A Hero Ain't Nothin' but a Sandwich (film)
Encyclopedia
A Hero Ain't Nothin' but a Sandwich is a 1978 film directed by Ralph Nelson
. The screenplay was written by Alice Childress
, based on her novel of the same name
. It was shot on location in South Central Los Angeles
. It was Nelson's last film before his death.
Benjie (Larry B. Scott
) is a likeable but troubled teen. He lives with his mother, named Sweets (Cicely Tyson
), and grandmother, named Mrs. Bell (Helen Martin
). Benjie has several friends and playmates within the neighborhood and his grades at school are above average. He is surprisingly normal and healthy for a teenager. However, in the midst, there is something going on inside Benjie that nobody around him knows or understands. Benjie has deep pain which stems from constantly dealing with the fact that his father left the family and the fallout since his departure. On top of it all, Benjie cannot manage to get along with his mother's new boyfriend, Butler (Paul Winfield
).
Benjie deals with the emotional weight by trusting his school friends and building relationships stronger than with his own family. He soon discovers that he is happier with his pseudo-family than what he understands to be his miserable real family. Benjie conforms to the group and his behavior and outlook changes rapidly as he is engulfed by the overwhelming peer pressure.
Among Benjie’s buddies are Carwell (Erin Blunt
). Carwell is the one who introduces Benjie to heroin; one day he takes him to the drug dealer’s home, named Tiger (Kevin Hooks
).
Benjie is hardly a street rat; he has a loving family who is always worrying about his well being. Butler (Paul Winfield), the new man around the house is equally concerned about Benjie, but often at odds with him only to be sided against by the boy’s mother.
Benjie’s life at school is a refuge as he has two caring teachers who look after him. The first, Nigeria (Glynn Turman
) is a hip and bold extrovert, asking his students to learn and recite important facts of black history, which Benjie proves he can absorb information with ease.
Benjie’s other influence is Mr. Cohen (David Groh
), concerned that Nigeria’s over-emphasis on African history and desire to rid the school of non-white staff are wrong, a sort of anti-thesis. The conflict between these two polar differences in belief, a tug-of-war over education, history, and white privilege, plays a larger end-game role in the story as we see it unfold before Benji’s eyes.
The continued drug use along with the corrupted group mentality soon got Benjie hooked on heroin ultimately crumbling to the merciless drug. The story that follows are the events leading up to a family learning to come to terms with a child who has hit rock bottom and the drastic life changes that have to be made for everyone involved.
of The New York Times
thought that the film was poorly executed but praised some of the acting:
Arman Sheffey of Amazon.com
thought that the film was weakly executed but appreciated the perspective:
Ralph Nelson
Ralph Nelson was an American movie and television director, producer, writer, and actor.-Life and career:...
. The screenplay was written by Alice Childress
Alice Childress
Alice Childress was an American playwright, actor, and author.-Early life:Childress was born in South Carolina, but at age nine, after her parents separated, she moved to Harlem where she lived with her grandmother on 118th Street, between Lenox Avenue and Fifth Avenue...
, based on her novel of the same name
A Hero Ain't Nothin' but a Sandwich
A Hero Ain't Nothin' but a Sandwich is a 1973 young adult novel by Alice Childress.-Plot:The main character, Benjie Johnson, is a thirteen-year-old heroin addict. The chapters are told in alternating points of view by Benjie and those close to him, including friends, a drug dealer, his mother, his...
. It was shot on location in South Central Los Angeles
South Los Angeles
South Los Angeles, often abbreviated as South L.A. and formerly South Central Los Angeles, is the official name for a large geographic and cultural portion lying to the southwest and southeast of downtown Los Angeles, California. The area was formerly called South Central, and is still widely known...
. It was Nelson's last film before his death.
Synopsis
A Hero Ain't Nothin' but a Sandwich opens by panning over downtown Los Angeles. The film takes place during the summertime.Benjie (Larry B. Scott
Larry B. Scott
-Career:Scott's film debut was in the 1978 movie A Hero Ain't Nothin' But a Sandwich. He is perhaps best known for playing Lamar Latrell, the openly gay fraternity member in the Revenge of the Nerds series of comedy films from 1984 to 1994. In the 1986 film SpaceCamp he played opposite a then-young...
) is a likeable but troubled teen. He lives with his mother, named Sweets (Cicely Tyson
Cicely Tyson
Cicely Tyson is an American actress. A successful stage actress, Tyson is also known for her Oscar-nominated role in the film Sounder and the television movies The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman and Roots....
), and grandmother, named Mrs. Bell (Helen Martin
Helen Martin
Helen Dorothy Martin was an American actress of stage and television who is perhaps most well known for her role in the sitcom 227 as Marla Gibbs' neighbor Pearl.-Early life and education:...
). Benjie has several friends and playmates within the neighborhood and his grades at school are above average. He is surprisingly normal and healthy for a teenager. However, in the midst, there is something going on inside Benjie that nobody around him knows or understands. Benjie has deep pain which stems from constantly dealing with the fact that his father left the family and the fallout since his departure. On top of it all, Benjie cannot manage to get along with his mother's new boyfriend, Butler (Paul Winfield
Paul Winfield
Paul Edward Winfield was an American television, film, and stage actor. He was known for his portrayal of a Louisiana sharecropper who struggles to support his family during the Great Depression in the landmark film Sounder which earned him an Academy Award nomination. Winfield also portrayed Dr....
).
Benjie deals with the emotional weight by trusting his school friends and building relationships stronger than with his own family. He soon discovers that he is happier with his pseudo-family than what he understands to be his miserable real family. Benjie conforms to the group and his behavior and outlook changes rapidly as he is engulfed by the overwhelming peer pressure.
Among Benjie’s buddies are Carwell (Erin Blunt
Erin Blunt
Erin Blunt is an American actor best known for his role as Ahmad Abdul-Rahim in The Bad News Bears, The Bad News Bears in Breaking Training, and The Bad News Bears Go to Japan. He also appeared in numerous episodes of TV shows and films such as Car Wash and A Hero Ain't Nothin' but a...
). Carwell is the one who introduces Benjie to heroin; one day he takes him to the drug dealer’s home, named Tiger (Kevin Hooks
Kevin Hooks
Kevin Hooks is an American actor, and a television and film director; he is notable from his roles in Aaron Loves Angela and Sounder, but may be best known as Morris Thorpe from TV's The White Shadow....
).
Benjie is hardly a street rat; he has a loving family who is always worrying about his well being. Butler (Paul Winfield), the new man around the house is equally concerned about Benjie, but often at odds with him only to be sided against by the boy’s mother.
Benjie’s life at school is a refuge as he has two caring teachers who look after him. The first, Nigeria (Glynn Turman
Glynn Turman
Glynn Russell Turman is an American stage, television, and film actor as well as a writer, director, and producer. He is perhaps best known for his roles as high school student Leroy "Preach" Jackson in the 1975 coming-of-age film Cooley High, math professor and retired Army colonel Bradford...
) is a hip and bold extrovert, asking his students to learn and recite important facts of black history, which Benjie proves he can absorb information with ease.
Benjie’s other influence is Mr. Cohen (David Groh
David Groh
David Lawrence Groh was an American actor best known for his portrayal of Joe Gerard in the 1970s television series Rhoda, opposite Valerie Harper.-Early life and career:...
), concerned that Nigeria’s over-emphasis on African history and desire to rid the school of non-white staff are wrong, a sort of anti-thesis. The conflict between these two polar differences in belief, a tug-of-war over education, history, and white privilege, plays a larger end-game role in the story as we see it unfold before Benji’s eyes.
The continued drug use along with the corrupted group mentality soon got Benjie hooked on heroin ultimately crumbling to the merciless drug. The story that follows are the events leading up to a family learning to come to terms with a child who has hit rock bottom and the drastic life changes that have to be made for everyone involved.
Principal cast
| Actor | Role |
|---|---|
| Cicely Tyson Cicely Tyson Cicely Tyson is an American actress. A successful stage actress, Tyson is also known for her Oscar-nominated role in the film Sounder and the television movies The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman and Roots.... |
Sweets |
| Paul Winfield Paul Winfield Paul Edward Winfield was an American television, film, and stage actor. He was known for his portrayal of a Louisiana sharecropper who struggles to support his family during the Great Depression in the landmark film Sounder which earned him an Academy Award nomination. Winfield also portrayed Dr.... |
Butler |
| Larry B. Scott Larry B. Scott -Career:Scott's film debut was in the 1978 movie A Hero Ain't Nothin' But a Sandwich. He is perhaps best known for playing Lamar Latrell, the openly gay fraternity member in the Revenge of the Nerds series of comedy films from 1984 to 1994. In the 1986 film SpaceCamp he played opposite a then-young... |
Benjie |
| Helen Martin Helen Martin Helen Dorothy Martin was an American actress of stage and television who is perhaps most well known for her role in the sitcom 227 as Marla Gibbs' neighbor Pearl.-Early life and education:... |
Mrs. Bell |
| Glynn Turman Glynn Turman Glynn Russell Turman is an American stage, television, and film actor as well as a writer, director, and producer. He is perhaps best known for his roles as high school student Leroy "Preach" Jackson in the 1975 coming-of-age film Cooley High, math professor and retired Army colonel Bradford... |
Nigeria |
| Harold Sylvester Harold Sylvester Harold Sylvester is an American film and television actor.Sylvester was born in New Orleans, Louisiana. A graduate of New Orleans' St. Augustine High School and Tulane University, Sylvester is best known for his role on the TV series Married... with Children as Griff, the co-worker and friend of... |
Doctor |
| Bill Cobbs Bill Cobbs Wilbert "Bill" Cobbs is an American film and television actor. He has starred in over 120 television programs and movies.-Life and career:... |
Bartender |
| Erin Blunt Erin Blunt Erin Blunt is an American actor best known for his role as Ahmad Abdul-Rahim in The Bad News Bears, The Bad News Bears in Breaking Training, and The Bad News Bears Go to Japan. He also appeared in numerous episodes of TV shows and films such as Car Wash and A Hero Ain't Nothin' but a... |
Carwell |
Critical reception
Janet MaslinJanet Maslin
Janet Maslin is an American journalist, best known as a film and literary critic for The New York Times. She served as the Times film critic from 1977–1999.- Biography :...
of The New York Times
The New York Times
The New York Times is an American daily newspaper founded and continuously published in New York City since 1851. The New York Times has won 106 Pulitzer Prizes, the most of any news organization...
thought that the film was poorly executed but praised some of the acting:
Arman Sheffey of Amazon.com
Amazon.com
Amazon.com, Inc. is a multinational electronic commerce company headquartered in Seattle, Washington, United States. It is the world's largest online retailer. Amazon has separate websites for the following countries: United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Japan, and...
thought that the film was weakly executed but appreciated the perspective: