IMDb > The Deer Hunter (1978)
The Deer Hunter
Quicklinks
Top Links
trailers and videosfull cast and crewtriviaofficial sitesmemorable quotes
Overview
main detailscombined detailsfull cast and crewcompany creditstv schedule
Awards & Reviews
user reviewsexternal reviewsnewsgroup reviewsawardsuser ratingsparents guiderecommendationsmessage board
Plot & Quotes
plot summarysynopsisplot keywordsAmazon.com summarymemorable quotes
Fun Stuff
triviagoofssoundtrack listingcrazy creditsalternate versionsmovie connectionsFAQ
Other Info
merchandising linksbox office/businessrelease datesfilming locationstechnical specslaserdisc detailsDVD detailsliterature listingsNewsDesk
Promotional
taglines trailers and videos posters photo gallery
External Links
showtimesofficial sitesmiscellaneousphotographssound clipsvideo clips

The Deer Hunter (1978) More at IMDbPro »

Photos (see all 39 | slideshow)

IMDb Holiday Movie Guide

Overview

User Rating:
MOVIEmeter: ?
Down 16% in popularity this week. See why on IMDbPro.
Director:
Writers:
Michael Cimino (story) &
Deric Washburn (story) ...
more
Contact:
View company contact information for The Deer Hunter on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
23 February 1979 (USA) more
Genre:
Tagline:
Best Picture 1978 more
Plot:
An in-depth examination of the way that the Vietnam war affects the lives of people in a small industrial town in the USA. full summary | full synopsis
Plot Keywords:
Awards:
Won 5 Oscars. Another 16 wins & 19 nominations more
NewsDesk:
(38 articles)
It’s Complicated
 (From FilmShaft.com. 26 December 2009, 3:06 AM, PST)

Free Flick Fridays: Falling in Love
 (From Tribeca Film. 18 December 2009, 2:00 AM, PST)

User Reviews:
The Deer Hunter: 10/10 more (725 total)

Cast

  (Cast overview, first billed only)

Robert De Niro ... Michael

John Cazale ... Stan

John Savage ... Steven

Christopher Walken ... Nick

Meryl Streep ... Linda
George Dzundza ... John
Chuck Aspegren ... Axel
Shirley Stoler ... Steven's Mother

Rutanya Alda ... Angela
Pierre Segui ... Julien
Mady Kaplan ... Axel's Girl
Amy Wright ... Bridesmaid
Mary Ann Haenel ... Stan's Girl
Richard Kuss ... Linda's Father

Joe Grifasi ... Bandleader
more
Create a character page for: ?

Additional Details

Also Known As:
The Man Who Came to Play (USA) (original script title)
more
Runtime:
182 min
Country:
Color:
Color (Technicolor)
Aspect Ratio:
2.20 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
70 mm 6-Track (70 mm prints) | Dolby (35 mm prints)
Certification:
Canada:16+ (Quebec) (re-rating) (2003) | Canada:18+ (Quebec) (original rating) | Canada:PA (Manitoba) | Canada:R (Nova Scotia/Ontario) | Iceland:16 | Portugal:M/18 | Finland:K-15 (2001) | Finland:K-16 (1989) | Finland:K-18 (1979) | Brazil:18 | South Korea:18 | Argentina:18 | Australia:MA (cable rating) | Australia:R (original rating) | Chile:18 | France:-12 | Netherlands:16 | New Zealand:R16 (video rating) | New Zealand:R18 (DVD rating) | Norway:18 | Singapore:M18 | Sweden:15 | UK:18 (video rating) (1987) | UK:X (original rating) | USA:R | West Germany:16
Company:

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
George Dzundza completely blows the toast line when the group arrives in the mountains the first time. His reaction is legitimate, and a few of the other actors can be seen laughing in response. more
Goofs:
Factual errors: Mike wears the green beret of the U.S. Army Special Forces operator. He is dressed in SF tigerstripe camouflage in Vietnam. However, in full dress uniform his left shoulder sports the 101st Airborne Division badge. more
Quotes:
[first lines]
Michael: Hey, watch out, Axel. We'll be calling him old fireballs after tonight.
Axel: Fuckin' A.
Michael: Not bad.
more
Movie Connections:
Soundtrack:
CAN'T TAKE MY EYES OFF YOU more

FAQ

Has the movie inspired suicides?
A NOTE REGARDING SPOILERS
How much sex, violence, and profanity are in this movie?
more
109 out of 163 people found the following review useful.
The Deer Hunter: 10/10, 18 January 2004
10/10
Author: movieguy1021 (Movieguy1021@comcast.net) from Anywhere, USA

Most young people today need to learn that Robert De Niro was not just the person in Meet the Parents or The Adventures of Rocky and Bullwinkle, but he starred in films like The Deer Hunter, which got him to where he is today. Not only is he a great actor, he always picks good films to act in. And with a strong supporting cast, also, you can't really go wrong with The Deer Hunter. Michael (De Niro), Nick (Christopher Walken), and Steven (John Savage) sign up to go to Vietnam. They leave after a farewell party/wedding party for Stanley and Angela (Rutanya Alda). Once in the midst of the war, they are forced into playing Russian Roulette and eventually they escape, but none of them can forget the experiences from the war. It's sad to see that Michael Cimino fade from view, because his direction here is really memorable and it's what holds the film together. There's about 70 minutes in the beginning of the film that has nothing to do with the rest of the film, but it gets us to know these three main characters, and it seems like you wouldn't care if they even went to Vietnam, because you certainly were intrigued by these three people. And once they're in the perils of war, you feel enough for these three basic people to get through the war. The Russian Roulette scenes are harrowing, even when it's a complete stranger who has the gun to their head. I read that to get the tension on set, a live bullet was put into the gun, but it was checked to make sure that it wasn't the one about to be shot. And, since you've known these people for 90 minutes already, you obviously didn't want them to die, making them all the more nervous. The Deer Hunter is quite unlike another great Vietnam film, Full Metal Jacket. While FMJ just showed the immediate results, this movie showed the results immediately and in the future, back at home. This helped make everything seem more realistic, which it was. For each of the three main characters, the war has changed them greatly, and none for the better. De Niro is great, but the stand out here is Walken, who accurately takes his role and makes it into something memorable. Thankfully, he won best supporting actor. Meryl Streep was nominated as a supporting character, deservedly. However, this movie is not all about the acting, it's about the feeling you get. As one character says, 'I don't know how I feel.' That's exactly how you'll feel after seeing this tour-de-force. My rating: 10/10 Rated R for strong language and violence.

Was the above review useful to you?
more (725 total)

Message Boards

Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for The Deer Hunter (1978)
Recent Posts (updated daily)User
Russian Roulette: I don't get it... marsala_lover
Vastly overrated antimatter33
females under 18. kostis007
MOST OVER RATED MOVIE EVER. dakuxlnc
Somsak Sengvilai - V.C. Referee pa-58
Jon Voight vs. Robert De Niro vs. Gary Busey impossibledreamer
more

Recommendations

If you enjoyed this title, our database also recommends:
- - - - -
Across the Universe Die Blechtrommel Novecento Babel The Indian Runner
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
Show more recommendations

Related Links

Full cast and crew Company credits External reviews
News articles IMDb top 250 movies IMDb Drama section
IMDb UK section Add this title to MyMovies

You may report errors and omissions on this page to the IMDb database managers. They will be examined and if approved will be included in a future update. Clicking the 'Update' button will take you through a step-by-step process.