A Modern Hero

A Modern Hero

Year: 1934

Runtime: 71 mins

Language: English

Director: G.W. Pabst

RomanceDrama

A 1920s circus performer uses every means at his disposal to achieve fame and fortune at the expense of others.

Warning: spoilers below!

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Timeline – A Modern Hero (1934)

Trace every key event in A Modern Hero (1934) with our detailed, chronological timeline. Perfect for unpacking nonlinear stories, spotting hidden connections, and understanding how each scene builds toward the film’s climax. Whether you're revisiting or decoding for the first time, this timeline gives you the full picture.

1

Circus arrival and Joanna's seduction

The circus rolls into Pentland, Illinois, drawing Joanna Ryan toward the charismatic trick rider Pierre Radier. Their attraction quickly becomes a secret romance that promises glamour beyond small-town life. This romance sets Pierre on a path that blends ambition, wealth, and desire.

Pentland, Illinois
2

Madame Azais warns Pierre

Pierre's mother, Madame Azais, a one-armed circus star, warns him about chasing love at the expense of his ambitions. She recounts how a leopard cost her arm when she was distracted by her love for Pierre's father. Her warning frames the tension between affection and the drive for wealth.

Circus, Pentland
3

Pregnancy revealed and marriage choices

Joanna's pregnancy becomes public after her drunken father confronts Pierre, and he dies in an accident soon after. Pierre offers to marry Joanna to take responsibility, but she chooses the familiar stability of small-town life and marries Elmer Croy instead.

Pentland
4

Pierre supports Joanna's child

Pierre provides money for the child's support and arranges regular assistance to ensure Joanna and the baby are cared for despite their separation. His generosity foreshadows his ongoing desire to influence Joanna's life from afar.

Pentland, Illinois
5

Leah Ernst enters the picture

Aunt Clara arranges for Pierre to meet his newborn son and introduces him to Leah Ernst, a wealthy widow. Pierre borrows money from Leah and becomes her lover as part of his ascent into high society and business.

Pentland
6

Bicycle shop success and automotive dreams

With Leah's backing, Pierre and Henry Mueller open a bicycle shop that becomes a local success. The venture paves the way for their move into the growing automobile business, drawing in Homer Flint as a backer and partner.

Pentland and surrounding region
7

Leah seeks guidance from Madame Azais

Leah asks Madame Azais for advice, only to be warned that she cannot hold Pierre—no woman will mean as much to him as he does to himself. The fortune-teller's counsel hints at Pierre's relentless drive for personal power and wealth.

Leah's residence
8

Pierre becomes Paul Rader

Pierre Americanizes his name to Paul Rader and becomes Homer Flint's partner, signaling a shift from romance to high-stakes business. Henry Mueller chooses his own path away from the men and the venture.

Flint's business circle
9

Paul proposes to Hazel

On the road to the country club, Paul proposes to Flint's daughter Hazel, a strategic move aimed more at advancing his ambitions than at love. The gesture confirms how far he will go for financial and social climbing.

Country club
10

Paul learns his son at the club

At the club, a young boy offers to caddy for him, and Paul discovers that the boy is Pierre Croy, his own son. The revelation deepens their complicated relationship and ties their fates together.

Country club
11

Adoption offers and education plans

Now married but childless, Paul offers to adopt Pierre. Joanna refuses, but she agrees to finance Pierre's education at an elite boarding school when he is older, setting up a future reunion of sorts.

Pentland
12

1922 New York interlude and affair

In 1922, Paul escorts Pierre to school and makes a stop in New York City, where he begins an affair with Lady Claire Benston. The romance underscores Paul's willingness to sacrifice personal loyalties for wealth and power.

1922 New York City
13

Fortune risks and paternity revealed

Paul entrusts his fortune to a stock speculator, hoping to secure a future for his family. During Christmas in New York, Pierre spends time with his father, and the truth of their father-son bond is revealed, strengthening their resolve to work together.

1922 New York
14

The downfall arrives

The stock swindler vanishes, Lady Benston wants nothing further to do with Paul, and Pierre is killed driving a new car given him by his father. Joanna refuses to shake Paul's hand, while Hazel laments Pierre's death, marking the collapse of the family's ambitions.

1922 New York, on the road
15

Renewal in Europe

Devastated but determined, Paul seeks out his mother. Madame Azais reminds him that he is free of his father's blood, and they plan to start anew in Europe. Paul kneels and says, Maybe someday, I'll be worthy of you.

Europe

Last Updated: October 09, 2025 at 12:39

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A Modern Hero Summary

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A Modern Hero Summary

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Characters, Settings & Themes in A Modern Hero

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