runs 1 hour 12 minutes.
- Released
- Runtime
- 1h 12m (72 min)
- Director
- William A. Wellman
- Original language
-
English - Studio
- First National Pictures
- After the credits
- No No extra scene
What Is Heroes for Sale About?
The premise of Heroes for Sale without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.
What good are medals on tortured breasts? Tom Holmes, a World War I veteran scarred by severe battle wounds, lives guided by honesty and moral rectitude. Though his body bears the agony of his service, his spirit remains courageous. In the years that follow he endures hardship, yet also finds success, hope, love, and compassion for others.
Heroes for Sale Themes & Keywords
· 50 tags- pre code film
- 1920s
- 1930s
- damsel in distress
- goon squad
- reprisal
- retribution
- prohibition era
- betrayal
- vigilante
- song
- charitable donation
+38 more Show fewer
- communist
- social drama
- drug addict
- political criticism
- roll call opening credits
- 1929 depression
- military veteran
- death of wife
- heroism under fire
- anarchist
- bank owner
- boarding house
- laundry worker
- act of cowardice
- machine gun nest
- death by shock
- false arrest
- german army
- missing soldier
- riots
- sanitarium
- fake war hero
- troop ship
- u.s. army veteran
- diner owner
- police violence
- wrongful conviction
- wrongly assumed dead
- marriage
- widower
- reference to franklin d. roosevelt
- father son relationship
- plaque
- stolen valor
- hero's welcome
- distinguished service cross
- soup kitchen
- fired from a job
Heroes for Sale Cast & Characters
Richard Barthelmess leads the cast as Tom Holmes, with Margaret Seddon as Jeanette Holmes and Ronnie Cosby as Young Bill Holmes (uncredited). Directed by William A. Wellman; 20 actors are credited in all.
-
Director William A. Wellman
- Richard Barthelmess as Tom Holmes
- Margaret Seddon as Jeanette Holmes
- Ronnie Cosby as Young Bill Holmes (uncredited)
- Gordon Westcott as Roger Winston
Also Starring in Heroes for Sale
· 16 more- Charley Grapewin Pa Dennis
- Aline MacMahon Mary Dennis
- Loretta Young Ruth Loring
- Robert Barrat Max Brinker
- Grant Mitchell George Gibson
- Ward Bond Red (uncredited)
- Berton Churchill Mr. Winston
- James Murray Blind Soldier
- Douglass Dumbrille Chief Engineer Jim (uncredited)
- Edwin Maxwell Laundry Company President
- G. Pat Collins Leader of Agitators
- Robert McWade Dr. Briggs
- Robert Elliott 'Red' Squad Policeman #1
- John 'Skins' Miller Angry Laundry Worker (uncredited)
- John Marston The Judge (voice)
- Arthur Vinton Captain Joyce
More from William A. Wellman
More films directed by William A. Wellman, best-rated first: The Public Enemy, Wings, A Star Is Born and Nothing Sacred.
Heroes for Sale Plot Summary
What happens in Heroes for Sale from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 14 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 4-minute read.
Spoilers ahead
Thomas Holmes, Richard Barthelmess, and his comrade Roger Winston, Gordon Westcott, are dispatched on a World War I intelligence mission to capture a German soldier. When Roger balks at leaving the shell hole, Tom volunteers to press on alone. He succeeds in capturing a German, but is believed dead in the process; in reality he is wounded and taken to a German hospital to recover. Roger, meanwhile, returns to American lines with the captured prisoner and is celebrated as a hero, the medal he earns framed as a sign of his supposed bravery, while his friend’s fate remains unseen.
Full summary
The whole story of Heroes for Sale, scene by scene
How Well Do You Know Heroes for Sale?
9 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.
Question 1 of 9
- Question 1: not answered
- Question 2: not answered
- Question 3: not answered
- Question 4: not answered
- Question 5: not answered
- Question 6: not answered
- Question 7: not answered
- Question 8: not answered
- Question 9: not answered
Which actor plays the lead character Thomas Holmes?
Heroes for Sale Also Known As
7 alternative titles, including “Breadline” and “Gloria y hambre”.
- Also known as
-
- Breadline
- Gloria y hambre
- Eroi in vendita
- 히어로즈 포 세일
- 英雄何价
- Fome Por Glória
- Själar till salu
Seen Heroes for Sale?
Movies Like Heroes for Sale
Films with a similar story, tone or audience, including Dirty Heroes, Heroes in Hell and Some Kind of Hero.
Heroes for Sale FAQ: Cast, Runtime & Release Date
Runtime, release date, director, cast and post-credit scenes of Heroes for Sale, each answered in a sentence.
How long is Heroes for Sale?
Heroes for Sale runs 1 hour 12 minutes (72 minutes).
When was Heroes for Sale released?
Heroes for Sale was released on June 15, 1933.
Who directed Heroes for Sale?
Heroes for Sale was directed by William A. Wellman.
More films by William A. Wellman Who is in the cast of Heroes for Sale?
Heroes for Sale stars Richard Barthelmess as Tom Holmes, Margaret Seddon as Jeanette Holmes and Ronnie Cosby as Young Bill Holmes (uncredited), among 20 credited actors.
Does Heroes for Sale have a post-credit scene?
No. Heroes for Sale has no extra scene during or after the credits.
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