A Modern Hero
Encyclopedia
A Modern Hero is a 1934 American drama film
starring Richard Barthelmess
and directed by Georg Wilhelm Pabst
. It was Pabst's only American talking film
.
) becomes pregnant by horse trick rider Pierre Radier (Richard Barthelmess). He offers to marry her, but she decides they are not suited for each other. Instead, she marries steady local Elmer Croy. Pierre gives her all his money for their child.
Pierre hates the circus life, so when his friend Henry Mueller (Hobart Cavanaugh
) approaches him to become his partner in a bicycle shop, he jumps at the chance, despite the disapproval of his alcoholic mother, Madame Azais (Marjorie Rambeau
). To raise his share of the money needed to start the venture, he turns to wealthy young widow Leah Ernst (Florence Eldridge
), who is attracted to him.
The shop is a success, but Pierre's ambitions are only whetted. He persuades his partner to branch out into newfangled automobiles. They spend several years building a new car. By a stroke of luck, the automobile of Homer Flint (Arthur Hohl
), the richest man in the state, breaks down near their shop. He is interested in mass producing their car. Pierre becomes a hardworking business partner of Flint's and marries Flint's daughter, Hazel (Dorothy Burgess
). However, she becomes dissatisfied with his preference for late nights at work over her company.
When the unhappy couple go golfing, Pierre, now calling himself Paul Rader, discovers that the young boy who wants to caddy for him is his son, Pierre Croy. He secretly meets Joanna and offers to adopt their child, but she refuses to give him up; he has to content himself with visits and gifts. He does however persuade her to let him send their son to a good school when he is older. On a business trip to New York, he starts an affair with Lady Claire Benston (Verree Teasdale
).
Yearning to be totally independent, Paul gives his entire fortune to a shady stock speculator to manipulate Rader and Flint company stock. Flint finds out and warns him that he is getting into trouble, to no avail.
It all comes crashing down. The stock speculator turns out to be a swindler and absconds with all of Paul's money and $70,000 of Lady Benston's. Paul is also devastated to learn that his son has been killed in a car crash, the car being a birthday gift from him. When he brings the body to the grieving mother, she refuses to shake his hand. Finally, Hazel learns of Pierre's parentage, ending their marriage. Ruined and heartsick, Paul seeks out his mother. She comforts him, telling him that he has finally learned what is important, and that he can make a fresh start in Europe. He is heartened by her faith in him.
Drama film
A drama film is a film genre that depends mostly on in-depth development of realistic characters dealing with emotional themes. Dramatic themes such as alcoholism, drug addiction, infidelity, moral dilemmas, racial prejudice, religious intolerance, poverty, class divisions, violence against women...
starring Richard Barthelmess
Richard Barthelmess
Richard Semler "Dick" Barthelmess was an Oscar-nominated silent film star.-Early life:Barthelmess was educated at Hudson River Military Academy at Nyack and Trinity College at Hartford, Connecticut...
and directed by Georg Wilhelm Pabst
Georg Wilhelm Pabst
-Biography:Pabst was born in Raudnitz, Bohemia, Austria-Hungary , the son of a railroad employee.Returning from the United States, he was in France when World War I began...
. It was Pabst's only American talking film
Sound film
A sound film is a motion picture with synchronized sound, or sound technologically coupled to image, as opposed to a silent film. The first known public exhibition of projected sound films took place in Paris in 1900, but decades would pass before sound motion pictures were made commercially...
.
Plot
When the circus comes to a small town, resident Joanna Ryan (Jean MuirJean Muir (actress)
Jean Muir was an American stage and film actress.-Career:Born in Suffern, New York as Jean Muir Fullarton, she first appeared on Broadway in 1930, and was signed by Warner Brothers Studios three years later. She played opposite several famous actors - Warren William, Paul Muni, Richard...
) becomes pregnant by horse trick rider Pierre Radier (Richard Barthelmess). He offers to marry her, but she decides they are not suited for each other. Instead, she marries steady local Elmer Croy. Pierre gives her all his money for their child.
Pierre hates the circus life, so when his friend Henry Mueller (Hobart Cavanaugh
Hobart Cavanaugh
Hobart Cavanaugh was an American character actor in films and on stage.Born in Virginia City, Nevada, Cavanaugh made his film debut in San Francisco Nights...
) approaches him to become his partner in a bicycle shop, he jumps at the chance, despite the disapproval of his alcoholic mother, Madame Azais (Marjorie Rambeau
Marjorie Rambeau
Marjorie Rambeau was an American film and stage actress.-Early life:Rambeau was born in San Francisco, California to Marcel Rambeau and Lilian Garlinda Kindelberger. Her parents split up when she was a girl. She and her mother went to Nome, Alaska where young Marjorie dressed as a boy, sang and...
). To raise his share of the money needed to start the venture, he turns to wealthy young widow Leah Ernst (Florence Eldridge
Florence Eldridge
Florence Eldridge was an American actress.-Personal life:...
), who is attracted to him.
The shop is a success, but Pierre's ambitions are only whetted. He persuades his partner to branch out into newfangled automobiles. They spend several years building a new car. By a stroke of luck, the automobile of Homer Flint (Arthur Hohl
Arthur Hohl
Arthur Hohl was a stage and motion-picture character actor. He was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and began appearing in films in the early 1920s...
), the richest man in the state, breaks down near their shop. He is interested in mass producing their car. Pierre becomes a hardworking business partner of Flint's and marries Flint's daughter, Hazel (Dorothy Burgess
Dorothy Burgess
Dorothy Burgess was a stage and motion picture actress from Los Angeles, California.-Family, education:She was a niece of Fay Bainter. On her father's side she was related to George Montgomery of Montgomery and Stone. Her grandfather was Henry A. Burgess, Sr. He came to Los Angeles in 1893,...
). However, she becomes dissatisfied with his preference for late nights at work over her company.
When the unhappy couple go golfing, Pierre, now calling himself Paul Rader, discovers that the young boy who wants to caddy for him is his son, Pierre Croy. He secretly meets Joanna and offers to adopt their child, but she refuses to give him up; he has to content himself with visits and gifts. He does however persuade her to let him send their son to a good school when he is older. On a business trip to New York, he starts an affair with Lady Claire Benston (Verree Teasdale
Verree Teasdale
Verree Teasdale was an American actress born in Spokane, Washington.A second cousin of Edith Wharton, Teasdale attended Erasmus Hall High School in Brooklyn and trained as a stage actress at the New York School of Expression...
).
Yearning to be totally independent, Paul gives his entire fortune to a shady stock speculator to manipulate Rader and Flint company stock. Flint finds out and warns him that he is getting into trouble, to no avail.
It all comes crashing down. The stock speculator turns out to be a swindler and absconds with all of Paul's money and $70,000 of Lady Benston's. Paul is also devastated to learn that his son has been killed in a car crash, the car being a birthday gift from him. When he brings the body to the grieving mother, she refuses to shake his hand. Finally, Hazel learns of Pierre's parentage, ending their marriage. Ruined and heartsick, Paul seeks out his mother. She comforts him, telling him that he has finally learned what is important, and that he can make a fresh start in Europe. He is heartened by her faith in him.
Cast
- Richard BarthelmessRichard BarthelmessRichard Semler "Dick" Barthelmess was an Oscar-nominated silent film star.-Early life:Barthelmess was educated at Hudson River Military Academy at Nyack and Trinity College at Hartford, Connecticut...
as Pierre Radier, aka Paul Rader - Jean MuirJean Muir (actress)Jean Muir was an American stage and film actress.-Career:Born in Suffern, New York as Jean Muir Fullarton, she first appeared on Broadway in 1930, and was signed by Warner Brothers Studios three years later. She played opposite several famous actors - Warren William, Paul Muni, Richard...
as Joanna Ryan Croy - Marjorie RambeauMarjorie RambeauMarjorie Rambeau was an American film and stage actress.-Early life:Rambeau was born in San Francisco, California to Marcel Rambeau and Lilian Garlinda Kindelberger. Her parents split up when she was a girl. She and her mother went to Nome, Alaska where young Marjorie dressed as a boy, sang and...
as Madame Azais - Verree TeasdaleVerree TeasdaleVerree Teasdale was an American actress born in Spokane, Washington.A second cousin of Edith Wharton, Teasdale attended Erasmus Hall High School in Brooklyn and trained as a stage actress at the New York School of Expression...
as Lady Claire Benston - Florence EldridgeFlorence EldridgeFlorence Eldridge was an American actress.-Personal life:...
as Leah Ernst - Dorothy BurgessDorothy BurgessDorothy Burgess was a stage and motion picture actress from Los Angeles, California.-Family, education:She was a niece of Fay Bainter. On her father's side she was related to George Montgomery of Montgomery and Stone. Her grandfather was Henry A. Burgess, Sr. He came to Los Angeles in 1893,...
as Hazel Flint Radier - Hobart CavanaughHobart CavanaughHobart Cavanaugh was an American character actor in films and on stage.Born in Virginia City, Nevada, Cavanaugh made his film debut in San Francisco Nights...
as Henry Mueller - William Janney as Young Pierre Croy
- Arthur HohlArthur HohlArthur Hohl was a stage and motion-picture character actor. He was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and began appearing in films in the early 1920s...
as Homer Flint - Theodore Newton as Elmer Croy
- J. M. KerriganJ. M. KerriganJoseph Michael Kerrigan , better known as J. M. Kerrigan, born in Dublin, Ireland, was an Irish character actor.-Life:Kerrigan worked as a newspaper reporter until 1907 when he joined the famous Abbey Players...
as Mr. Ryan - Maidel TurnerMaidel TurnerMaidel Turner was an American movie actress featured in almost 60 films between 1913 and 1951, beginning as the leading lady of The Angel of the Slums and becoming a comical character actress as she aged. Prominent sound films include The Raven and State of the Union .-External links:...
as Aunt Clara Weingartner - Mickey Rentschler as Young Pierre as a Child
- Richard TuckerRichard Tucker (actor)Richard Tucker was an American actor. He appeared in 266 films between 1911 and 1940.He was born in Brooklyn, New York. He was the first official member of the Screen Actors Guild and a founding member of SAG's Board of Directors...
as Mr. Eggelson - Judith Vosselli as Mrs. Eggelson