Heroes for Sale: A Raw Pre-Code Punch

If you're into those blunt, often messy pre-Code flicks that hit hard and don't care much for happy endings, then Heroes for Sale is absolutely worth digging up. It's not for everyone, though – if you prefer your old movies polished and sweet, or with a clear hero, you'll probably find this one a bit much. But for anyone curious about how Hollywood tackled really tough stuff back in the day, it's a fascinating, kinda grim watch. 🧐

Richard Barthelmess plays Tom, a guy who goes from wartime hero to... well, something else entirely. He’s back from the trenches, got a medal, but also a morphine habit he picked up from an injury.

The film doesn't waste any time showing his quick slide. One minute he's celebrated, the next he's trying to kick a very real, very ugly addiction. It’s pretty stark for 1933, honestly, they don't pull any punches showing how rough that can be.

Tom then tries to make it in the business world, which is just another kind of battlefield. He’s got big ideas, a sort of laundromat chain that seems genuinely forward-thinking. But the sharks are out there, and they look an awful lot like Berton Churchill's character, Mr. Winston, who just oozes greed.

There's this moment where Tom tries to get a loan, and the banker just stares at him like he’s dirt. It’s a tiny bit, but it says everything about the times, you know? Just how hard it was.

Loretta Young is in it too, as Ruth, a sympathetic figure. Her scenes with Tom are often quieter, a little bit of a breather from the harsh realities. She feels like a grounding force, trying to pull him back.

But then Tom gets caught up in a labor dispute, mistaken for a communist agitator. The way the crowd turns on him is just *wild*. It's a reminder of how easily public opinion could be swayed, especially during that era.

One scene I kept thinking about: Tom is trying to explain his business plan, and the camera just holds on his hopeful, almost desperate face. You can feel the weight of his ambition and how much he needs this to work. That shot lingered. 😩

Aline MacMahon, as the no-nonsense landlady or something similar, always adds a fantastic, grounded energy. She doesn’t take any nonsense, and her presence always felt very real, like she’d seen it all.

The pacing is a bit *choppy* at times. Things happen, then we jump, then something else. It feels less like a smooth narrative and more like a series of significant life events crammed together. Not bad, just… different.

The film definitely has a message, a *bitter* one, about how society treats its 'heroes' once the parades are over. It’s less about one man’s struggle and more about a whole generation’s disillusionment, I think.

You can see the anger simmering beneath the surface of this movie. It’s not subtle. The way the rich characters talk down to Tom, or how quickly his friends abandon him, it’s all very pointed.

There's a strange scene where Tom runs into an old war buddy, now a hollowed-out addict, and the conversation is so brief yet devastating. It really emphasizes that Tom’s struggle isn't unique, it's a shared burden for many veterans.

The ending is… well, it’s a pre-Code ending. Don’t expect sunshine and rainbows. It leaves you with something to chew on, not a neat resolution. Definitely not a feel-good movie.

It makes you wonder about the filmmakers' intent. Were they trying to spark a conversation? Or just reflect the grim reality they saw around them? Either way, it works.

This movie isn't pretty, and it sure isn't easy. But it’s honest, in a way many films still aren’t today. A real look at the underside of the American dream during a very tough time. Recommended if you’re up for it. 👍