A modern hero
| Movie | |
|---|---|
| Original title | A modern hero |
| Country of production | United States |
| original language | English |
| Publishing year | 1934 |
| length | 68 minutes |
| Rod | |
| Director | GW Pabst |
| script |
Gene Markey Kathryn Scola based on a novel by Louis Bromfield |
| production | James Seymour |
| music | Heinz Roemheld |
| camera | William Rees |
| cut | James Gibbon |
| occupation | |
| |
A Modern Hero is a 1934 American film directed by GW Pabst .
action
Somewhere in a small American town in the state of Illinois . One day a French circus moves into quarters there, and with him the art rider Pierre Radier. He meets the local Joanna Ryan and they spend a night of love together. Joanna becomes pregnant and Pierre offers her to marry her. But Joanna refuses, she doesn't believe that both are made for each other. And so, instead, she accepts the marriage proposal from the down-to-earth local Elmer Croy. Pierre turns out to be a gentleman and offers to at least provide for the financial support of the unborn child.
Pierre abhorred circus life and therefore gladly accepted the offer of his friend Henry Mueller to become a partner in his bicycle business. For him, this is also linked to the hope of being able to start a new life in the USA. Madame Azais, his alcoholic mother, is against Pierre's decision. In order to be able to get into Mueller's bicycle shop properly, however, Pierre lacks the necessary investment capital, and so he approaches the young widow Leah Ernst, who seems to be very interested in him. Pierre gets the money, and his and Mueller's business is flourishing. But Pierre wants to go higher, and he persuades his partner Mueller to expand the business to include the production of cars. For years they invest effort, money and work in the development of a new automobile.
One day Mueller and Radier are very lucky, because the multimillionaire Homer Flint breaks down with his car in their immediate vicinity, and that's how we start a conversation. Flint is interested in mass-producing Eraser's unique piece. Pierre is also successful here and continues to climb the career ladder: he becomes Flint's business partner and also becomes engaged to his daughter Hazel. Pierre has come a long way, has left his pathetic circus origins behind him, even changed his name to Paul Rader and accepted US citizenship. One day when he and Hazel are playing golf, they are given a young caddy who goes by the name of Pierre Croy. Paul immediately realizes that it must be his illegitimate son. Interested in his advancement, Paul Rader is active as his benefactor and supports him wherever he can. His own marriage is as childless as it is unhappy, and Paul asks the child's mother, Joanna, to be allowed to adopt the boy, their son. But Joanna categorically refuses. After all, she allows her one-night stand to finance his training at an elite boarding school later, when Pierre is bigger.
Years have passed since then and Paul accompanies Pierre to his new school. At the same time, Paul begins an affair with the English lady Claire Benston. Paul now wants to make himself financially independent from his old partner Flint and is therefore risking his entire fortune by handing it to a windy stockbroker who is supposed to try to speculate with the shares of his and Flint's car company. Flint gets wind of it and warns his partner about such machinations, but in vain: Paul does not allow anyone to dissuade him in his high-risk business plans. At the same time he reveals to Pierre that he is his biological father. He also wants to enter into a business partnership with his son in the future.
But it comes as it has to come. Paul has thoroughly speculated about his stock manipulation, and the man he entrusted his money to is an outright scammer and crook who immediately runs away and goes into hiding with Paul's money and $ 70,000 Paul received from Lady Benston. The British woman is very angry and makes it clear to Paul that she no longer wants to have anything to do with him. But then the bankrupt receives a message that finally devastates him: Paul is killed in a car accident - with the vehicle that Paul gave Pierre for his last birthday. In deep sorrow, Paul brings Pierre's body to his mother, who turns away from him full of fury. In view of these tragic events, Paul's marriage to Hazel also turns out to be irreparably shattered, as she learns of Paul's fatherhood, which has been hidden from her up to now. Paul is bankrupt and has a heart condition; he seeks advice and consolation from the only person left: his mother. She tries to comfort her son and admonishes him that he now knows what is really important in life and what is not. She advises Paul to leave America behind and return to France. So strengthened, Paul plans a new beginning.
Production notes
Georg Wilhelm Pabst, who had been France's resident since 1932, left for the United States on October 11, 1933 in order to consider an American film career. A Modern Hero was to be his first attempt and was created in the last few weeks of the same year. It remained his only US film director. The premiere took place on April 21, 1934. Despite the prominent director, the film was never shown in Germany; the first local television broadcast took place on the Franco-German themed channel ARTE on April 7, 1997.
The buildings were designed by Robert M. Haas , the costumes by Orry-Kelly . Leo F. Forbstein conducted the Vitaphone Orchestra. The Pabst, who was insufficiently fond of the English language, was assigned a dialogue director by the name of Arthur Greville Collins.
After the bad reviews, Pabst returned to France disappointed on this artistic and commercial flop and was only able to continue his film career there in 1936.
Reviews
"Basically weak in terms of content and characterization."
"Unconvincing story about morality, portrayed and presented with some nice touches."
“Based on a novel by Louis Bromfield, he drafts the story of a native European who, in the USA in the 1920s, made it from circus rider to member of high finance with ambition and unscrupulousness. Only the stock market crash ended his streak of luck. Pabst was given a 'dialog director', but American critics accused him of using inaccessible language. The film was a failure. "
Individual evidence
- ↑ Kay Less : "In life, more is taken from you than given ...". Lexicon of filmmakers who emigrated from Germany and Austria between 1933 and 1945. A general overview. ACABUS Verlag, Hamburg 2011, ISBN 978-3-86282-049-8 , p. 642.
- ^ A Modern Hero in the Lexicon of International Films
Web links
- A Modern Hero in the Internet Movie Database (English)