HEROES (1977)
Label: Mill Creek Entertainment
Region Code: A
Rating: PG
Duration: 113 Minutes
Audio: English DTS-HD MA 2.0 with Optional English Subtitles
Video: 1080p HD Widescreen (1.85:1)
Director: Jeremy Paul Kagan
Cast: Henry Winkler, Sally Field, Harrison Ford, Hector Elias, Olivia Cole, Tony Burton
Heroes (1977) stars Henry Winkler (TV's Happy Days) as a troubled Vietnam vet named Jack who suffers from PTSD, and at the start of the film a high-spirited outburst at a military enlistment office lands him in a trip to a mental ward in New York City. Jack manages to escape in what seems to only be a matter of minutes, disguising himself as a doctor, but on the way through the main gate he's spotted by his psychiatrist and is pursued by both him and the police, somehow managing to get away with the help of some construction workers who taunt the cops. At a bus depot Jack buys a ticket to Eureka, California where he dreams of opening up a worm farm, setting in motion the events of the film.
At the bus station Jack makes the awkward acquaintance of runaway bride named Carol (Sally Field, Spider-Man), they mix like battery acid and Evian water, but through a series of misadventures they end up stuck with each another on an impromptu road trip, along the way visiting Jack's former 'Nam buddies, including a hot-rodder named Ken, played by Harrison Ford (Blade Runner). This was made after Star Wars filmed, but hit theaters prior to that film becoming the summer blockbuster juggernaut it has.
The film is light-hearted, with a pair of off-kilter characters coming together during uncomfortable circumstances, then embarking on a road trip and along the way managing to fall in love, but it's also quite a dark film in ways. Jack is a damaged guy, traumatized by horrific events of the Vietnam war, events that come back to haunt him in a well-done flashback towards the end of the film, scenes that get to the heart of his trauma, and threaten to destroy the couples burgeoning romance.
There are a few emotionally wrenching scene, with both Fields and Winkler's giving fantastic performances. There's also a vicious bar fight following Jack being rolled by a pair of sleazy bar patrons, showcasing his somewhat shocking propensity for violence. The darkness and light-hearted stuff doesn't always blend well, it's a bit uneven, but I enjoyed it. I hadn't thought I'd seen this one before, but watching it I had a vague familiarity with it, so I must have seen it on TV as a kid, but had long forgotten about it. It's definitely worth rediscovering, this is a bit of a forgotten gem I think, it might not set the world on fire, but it's a quirky little drama with stellar performances from Winkler and Fields, definitely check it out.
Audio/Video: Heroes (1977) arrives on Blu-ray from Mill Creek Entertainment licensed from Universal Pictures, framed in 1.85:1 in 1080p HD. I was overall pleased with the transfer but it looks like an older master, there's a bit of dirt and speckling throughout but the colors are pleasing and skin tones look natural throughout. Negatives on the transfer would be a bit of digital noise and some chunky grain structure, but I didn't find it ruinous. The sole audio option on the disc is English DTS-HD MA 2.0 with optional English subtitles, everything is well-balanced and the dialogue is delivered cleanly. If you're curious the soundtrack includes the song "Carry On Wayward Son" by 70's rockers Kansas, which on previous VHS versions was absent due to some music licensing issues, which must have been resolved because it's intact on the Blu-ray, and original music is always cool.
There are no extras, just a static menu with the option to turn on the English subtitles. The single-disc release is housed in a standard keepcase with a sleeve of artwork featuring the original movie poster with an attractive looking spine, the disc itself features a scene from the film.
More Screenshots from the Blu-ray:
