Half a Hero

Half a Hero
Half a Hero
Directed by	Don Weis
Written by	Max Shulman
Produced by	Matthew Rapf
Starring	Red Skelton; Jean Hagen
Cinematography	Paul C. Vogel
Edited by	Newell P. Kimlin
Music by	Paul Sawtell
Distributed by	Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Release date	August 1953 (Washington D.C.);
Running time	71 mins.
Country	United States
Language	English
Budget	$486,000
Box office	$891,000 (rentals)

Half a Hero is a 1953 American comedy film starring Red Skelton and Jean Hagen. Directed by Don Weis, the film was written by Max Shulman and released by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer.

Plot

Freelance writer Ben Dobson (Skelton) lands his first full-time writing job at a national magazine, tasked with rewriting other authors' work. His wife Martha (Hagen) uses this as the perfect time to start their family, and four years later pressures Ben into moving from New York City to the suburbs, where he's swiftly living beyond his means. His boss then wants him to write a story on those suburbs, titled "slums of tomorrow."

Martha happily embraces her new environment and friendly neighbors, but Ben is cynical about their life there and decides they should return to the city. However, while showing their home to another prospective buyer, Ben realizes he would miss the home's personal touches, and they should stay.

Cast

Red Skelton as Ben Dobson
Jean Hagen as Martha Dobson
Charles Dingle as Mr. Bascomb
Willard Waterman as Charles McEstway
Mary Wickes as Mrs. Watts
Frank Cady as Mr. Watts
Hugh Corcoran as Pete Dobson
Dorothy Patrick as Edna Radwell
King Donovan as Sam Radwell
Billie Bird as Ernestine
Dabbs Greer as George Payson
Kathleen Freeman as Welcomer
Polly Bergen as herself

Reception

In the week ended September 2, 1953, Half a Hero grossed $20,000 at the Loew's Capitol Theatre in Washington, D.C.^[2] According to MGM records the film earned theatrical rentals of $661,000 in the US and Canada and $230,000 elsewhere, resulting in a profit of $68,000.^[1]

References

^ ^a ^b ^c The Eddie Mannix Ledger, Los Angeles: Margaret Herrick Library, Center for Motion Picture Study.
^ "'Eternity' Record 22G In D.C. Despite Heat; 'Hero' Nice At $20,000". Variety. September 2, 1953. p. 8. Retrieved March 3, 2024 – via Internet Archive.