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The Deer Hunter

"God bless America."

1978-12-08 Drama 3hr 3m

A group of working-class friends decide to enlist in the Army during the Vietnam War and finds it to be hellish chaos -- not the noble venture they imagined. Before they left, Steven married his pregnant girlfriend -- and Michael and Nick were in love with the same woman. But all three are different men upon their return.

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The Deer Hunter
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Storyline

A group of working-class friends decide to enlist in the Army during the Vietnam War and finds it to be hellish chaos -- not the noble venture they imagined. Before they left, Steven married his pregnant girlfriend -- and Michael and Nick were in love with the same woman. But all three are different men upon their return.

  • Released
    1978-12-08
  • Revenue
    $49,000,000
  • Budget
    $15,000,000
  • Runtime
    3hr 3m
  • Genre
    Drama, War
  • Status
    Released
  • Language
    English, Français, Pусский, Tiếng Việt
  • imdb-logo
    8.1
  • Production
    Universal Pictures, EMI Films

Crew

Michael Cimino
Director
Deric Washburn
Screenplay
Michael Cimino
Producer
Keywords:
vietnam war vietnam veteran small town suicide vietnam post-traumatic stress disorder (ptsd) escape pennsylvania, usa saigon friends russian roulette wedding deer hunting steel worker anti war revolver drunkenness viet cong romantic triangle friends love same woman prisoner of war camp slavic american

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Cast

Robert De Niro

Robert De Niro
Michael Vronsky
Christopher Walken

Christopher Walken
Nikanor "Nick" Chevotarevich
John Cazale

John Cazale
Stan
John Savage

John Savage
Steven Pushkov
Meryl Streep

Meryl Streep
Linda
George Dzundza

George Dzundza
John
Rutanya Alda

Rutanya Alda
Angela
Pierre Segui

Pierre Segui
Julien
Amy Wright

Amy Wright
Bridesmaid
Richard Kuss

Richard Kuss
Linda's Father
Joe Grifasi

Joe Grifasi
Bandleader
Dennis Watlington

Dennis Watlington
Cab Driver
Shirley Stoler

Shirley Stoler
Steven's Mother
Chuck Aspegren

Chuck Aspegren
Axel
Mary Ann Haenel

Mary Ann Haenel
Stan's Girl
Mady Kaplan

Mady Kaplan
Axel's Girl
Paul D'Amato

Paul D'Amato
Sergeant
Christopher Colombi Jr.

Christopher Colombi Jr.
Wedding Man
Victoria Karnafel

Victoria Karnafel
Sad Looking Girl
Jack Scardino

Jack Scardino
Cold Old Man
Joe Strnad

Joe Strnad
Bingo Caller
Helen Tomko

Helen Tomko
Helen
Charlene Darrow

Charlene Darrow
Red Head
Jane-Colette Disko

Jane-Colette Disko
Girl Checker
Michael Wollet

Michael Wollet
Stock Boy
Robert Beard

Robert Beard
World War Veteran
Joe Dzizmba

Joe Dzizmba
World War Veteran
Stephen Kopestonsky

Stephen Kopestonsky
Priest
John F. Buchmelter III

John F. Buchmelter III
Bar Patron
Frank Devore

Frank Devore
Barman
Tom Becker

Tom Becker
Doctor
Lynn Kongkham

Lynn Kongkham
Nurse
Nongnuj Timruang

Nongnuj Timruang
Bar Girl
Po Pao Pee

Po Pao Pee
Chinese Referee
Dale Burroughs

Dale Burroughs
Embassy Guard
Parris Hicks

Parris Hicks
Sergeant
Samui Muang-Intata

Samui Muang-Intata
Chinese Bodyguard
Sapox Colisium

Sapox Colisium
Chinese Man
Vitoon Winwitoon

Vitoon Winwitoon
NVA Officer
Somsak Sengvilai

Somsak Sengvilai
V.C. Referee
Charan Nusvanon

Charan Nusvanon
Chinese Boss
Jiam Gongtongsmoot

Jiam Gongtongsmoot
Chinese Man At Door
Chai Peyawan

Chai Peyawan
South Vietnamese Prisoner
Mana Hansa

Mana Hansa
South Vietnamese Prisoner
Sombot Jumpanoi

Sombot Jumpanoi
South Vietnamese Prisoner
Phip Manee

Phip Manee
Woman In Village
Ding Santos

Ding Santos
V.C. Guard
Krieng Chaiyapuk

Krieng Chaiyapuk
V.C. Guard
Ot Palapoo

Ot Palapoo
V.C. Guard
Chok Chai Mahasoke

Chok Chai Mahasoke
V.C. Guard
Joel Thingvall

Joel Thingvall
Steel Worker (uncredited)
Gary A. Jones

Gary A. Jones
Hospital Orderly (uncredited)

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Movie Reviews

Reviews for The Deer Hunter
reviewer avatar

A Review by tanty 6

Written by tanty on 2014-10-10

Slow pace movie which nicely depicts the life of worker class Russian inmigrants in USA and the impact that its young generation receives fr... read more

Slow pace movie which nicely depicts the life of worker class Russian inmigrants in USA and the impact that its young generation receives from Vietnam's war. The actual shock cause being the crazy game of the Russian roulette only helps from the artistic point of view of the film but it is well blended into the actual story.

reviewer avatar

A Review by talisencrw 10

Written by talisencrw on 2016-07-19

With director Cimino's recent death and his reputation in tatters since the debacle of 'Heaven's Gate', I decided to visit 'The Deer Hunter'... read more

With director Cimino's recent death and his reputation in tatters since the debacle of 'Heaven's Gate', I decided to visit 'The Deer Hunter'. Though over three hours long, it's astonishing, paced so achingly right and I can see why he rightfully earned the 'carte blanche' that would unfortunately lead to his downfall (as well as an entire studio's) as soon as he made his next film. But to reach such heights and to have such ambition--as well as undeniable talent--is a victory in and of itself. Just armed with the main five actors alone, at the zenith of their craft, a fine script (really the first interesting and well-deliberated Vietnam film to hit the big screen) and Vilmos Zsigmond behind the camera meant that this would prove something special. Scenes that will haunt you forever. My favourite shot is the incredible 360-degree pan shot around Linda's bedroom when she realizes she's given up on Nick and is going to declare her love to Michael--extraordinary stuff. What's YOURS? Many film lovers who despise Cimino's work instantly clam up when 'The Deer Hunter' is mentioned...and there's a reason for that. It's deservedly considered one of the finest American films of the 70's--a decade that was chock-full of great ones.

reviewer avatar

A Review by JPV852 9

Written by JPV852 on 2020-06-06

The Deer Hunter (1978) — Excellent character war drama that showcases some great performances, mainly De Niro and Walken. Directed by Michae... read more

The Deer Hunter (1978) — Excellent character war drama that showcases some great performances, mainly De Niro and Walken. Directed by Michael Cimino, this 3-hour film takes its time developing these characters and shows the psychological side of the horrors of Vietnam, and war in general. Probably makes a good companion film with Apocalypse Now, released only seven months later (in the U.S.). **4.5/5**

reviewer avatar

A Review by Geronimo1967 7

Written by Geronimo1967 on 2024-04-06

Did Michael Cimino ever make another movie? I wouldn't be surprised if not after this harrowing and intense look at the human psyche after i... read more

Did Michael Cimino ever make another movie? I wouldn't be surprised if not after this harrowing and intense look at the human psyche after it's exposure to the brutalities of war. The war was in Vietnam, and the protagonists here are those who survived - to varying degrees - to return home to what they hope will be some sort of normality. To some semblance of what they left behind. To some humanity. The three men all come from an Ohio sawmill town via some Eastern Europe antecedence, and they willingly enlist to fight for their country "Michael" (Robert De Niro), "Nicky" (Christopher Walken) and "Steven" (John Savage). It's the latter man who has just got married and so who feels a great wrench when they are almost summarily deployed. That deployment sees them captured, tortured and exposed to the most deadly game of Russian roulette you're ever likely to witness. The narrative now splices a little so we can follow the three character's individual experiences in escaping and trying to get home. The way the threads weave here is hugely impactful on the presentation of the story to the audience. The characterful efforts - especially from Savage, and a really taut and considered direction allow us to observe the impact of the conflict not just on the men - physically, emotionally and psychologically; but on those left behind. Those epitomised by "Linda" (Meryl Streep) whose needs are torn between loyalty to those absent and need for comfort from those not. It's not meant to be an history, cinematic licence abounds. This is essentially a darkly written observation of the consequences of war, or trauma and of loyalty. It could be about any war. These are not soldiers, they are barely-trained young men in uniform and the plot could just as readily apply to any other people drafted in to fight for a cause they didn't understand in a place they'd probably never heard of. Does it need to be three hours long? My jury is out on that. It does allow itself to meander at times, but the more I watch it the more I wonder if Cimino hasn't built in some necessary steam valves for us to rest from the intensity of the characterisations here. The intensity of the photography and Stanley Myers score - with some almost incongruous help from the guitar themed "Cavatina" by (the other) John Williams makes this as must for a big screen, makes you think a bit and certainly offers career best roles from Walken and Savage.

Read Full Review (The thoughts and opinions expressed here are solely those of the reviewer.)
A Review by Andres Gomez

Slow pace movie which nicely depicts the life of worker class Russian inmigrants in USA and the impact that its young generation receives from Vietnam's war. The actual shock cause being the crazy game of the Russian roulette only helps ...

reviewer avatar

A Review by tanty 6

Written by tanty on 2014-10-10

Slow pace movie which nicely depicts the life of worker class Russian inmigrants in USA and the impact that its young generation receives from Vietnam's war. The actual shock cause being the crazy ...

read more
reviewer avatar

A Review by talisencrw 10

Written by talisencrw on 2016-07-19

With director Cimino's recent death and his reputation in tatters since the debacle of 'Heaven's Gate', I decided to visit 'The Deer Hunter'. Though over three hours long, it's astonishing, paced so a...

read more
reviewer avatar

A Review by JPV852 9

Written by JPV852 on 2020-06-06

The Deer Hunter (1978) — Excellent character war drama that showcases some great performances, mainly De Niro and Walken. Directed by Michael Cimino, this 3-hour film takes its time developing these c...

read more
reviewer avatar

A Review by Geronimo1967 7

Written by Geronimo1967 on 2024-04-06

Did Michael Cimino ever make another movie? I wouldn't be surprised if not after this harrowing and intense look at the human psyche after it's exposure to the brutalities of war. The war was in Vietn...

read more