The term “hero” can actually be considered to have a
subjective meaning or definition. Overtime,
this meaning has been transformed into what we collectively consider a
hero. The media has a great deal to do
with this, and this includes movies.
Hanover Street really set the tone of what a true American hero looks
like. We saw that different elements of
an “American hero” were portrayed as having certain elements or
characteristics.
Sellinger would
consider Halloran a hero because of the attitude he possessed. Sellinger’s idea of a hero was opposite of
the characteristics he saw in himself because during the film we saw he had the
need to change. He wanted to become
brave and adventurous to prove to his wife that he was more than just a
gentleman. This gives off the idea that
simply being a “gentleman” is not enough in society. Being the one that takes action and saves the
day is what people will consider a hero according to Sellinger. After he explains his the difference between
Halloran and himself when using the analogy of saving the boy, it becomes clear
that Sellinger is unsatisfied with himself.
Sellinger sees that Halloran is the one that can handle danger, save the
day, and get the girl.
The book tells us that
a deciding factor with Ford taking the role was that he had the opportunity to
kiss a woman on screen. This is
significant because we see this in a lot of other movies where the hero is
rewarded with a girl in the end. It can
be seen from movies such as Spiderman, Batman, and just about any other movie
that portrays a hero. Halloran was
different though because he did not get the girl in the end, but it can be
inferred that he got the girl at the beginning because of his heroic presence
and outlook on life.
The book also tells us
that Halloran did not have fear until he realized there was someone worth
living for. Not having fear at the
beginning was a main factor in considering how brave his character was. It was also interesting how intelligence has
no role in what is considered to be a hero.
Without Sellinger knowing a second language, he and Halloran would have
never made it through most of the second part of the movie. Intelligence was put on the backburner to
most of society in this movie and even today.
Sellinger’s wife didn’t consider him a hero even though he had a high
rank, successful career, and spoke another language.
Ultimately, Sellinger
and Halloran help each other become heroes.
After they fall out the plane Halloran sees that Sellinger will never
make it far without him because he does not even know which direction is
north. Halloran wants to help him
achieve this mission despite the odds working against Sellinger who just sprang
his ankle walking. Sellinger does not
have to do much to help Halloran become a hero at first because Halloran is the
type of character that will take action when it is necessary, even without
being told, like the scene when he punched the man while they were in the
safe. When Sellinger showed Halloran the
picture of his wife, Halloran really showed heroic characteristics because he
wanted to do even more to make sure Sellinger made it home alive.
Heroism frames the final actions of
the film when the two men were escaping and part of the bridge fell, Sellinger
made a sacrifice by telling Halloran to keep going to tell his wife that he
tried. This can be considered heroic
because he is making a great sacrifice and has overall accomplished a lot more
than he ever has. Halloran then makes
his heroic move by picking up the hurt Sellinger and dragging him to wife even
though he has strong feelings for her as well. 
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