The Deer Hunter
Multiple Oscar-winning classic of American 1970s cinema, an elegy to a trio of blue-collar workers and their service in the Vietnam War. Features Robert De Niro, John Cazale, Christopher Walken, John Savage, Meryl Streep and the now iconic Russian roulette sequences.
Three young working-class men are taken from their humble steel mill jobs to the army recruitment centre, taking their deer-hunting skills to the battlefields of Vietnam. Before their deployment, Michael (De Niro) and Nick (Walken) attend Steven’s (Savage) shotgun wedding – which also doubles as the men’s leaving party. But the horrors they experience as airborne infantry will shake the trio, significantly altering their lives forever.
In order to heighten tension during the Russian roulette sequence, Robert De Niro insisted on putting a single bullet in the gun. Because they were responsible, they made sure the live round wasn't in the chamber before the trigger was pulled. However, the slapping during that scene was not faked at all.
- Director:
- Michael Cimino ('Thunderbolt and Lightfoot', 'Heaven's Gate')
- Writer:
- Michael CiminoDeric WashburnLouis GarfinkleQuinn K. Redeker
- Cast:
- Robert De NiroJohn CazaleJohn SavageChristopher WalkenMeryl StreepGeorge Dzundza
Reviews & comments
Variety
pressThe film is ambitious and succeeds on a number of levels... proves that Cimino is an important director who deserves to be watched carefully.
Total Film
pressCimino's daring elegy to a war-torn community may be a long haul, but the extravagant running time is a small price to pay for such gut-wrenching performances...
The New York Times
pressIts feelings for time, place and blue-collar people are genuine, and its vision is that of an original, major new film maker.
Roger Ebert
pressIt is a heartbreakingly effective fictional machine that evokes the agony of the Vietnam time.
Empire Magazine
pressA simultaneuosly touching and harrowing experience that puts the audience directly in the shoes of one man's experience of Vietnam.
Variety
pressThe film is ambitious and succeeds on a number of levels... proves that Cimino is an important director who deserves to be watched carefully.
Total Film
pressCimino's daring elegy to a war-torn community may be a long haul, but the extravagant running time is a small price to pay for such gut-wrenching performances...
The New York Times
pressIts feelings for time, place and blue-collar people are genuine, and its vision is that of an original, major new film maker.
Roger Ebert
pressIt is a heartbreakingly effective fictional machine that evokes the agony of the Vietnam time.
Empire Magazine
pressA simultaneuosly touching and harrowing experience that puts the audience directly in the shoes of one man's experience of Vietnam.
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