Hero, The

Hero, The (1921), a play by Gilbert Emery. [Belmont Theatre, 80 perf.] Andrew Lane ( Richard Bennett), an insurance salesman, has struggled during the war years to support his wife, his son, his widowed mother, and a Belgian refugee the Lanes had taken in. On the other hand, Andrew's brother, Oswald ( Robert Ames), has been fighting overseas and comes home a wounded, much‐decorated hero. Before the war, Oswald had been something of a blackguard, so the family hopes his experiences have changed him. But they have not. He is no sooner home than he seduces the refugee and steals church funds. But as Oswald is running off, he stops to rescue some boys from a fire and is burned to death. Andrew can only conclude that Oswald was a hero after all. Originally presented the preceding season for four special matinees, producer Sam H. Harris gave it a regular booking on the strength of its excellent notices. The new reviews were also enthusiastic, but playgoers apparently found the drama discomfiting. It remains one of the best plays to come out of World War I. The New York–born, Amherst‐educated Gilbert EMERY [né Gilbert Emery Bensley Pottle] (1875–1945), was an actor, playwright, and short‐story writer. His longest‐run success was Tarnish (1923), and his social comedy Love in a Mist (1926), written with Amelie Rives, was his only other work to achieve a modest run.