What Is A Modern Hero About?
The premise of A Modern Hero in 294 words, with nothing given away. The full story follows below.
In the rolling heat of a 1920s Midwest circus, the bright lights and daring feats mask a restless longing for something larger than the tent itself. The film opens as the troupe rolls into the modest town of Pentland, Illinois, where the clash between small‑town stability and the glittering promise of fame is felt in every whispered conversation. The tone is a mix of nostalgic romance and hard‑ edged ambition, the sepia‑washed world of travelling performers set against the burgeoning industrial pulse of a post‑war America.
At the centre of this restless energy is the charismatic acrobat Pierre Radier, whose electrifying presence on the high wire draws the admiration of many, especially the earnest Joanna Ryan. Their connection crackles with the possibility of love, yet Pierre’s eyes are already scanning the horizon for wealth and influence far beyond the circus ring. Guiding—and warning—him is his mother, the scar‑marked veteran performer Madame Azais, whose own painful past fuels a fierce belief that ambition must outweigh sentiment if a true legacy is to be forged.
Around Pierre, a colorful cast of characters offers both temptation and counsel. The pragmatic Elmer Croy, the town’s steady anchor, represents a life of familiar comfort, while the affluent widow Leah Ernst beckons with resources that could catapult Pierre into the world of entrepreneurship. Business partners such as the enterprising Henry Mueller and the powerful benefactor Homer Flint hint at a future where the circus’s daring spirit might be redirected into the fast‑growing automobile age. As the story unfolds, the audience is left to wonder how the pull of love, the weight of family legacy, and the lure of unstoppable ambition will shape the destiny of a man willing to use any means at his disposal to rise above the ordinary.
What Happens in A Modern Hero?
The complete story of A Modern Hero, from the first scene to the last, in 764 words (about 3 minutes). Spoilers throughout. Names in the text link to 11 cast member pages.
Spoilers ahead
Joanna Ryan Jean Muir is drawn to the daring Pierre Radier Richard Barthelmess the moment a circus rolls into Pentland, Illinois. The pairing is electric on the surface—Pierre’s acrobatic grace and fearless showmanship captivate her—but the more Pierre tastes life with the ring, the more he dreams of something larger: wealth, influence, and a place among the movers and shakers beyond the spectacle. His mother, Madame Azais Marjorie Rambeau, a one-armed circus star whose scar tells a harsher story than any act, tries to steer him away from love and toward ambition. She recounts a painful lesson: she lost her arm to a leopard because she was distracted by love for Pierre’s father, a man of European riches, and she urges Pierre to seize power for himself rather than be chained to romance.
Joanna’s world shatters when her drunken father, Mr. Ryan J.M. Kerrigan, confronts Pierre with the scandal of Joanna’s pregnancy, and then dies in an accident. Pierre offers to marry Joanna, but she chooses the modest, familiar stability of small-town life and marries local Elmer Croy Theodore Newton. Pierre does what he can to support his child, sending money to help with the baby’s future, a gesture that plants the seeds of an ongoing, consequential entanglement.
Aunt Clara Weingartner Maidel Turner arranges for Pierre to meet his newborn son and introduces him to Leah Ernst Florence Eldridge, a wealthy widow whose resources become a doorway to a different kind of power. Pierre borrows money from Leah to start a bicycle shop with his friend Henry Mueller Hobart Cavanaugh; the venture thrives, and the two men quickly transition into the burgeoning automobile business, catching the eye of Homer Flint Arthur Hohl, the richest man in the state who becomes their backer.
Leah, hungry for certainty and control, seeks counsel from Madame Azais (now a fortune-teller), unaware that she is Pierre’s mother. Madame Azais cautions Leah that Pierre’s loyalty will always tilt toward his own ascent and that no woman can hold him as tightly as he holds himself. This tense exchange deepens the sense that love and ambition are inextricably braided in Pierre’s life.
In a bold pivot, Pierre Americanizes his name to “Paul Rader” and rises alongside Flint as a partner, pushing Henry to chart his own course. On the drive to the country club, Paul proposes to Flint’s daughter Hazel Dorothy Burgess—a move less about romance and more about cementing a strategic alliance through marriage. At the club, a young caddy reveals himself to be Pierre Croy, his own flesh and blood, a complicating truth that foreshadows the tangled loyalties ahead.
Now married but still without a child, Paul offers to adopt Pierre, while Joanna remains wary yet enables the possibility of Pierre’s education at an elite boarding school when the time is right. The plot thickens as 1922 approaches: Paul escorts Pierre to school and even pauses in New York City, where he begins an affair with Lady Claire Benston Verree Teasdale, a wealthy widow who represents a different kind of security and status.
As the year unfolds, Paul yearns for true financial independence from Flint and entrusts his entire fortune to a stock speculator, a decision that will prove ruinous. Pierre, now a young man, visits Paul in New York for Christmas and returns home intoxicated after a night on the town. Paul, warning him about the dangers of drinking “when it is in your blood,” reveals that he is his father, a truth that redefines their relationship and foreshadows the crisis to come. The two men imagine a future in business together, even as Hazel discovers Paul’s will leaving everything to his son, a chilling reminder of how far ambition has driven them apart.
Disaster strikes with the swindle of the stock speculator, who vanishes with Paul’s fortune. Lady Benston withdraws her interest, calling Paul a peasant, and the tragedy of Pierre’s death follows—he is killed while driving a car that Paul had given him. The moment shatters the fragile family ties: Joanna refuses to shake Paul’s hand as he returns with Pierre’s lifeless body, and Hazel collapses in tears, certain that Pierre’s death was a consequence of the life her partner pursued. Paul, ruined and heartbroken, seeks comfort from his mother, who is now old and poor but clear-eyed. She tells him that he is free of his father’s blood and that they can start anew in Europe. In the final, quiet courage of his surrender to a more humane path, Paul kneels and speaks a line that lingers: > Maybe some day, I’ll be worthy of you.
A Modern Hero Timeline: Every Key Event in Order
15 key events in the order they happen, from “Circus arrival and Joanna's seduction” to “Renewal in Europe”. 15 events name a place, across 11 locations.
- 1
Circus arrival and Joanna's seduction
The circus rolls into Pentland, Illinois, drawing Joanna Ryan toward the charismatic trick rider Pierre Radier. Their attraction quickly becomes a secret romance that promises glamour beyond small-town life. This romance sets Pierre on a path that blends ambition, wealth, and desire.
Where:Pentland, Illinois
- 2
Madame Azais warns Pierre
Pierre's mother, Madame Azais, a one-armed circus star, warns him about chasing love at the expense of his ambitions. She recounts how a leopard cost her arm when she was distracted by her love for Pierre's father. Her warning frames the tension between affection and the drive for wealth.
Where:Circus, Pentland
- 3
Pregnancy revealed and marriage choices
Joanna's pregnancy becomes public after her drunken father confronts Pierre, and he dies in an accident soon after. Pierre offers to marry Joanna to take responsibility, but she chooses the familiar stability of small-town life and marries Elmer Croy instead.
Where:Pentland
- 4
Pierre supports Joanna's child
Pierre provides money for the child's support and arranges regular assistance to ensure Joanna and the baby are cared for despite their separation. His generosity foreshadows his ongoing desire to influence Joanna's life from afar.
Where:Pentland, Illinois
- 5
Leah Ernst enters the picture
Aunt Clara arranges for Pierre to meet his newborn son and introduces him to Leah Ernst, a wealthy widow. Pierre borrows money from Leah and becomes her lover as part of his ascent into high society and business.
Where:Pentland
- 6
Bicycle shop success and automotive dreams
With Leah's backing, Pierre and Henry Mueller open a bicycle shop that becomes a local success. The venture paves the way for their move into the growing automobile business, drawing in Homer Flint as a backer and partner.
Where:Pentland and surrounding region
- 7
Leah seeks guidance from Madame Azais
Leah asks Madame Azais for advice, only to be warned that she cannot hold Pierre—no woman will mean as much to him as he does to himself. The fortune-teller's counsel hints at Pierre's relentless drive for personal power and wealth.
Where:Leah's residence
- 8
Pierre becomes Paul Rader
Pierre Americanizes his name to Paul Rader and becomes Homer Flint's partner, signaling a shift from romance to high-stakes business. Henry Mueller chooses his own path away from the men and the venture.
Where:Flint's business circle
- 9
Paul proposes to Hazel
On the road to the country club, Paul proposes to Flint's daughter Hazel, a strategic move aimed more at advancing his ambitions than at love. The gesture confirms how far he will go for financial and social climbing.
Where:Country club
- 10
Paul learns his son at the club
At the club, a young boy offers to caddy for him, and Paul discovers that the boy is Pierre Croy, his own son. The revelation deepens their complicated relationship and ties their fates together.
Where:Country club
Show the other 5 events of A Modern Hero Hide the last 5 events
- 11
Adoption offers and education plans
Now married but childless, Paul offers to adopt Pierre. Joanna refuses, but she agrees to finance Pierre's education at an elite boarding school when he is older, setting up a future reunion of sorts.
Where:Pentland
- 12
1922 New York interlude and affair
In 1922, Paul escorts Pierre to school and makes a stop in New York City, where he begins an affair with Lady Claire Benston. The romance underscores Paul's willingness to sacrifice personal loyalties for wealth and power.
When:1922 Where:New York City
- 13
Fortune risks and paternity revealed
Paul entrusts his fortune to a stock speculator, hoping to secure a future for his family. During Christmas in New York, Pierre spends time with his father, and the truth of their father-son bond is revealed, strengthening their resolve to work together.
When:1922 Where:New York
- 14
The downfall arrives
The stock swindler vanishes, Lady Benston wants nothing further to do with Paul, and Pierre is killed driving a new car given him by his father. Joanna refuses to shake Paul's hand, while Hazel laments Pierre's death, marking the collapse of the family's ambitions.
When:1922 Where:New York, on the road
- 15
Renewal in Europe
Devastated but determined, Paul seeks out his mother. Madame Azais reminds him that he is free of his father's blood, and they plan to start anew in Europe. Paul kneels and says, Maybe someday, I'll be worthy of you.
Where:Europe
Who Are the Main Characters in A Modern Hero?
9 characters, among them Pierre Radier / Paul Rader (Richard Barthelmess), Joanna Ryan Croy (Jean Muir) and Mme. Azais (Marjorie Rambeau): who each one is and the part they play in the story. Every profile links to the actor’s page.
- PR
Pierre Radier / Paul Rader (Richard Barthelmess)
Played by Richard Barthelmess
An ambitious circus trick rider who abandons the ring to seek wealth and status. He Americanizes his name to Paul Rader, enters heavy industry, and climbs the social ladder by courting powerful backers and wealthy mistresses. His relentless drive for success strains family loyalties and leads to tragedy, as love, money, and paternity become entangled.
- 💎 Wealth
- 🏛️ Ambition
- 🧩 Family secrets
- JR
Joanna Ryan Croy (Jean Muir)
Played by Jean Muir
A young woman from Pentland who marries for stability after becoming pregnant with Pierre's child. She resists Paul's wealth-driven lifestyle and strives to protect her child, while navigating the shifting loyalties of love and family. Her decisions anchor the moral center of the story.
- ❤️ Love
- 🏡 Family
- 🛡️ Protectiveness
- MA
Mme. Azais (Marjorie Rambeau)
Played by Marjorie Rambeau
Pierre's mother, a one-armed circus star who mentors the family with hard-won wisdom. She warns Pierre about the perils of wealth and romance, and later returns as a fortune-teller who foresees the fragility of his ambitions.
- 🎭 Circus heritage
- 🗝️ Secrets
- 👵 Wisdom
-
Henry Mueller (Hobart Cavanaugh)
Played by Hobart Cavanaugh
Pierre's loyal friend who helps launch a bicycle shop and later the automobile business. He represents steady, practical ambition and eventually pursues his own path as the market and Pierre's fortunes evolve.
- 🤝 Friendship
- 🚗 Entrepreneurship
- 🧭 Loyalty
- LE
Leah Ernst (Florence Eldridge)
Played by Florence Eldridge
Wealthy widow who provides financial backing and becomes Paul/ Pierre's lover. Her influence highlights the era's transactional nature of relationships and the peril of dependency on volatile fortunes.
- 💰 Wealth
- 💞 Affairs
- 🏛️ Power
- LC
Lady Claire Benston (Verree Teasdale)
Played by Verree Teasdale
A socialite involved with Paul, embodying the glamorous upper class that prestige and appearances drive. Her detachment and dismissive attitude toward Paul reveal the brittle nature of status-seeking relationships.
- 🎩 Society
- 💔 Infidelity
- 🕰️ Elite
- EC
Elmer Croy (Theodore Newton)
Played by Theodore Newton
Joanna's husband who knows about the pregnancy and supports the idea of a family, grounding Joanna in conventional life. He acts as a stabilizing counterpoint to Paul’s audacious ascent.
- 👪 Family
- 🛡️ Stability
- 💼 Fatherhood
- AC
Aunt Clara Weingartner (Maidel Turner)
Played by Maidel Turner
Joanna's aunt who orchestrates visits and introductions, including bringing Leah into Pierre's world. She acts as a pragmatic mediator between families and ambitions.
- 👩👧👦 Family ties
- 🧭 Mediation
- 💡 Strategy
- PC
Pierre Croy (Young Pierre) (Mickey Rentschler)
Played by Mickey Rentschler
Pierre Croy, the child of Joanna and Paul, represents the vulnerable future caught between a fashionable, risk-filled world and the simpler, stable life Joanna hopes to provide. His untimely death becomes the turning point that exposes the costs of the adult's choices.
- 👶 Legacy
- 🚦 Fate
- 💔 Tragedy
Where and When Is A Modern Hero Set?
A Modern Hero is set in Pentland, Illinois, New York City and Europe (Early 1920s). Here is why the time and place matter to the story.
When
Early 1920s
The narrative unfolds in the early 1920s, a period of rapid economic change in America. It follows the rise of industry, car culture, and financial speculation that defined the era's glamorous but precarious lifestyle. Social ambitions and shifting class boundaries drive decisions that blur personal loyalties with money and power.
Where
Pentland, Illinois, New York City, Europe
Pentland, Illinois serves as the film's quiet Midwestern backdrop where a visiting circus unsettles the town's routines. The circus atmosphere introduces Joanna's world of spectacle and danger, contrasting with Pentland's ordinary life. As the story unfolds, the action shifts from Pentland to New York City's glittering finance scene and eventually to Europe, underscoring the era's mobility and the lure of wealth.
- 🏡 Midwest town
- 🎪 Circus locale
- 🏙️ Urban centers
What Are the Themes of A Modern Hero?
3 ideas the story keeps returning to, among them Wealth, Identity and Consequences.
-
01
Wealth
Pierre's pursuit of wealth drives nearly every major choice, from his adoption of a new name to his high-stakes business schemes. The allure of money reshapes relationships and fuels a constant push for social ascent. Wealth becomes both a seductive prize and a corrosive force that distorts love and family.
-
02
Identity
The film centers on how identity is forged and manipulated in pursuit of success. Pierre renames himself to Paul Rader to fit American business culture, while his mother guards secrets of lineage. Family ties, motherhood, and the truth about paternity influence critical decisions and loyalties.
-
03
Consequences
Ambition without ethics leads to ruin: a stock swindler, a broken engagement, and a fatal car accident. The story culminates in the recognition that moral worth cannot be bought, illustrated by Pierre's death and Paul's ultimate plea for worthiness. The ending suggests redemption is possible only after acknowledging real love and responsibility.
What Kind of Film Is A Modern Hero?
Melancholic in tone, with steady pacing and a moderate story, going by the plot summary.
- Tone
- Melancholic
- Pacing
- Steady
- Story
- Moderate
- Intensity
- Medium
- Ending
- Bittersweet
A steady, melancholic drama following a man's relentless ambition as he climbs from the circus to high society, only to be undone by his own choices, culminating in a tragic downfall and a quiet, bittersweet surrender.
- ambitious
- tragic
- fatalistic
- driven
- regretful
- tense
- rags to riches
- ambition
- sacrifice
- illegitimacy
Content notes: death of a child, alcoholism, financial ruin.
Quiz
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