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Timeline

Some Kind of Hero (1982) Timeline Explained – Every Event in Order

Release, runtime and language
1982 · 97 min · English
Directed by
Michael Pressman
Starring
Margot Kidder, Richard Pryor

A veteran struggling to readjust to civilian life finds himself facing a series of daunting challenges. Returning from the war, he discovers his wife is missing, his business has failed, and he feels abandoned by a bureaucratic government. This compelling story explores the difficult journey of a man confronting the realities of returning home and seeking a path towards rebuilding his life.

On this page (6)
  1. 1 Events in order (15)
  2. 2 Timeline questions answered
  3. 3 Movie threads
  4. 4 Movies like Some Kind of Hero
  5. 5 Categories
  6. 6 Every angle

15 events in order · contains spoilers

Some Kind of Hero Timeline: Events in Chronological Order

Every key event of Some Kind of Hero (1982) in order, scene by scene, with when and where it takes place. Use it to untangle flashbacks, time jumps and parallel storylines, to refresh your memory before the sequel or to find the exact scene you are thinking of.

  1. Eddie's Return

    Eddie Keller comes back to civilian life after enduring severe physical and psychological torture in Vietnam. His return is overshadowed by the reality that his wife has moved on, leaving him to grapple with the changes in his life.

  2. Life Moving On

    Eddie discovers that his wife has found comfort in another man and has given birth to a child during his absence. This revelation leaves Eddie feeling alienated and heartbroken as he processes the loss of his family life.

  3. Mother's Illness

    Eddie learns about his mother's debilitating stroke, which requires costly medical treatment that he cannot afford. This dilemma intensifies the pressure on Eddie as he feels responsible for her well-being.

  4. Controversial Confession

    After signing a confession to spare another prisoner, Eddie's life descends into turmoil when the Veterans Administration suspends his benefits. The confession leads to widespread controversy, complicating his attempts to reintegrate into society.

  5. Job Struggles

    As Eddie struggles to flip the page on his past, he finds himself with bleak job prospects and no support from the Army. Financial pressures mount, pushing him further into despair as he seeks a way to start anew.

  6. Meeting Toni

    In a local bar, Eddie meets Toni, a high-priced call girl who recognizes his struggles and offers him sympathy. Their unexpected bond becomes a glimmer of hope for Eddie, providing him with solace amidst his tribulations.

    Where
    Local Bar
  7. Witness to a Crime

    Eddie's life takes a turn when he witnesses a failed bank robbery, prompting him to contemplate a heist of his own. This experience serves as a catalyst for his desire to secure funds for his mother's medical care.

  8. Failed Criminal Ventures

    Though Eddie embarks on several attempts at criminal activities, each venture crumbles, leaving him feeling lost. Motivated by a sense of injustice and abandonment, he continues pursuing unconventional paths to support his family.

  9. Successful Heist

    Eddie finally pulls off a successful robbery, getting away with a briefcase filled with valuable bonds. His plans to sell them lead him into a dangerous situation with a mobster, threatening his newfound prospects.

  10. Double Cross

    Eddie finds himself cornered when the mobster's plot to eliminate him is revealed. In a daring twist, he turns the situation around, leading to the arrest of his attackers, showcasing his resilience and resourcefulness.

    Where
    Hotel
  11. Confronting the Authorities

    Feeling overwhelmed and desperate, Eddie confides in Toni about his crimes. Instead of abandoning him, she suggests they escape together, prompting Eddie to confront the police while clad in his Army uniform.

  12. Unexpected Support

    To Eddie's surprise, the police are more focused on honoring his service than pursuing him for his crimes. This unexpected support opens a new door for him to reclaim his life, backed by Toni's unwavering presence.

  13. Seizing a New Beginning

    With assistance from Toni, Eddie prepares to start afresh, armed with the stolen cash and bonds. The prospect of a new life shines amid the chaos, signaling hope in their journey together.

  14. Final Twist

    As the film concludes, a seemingly ordinary bank clerk receives an envelope containing the stolen bonds, alongside a cheeky note from Eddie. This unexpected twist leaves viewers intrigued, hinting at future ramifications.

  15. An Echoing Goodbye

    The final scene captures the clerk opening the envelope, revealing Eddie's note that humorously acknowledges his audacious actions. This moment serves as a reminder of Eddie's complex journey and sets the stage for his legacy.

Last updated: November 17, 2024 at 21:10

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Timeline questions answered

Some Kind of Hero Timeline Explained: Your Questions Answered

When does it happen, and why in that order? The questions people ask about the chronology of Some Kind of Hero (1982): time jumps, flashbacks, cause and effect between scenes and the correct order of events, each answered with spoilers.

Q1

Why did Eddie sign the confession in Vietnam?

Eddie signed a confession to protect another prisoner from further torture. While in captivity by the Vietcong, he made this desperate decision as a way to shield a fellow detainee, though the document would later be used against him by the Veterans Administration during their investigation into his conduct.

  • confession
  • vietnam
  • pow
  • prisoner
  • torture
Q2

Why did the VA suspend Eddie's veteran benefits?

The Veterans Administration suspended Eddie's benefits pending an investigation into the context of his confession. The authorities questioned whether his confession was legitimate or coerced, and this uncertainty led to his benefits being frozen, leaving him without financial support during his reintegration into civilian life.

  • va benefits
  • veteran
  • confession
  • investigation
  • suspension
Q3

Why did Eddie's wife move on while he was in Vietnam?

During Eddie's extended absence due to his captivity and POW experience, his wife found comfort in another man and had a child with him. The time gap and uncertainty of whether Eddie would ever return led her to rebuild her life, leaving Eddie to return to a family that no longer existed in the way he remembered.

  • wife
  • affair
  • child
  • absent
  • marriage
Q4

Why does Eddie turn to robbery instead of finding legitimate work?

Eddie faces multiple barriers to legitimate employment: his contested confession has frozen his veteran benefits, the Army offers no assistance, and potential employers see him as damaged goods. Combined with the urgent need to pay for his mother's stroke treatment, Eddie sees crime as his only viable option to save her life.

Foreshadowing: The timeline shows Eddie struggling with job prospects before he turns to crime.

  • crime
  • robbery
  • job
  • employment
  • desperation
  • mother medical bills
Q5

How does Eddie meet Toni and why does she help him?

Eddie meets Toni, a high-priced call girl, at a local bar where she senses his desperation and despair. Despite their vastly different backgrounds, she offers him compassion when no one else will, and she becomes his primary emotional support system throughout his ordeal.

  • toni
  • call girl
  • bar
  • compassion
  • relationship
Q6

What triggers Eddie's decision to plan his own heist?

Eddie witnesses a failed bank robbery, which serves as the catalyst for his own criminal venture. Seeing others attempt robbery convinces him that crime could be a quick solution to his financial problems, specifically to afford his mother's expensive medical treatment.

  • bank robbery
  • witness
  • heist
  • catalyst
  • inspiration
Q7

Why does the mobster try to kill Eddie after the heist?

After Eddie successfully robs a briefcase filled with bonds and plans to sell them to a mobster, the criminal decides to eliminate Eddie and take the loot for himself. This double cross forces Eddie to defend his life and ultimately turn the tables on his attackers.

  • mobster
  • bonds
  • double cross
  • attempted murder
  • heist
Q8

Why do the police decide not to arrest Eddie at the end?

When Eddie confronts the police wearing his Army uniform, they choose to honor his military service rather than pursue charges for his crimes. This unexpected respect for his veteran status allows him to escape arrest and leave with Toni and the stolen money.

  • police
  • arrest
  • army uniform
  • veteran
  • honor
  • escape
Q9

Why does Eddie choose to confront the police in his Army uniform?

Eddie deliberately wears his Army uniform when facing the police as a final desperate gambit. He calculates that his military service and POW history will earn him sympathy from law enforcement, using his veteran status as a shield against prosecution for his crimes.

  • army uniform
  • confrontation
  • police
  • veteran status
  • desperation
Q10

Why does Eddie desperately need money for his mother's treatment?

Eddie learns his mother suffered a devastating stroke while he was away. The medical treatment required is expensive, and as her son, Eddie feels morally obligated to pay for her care, especially since his veteran benefits are frozen and he cannot find legitimate work.

  • mother
  • stroke
  • medical bills
  • treatment
  • care
  • obligation
Q11

What happens to Eddie and Toni after they escape?

With Toni's help, Eddie prepares to start fresh using the $100,000 and bonds from the robbery. The film ends with them together, suggesting a new beginning despite the criminal means by which they acquired the money. The bittersweet tone reflects their hope while acknowledging the problematic foundation of their escape.

  • toni
  • escape
  • new beginning
  • money
  • bonds
  • start fresh

Movie threads

More Movies Like Some Kind of Hero, by Mood & Story

Curated lists built around what makes Some Kind of Hero tick: the same mood, the same kind of story or the same emotional payoff. Each list explains why these movies belong together.

Movies about veterans against the system like Some Kind of Hero

Stories of soldiers battling bureaucracy and a society that forgot them. Find more films like Some Kind of Hero that explore the difficult homecoming of soldiers. These movies show veterans struggling with PTSD, financial ruin, and a sense of betrayal by the government they served, leading to desperate acts and a search for redemption.

  • gritty
  • desperate
  • resilient
  • angry
  • hopeful
  • melancholic
  • Tone: bittersweet, gritty
  • Pacing: steady, deliberate
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The narrative typically begins with a soldier's return from conflict, only to find his life in shambles. The central conflict pits the individual against an impersonal, flawed system—be it governmental, corporate, or societal. The protagonist's military skills and mindset often clash with civilian norms, driving the story toward a crisis point where they must break the rules to achieve a form of justice or freedom.

Why they belong together: These films are grouped by their shared thematic focus on the veteran experience post-service, a tone of gritty realism mixed with righteous anger, and a protagonist who is both a victim and an agent of their own chaotic destiny. They share a heavy emotional weight and a critical view of institutions.

Movies about crimes of desperation like Some Kind of Hero

When good people are pushed to the edge, right and wrong become blurred. If you liked the moral complexity of Some Kind of Hero, explore these stories of ordinary people driven to crime. These films feature protagonists who commit illegal acts not for greed, but as a last resort against overwhelming odds, creating a bittersweet and tension-filled experience.

  • desperate
  • tense
  • gritty
  • anxious
  • morally complex
  • cathartic
  • Tone: bittersweet, tense
  • Pacing: steady, escalating
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The plot follows a fundamentally decent character who experiences a series of escalating misfortunes that strip away their safety nets. Faced with no legitimate solutions, they reluctantly turn to a criminal plan. The narrative tension comes from the high-risk execution and the internal conflict of the protagonist, who must compromise their values to achieve a precarious victory.

Why they belong together: These movies share a specific narrative arc of a descent into crime driven by desperation rather than malice. They have a high intensity, a steady pacing that builds tension, and a bittersweet emotional tone where success is tainted by the means used to achieve it. The focus is on the moral ambiguity of the actions.

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Movies Like Some Kind of Hero

Similar movies to Some Kind of Hero: the same genre, themes or kind of story. Each one comes with its own plot summary, timeline and ending explained.

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Categories

Movie Lists Featuring Some Kind of Hero

Some Kind of Hero appears in these hand-built movie categories. Each one groups movies by a specific mood, theme or story type, with their plot summaries and endings explained.

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Every angle

Some Kind of Hero (1982) Explained: Plot, Timeline & Characters

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