The Deer Hunter (1978)

Director:

Michael Cimino

Writers:

Michael Cimino (story) &
Deric Washburn (story) ...
(more)

Release Date:

23 February 1979 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | War

Tagline:

Best Picture 1978

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.

Plot Keywords:

Vietnam | Russian Roulette | Escape | Pennsylvania | Vietcong

Awards:

Won 5 Oscars. Another 21 wins & 17 nominations

Cast

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
Christopher Colombi Jr.	...	Wedding Man
Victoria Karnafel	...	Sad Looking Girl
Jack Scardino	...	Cold Old Man
Joe Strnad	...	Bingo Caller
Helen Tomko	...	Helen
Paul D'Amato	...	Sergeant
Dennis Watlington	...	Cab Driver
Charlene Darrow	...	Red Head
Jane-Colette Disko	...	Girl Checker
Michael Wollet	...	Stock Boy
Robert Beard	...	World War Veteran
Joe Dzizmba	...	World War Veteran
Stephen Kopestonsky	...	Priest (as Father Stephen Kopestonsky)
John F. Buchmelter III	...	Bar Patron
Frank Devore	...	Barman
Tom Becker	...	Doctor
Lynn Kongkham	...	Nurse
Nongnuj Timruang	...	Bar Girl
Po Pao Pee	...	Chinese Referee
Dale Burroughs	...	Embassy Guard
Parris Hicks	...	Sergeant
Samui Muang-Intata	...	Chinese Bodyguard
Sapox Colisium	...	Chinese Man
Vitoon Winwitoon	...	NVA Officer
Somsak Sengvilai	...	V.C. Referee
Charan Nusvanon	...	Chinese Boss
Jiam Gongtongsmoot	...	Chinese Man At Door
Chai Peyawan	...	South Vietnamese Prisoner
Mana Hansa	...	South Vietnamese Prisoner
Sombot Jumpanoi	...	South Vietnamese Prisoner
Phip Manee	...	Woman In Village
Ding Santos	...	V.C. Guard
Krieng Chaiyapuk	...	V.C. Guard
Ot Palapoo	...	V.C. Guard
Chok Chai Mahasoke	...	V.C. Guard
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Hilary Brown	...	Herself (archive footage) (uncredited)
Joe Cummings	...	US Embassy Guard (uncredited)
James Kall	...	Altar Boy (uncredited)
Tom Madden	...	Steelworker (uncredited)
Kurtwood Smith	...	POW in River Cage (uncredited) (unconfirmed)
Joel Thingvall	...	Steel Worker (uncredited)

Directed by
Michael Cimino

Writing credits
Michael Cimino		(story) &
Deric Washburn		(story) and
Louis Garfinkle		(story) &
Quinn K. Redeker		(story)
Deric Washburn		(screenplay)

Produced by
Joann Carelli	....	associate producer
Michael Cimino	....	producer
Michael Deeley	....	producer
John Peverall	....	producer
Marion Rosenberg	....	associate producer
Barry Spikings	....	producer

Original Music by
Stanley Myers

Cinematography by
Vilmos Zsigmond		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Peter Zinner

Casting by
Cis Corman

Art Direction by
Ron Hobbs
Kim Swados

Makeup Department
Del Acevedo	....	makeup artist
Edwin Butterworth	....	makeup artist (as Ed Butterworth)
Mary Keats	....	hair stylist
Dick Smith	....	special makeup artist: Thailand
Daniel C. Striepeke	....	special makeup artist: Thailand (as Daniel Striepeke)

Production Management
David C. Anderson	....	production supervisor: Thailand (as David Anderson)
Claude Binyon Jr.	....	production manager: U.S.A.
Ira Loonstein	....	unit production manager: Thailand
Bill Lukather	....	unit production manager: U.S.A.
Michael Orlando	....	production supervisor: Thailand
Elliot Schick	....	executive in charge of production

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Michael Grillo	....	second assistant director (as Mike Grillo)
Charles Okun	....	assistant director
Chase Newhart	....	trainee assistant director (uncredited)

Art Department
Gus Basso	....	greensman
John Blezard	....	assistant: Ron Hobbs, Thailand
Ron Galloway	....	prop man: Thailand
Richard C. Goddard	....	set decorator: U.S.A. (as Dick Goddard)
Alan Hicks	....	set decorator: Thailand
Art Lipschultz	....	prop man: U.S.A.
Harold McConnell	....	leadman: Thailand
Bud Peifer Jr.	....	prop man: U.S.A. (as Bud Peifer)
George Stokes	....	construction coordinator: U.S.A.
James T. Woods	....	painter: Thailand (as Jimmy Woods)
Mickey Woods	....	construction coordinator: Thailand
Robert M. Anderson	....	property master: Thailand (uncredited)
Tom Jung	....	poster artist (uncredited)
Tom Jung	....	poster designer (uncredited)
Donald B. Nunley	....	property master (uncredited)

Sound Department
Donald L. Bolger	....	boom man (as Don Bolger)
Teri E. Dorman	....	sound editor
James Fritch	....	sound editor
Stephen Katz	....	sound consultant: Dolby (as Steve Katz)
James J. Klinger	....	supervising sound effects editor
C. Darin Knight	....	sound mixer (as Darrin Knight)
Bobbe Kurtz	....	looping editor
William L. McCaughey	....	sound re-recording mixer (as William McCaughey)
Richard Portman	....	sound re-recording mixer
Frank M. Reale	....	sound re-recording mixer (as Frank Reale)
Aaron Rochin	....	sound re-recording mixer

Special Effects by
Fred Cramer	....	special effects
Garry Elmendorf	....	assistant special effects (as Gary Elmendorf)
Jay King	....	assistant special effects: Thailand
Bob Myers	....	special effects crew (uncredited)
Ian Wingrove	....	pyro supervisor (uncredited)

Stunts
Max Balchowsky	....	stuntman
Jerry Brutsche	....	stuntman (as Jerry Bruthsche)
Howard Curtis	....	stuntman
Ted Duncan	....	stuntman
Bob Harris	....	stuntman
Carey Loftin	....	stunt coordinator: US
Troy Melton	....	stuntman
Buddy Van Horn	....	stunt coordinator: Thailand
Jack Verbois	....	stuntman
Chuck Waters	....	stuntman
Steven Burnett	....	stunts (uncredited)
Jay King	....	stunt performer (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Enrique Bravo	....	camera operator (as Ricky Bravo)
Greer Cavagnaro	....	still photographer: U.S.A.
Katrina Franken	....	still photographer: Thailand
Michael Gershman	....	assistant cameraman (as Mike Gershman)
Philip Jones Griffiths	....	special still photographer
Wynn Hammer	....	still photographer: U.S.A.
Daniel R. Jordan	....	grip (as Danny Jordan)
Keith Kelsay	....	assistant cameraman
Jack Kirk	....	electrician
Dieter Ludwig	....	still photographer: Thailand (as Deiter Ludwig)
Rick Martens	....	gaffer
Danny Marzolo	....	electrician
Nick McLean	....	camera operator
Robert Moore	....	key grip (as Bob Moore)
Fred Muncey	....	best boy electrician
Lou Noto	....	assistant cameraman
Fred Schuler	....	camera operator
Don Whipple	....	best boy grip
Larry Whitehead	....	electrician
Tim Ryan	....	dolly grip (uncredited)

Casting Department
Michael Denison	....	assistant: Cis Corman, Thailand
Beth Donohue	....	assistant: Cis Corman, Thailand

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Sandy Berke Jordan	....	costumer: women (as Sandy Berke)
Laurie Riley	....	costumer: men
Eric Seelig	....	costume supervisor

Editorial Department
Thomas K. Avildsen	....	assistant editor
Penelope Shaw	....	assistant editor
Florence Williamson	....	assistant editor (as Flo Williamson)

Music Department
William Saracino	....	supervising music editor
John Williams	....	performer: main title theme

Transportation Department
Frank 'Cat' Ballou	....	transportation coordinator: U.S.A.
Arthur Dunne	....	transportation coordinator: Thailand (as Arthur Dunn)

Other crew
Barry Butler	....	production assistant: Thailand
Joann Carelli	....	production consultant
Eleanor Dawson	....	advisor: Vietnamese
Richard Dioguardi	....	technical advisor: military
Exa Durham	....	production secretary
Frank Ernst	....	location manager: Thailand
Wayne Fitzgerald	....	title designer
Michael Flynn	....	production assistant: Thailand (as Mike Flynn)
Patrick Gauvain	....	production assistant: Thailand
Ralph Naradini	....	marine engineer
Patty Nelson	....	secretary: Mr. Cimino
June Samson	....	script supervisor
Nanette Siegert	....	production coordinator
M.R. Boonyalak Sukawasdi	....	location manager: Thailand
Robert Werden	....	unit publicist (as Bob Werden)
David Hakim	....	publicity writer (uncredited)
Charles Hubbard	....	location manager: Thailand (uncredited)
Dominic Santarone	....	caterer (uncredited)
Ruth Santarone	....	caterer (uncredited)

Thanks
Hilary Brown	....	grateful acknowledgement: The ABC Evening News (as Hillary Brown)
Sherman Grinberg	....	grateful acknowledgement: The ABC Evening News
Stephen Kopestonsky	....	grateful acknowledgement: St. Theodosius Cathedral (as Reverend T. Stephen Kopestonsky)
Ken Kovach	....	grateful acknowledgement: choir director, St. Theodosius Cathedral
Michelle Kuhar	....	grateful acknowledgement: The Ohio Film Bureau
Tim Potts	....	grateful acknowledgement: The Office of Film Promotion, Pennsylvania Department of Commerce
John D. Rockefeller III	....	grateful acknowledgment (as Governor John D. Rockefeller III)
Mr. Thompson	....	grateful acknowledgement: liason and technical advisor, Thailand

Production Companies

• EMI Films (presents) (as EMI)
• Universal Pictures

Distributors

• Universal Pictures (1978) (USA) (theatrical)
• Cinéma International Corporation (CIC) (1979) (Argentina) (theatrical)
• Columbia-EMI-Warner (1979) (UK) (theatrical)
• Kinosto (1979) (Finland) (theatrical)
• Les Artistes Associés S.A.B. (1979) (Belgium) (theatrical)
• Mainostelevisio (MTV3) (1984) (Finland) (TV) (MTV1)
• Thorn EMI Video (1980s) (Finland) (VHS)
• TV3 (1990) (Finland) (TV)
• MCA/Universal Home Video (1991) (USA) (VHS) (For MCA Home Video)
• Nelonen (1997) (Finland) (TV)
• Universal Home Video (1997) (USA) (VHS)
• Universal Pictures Finland Oy (2012) (Finland) (DVD) (Blu-ray) (both 100th Anniversary Editions)
• Future Film (2001) (Finland) (DVD)
• Kinowelt Home Entertainment (2001) (Germany) (DVD)
• Gativideo (2002) (Argentina) (DVD)
• Universal Pictures Finland Oy (2007) (Finland) (DVD) (2 disc edition)
• Universal Pictures Benelux (2008) (Netherlands) (DVD) (Blu-ray)
• Yleisradio (YLE) (2008) (2009) (Finland) (TV)
• IPA Asia Pacific (2009) (Thailand) (DVD)
• Universal Pictures Benelux (2009) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• IPA Asia Pacific (2010) (Taiwan) (DVD)
• Panorama Distributions (2010) (Hong Kong) (DVD) (Blu-ray)
• Sandrew Film & Teater (1979) (Sweden) (theatrical)
• Solopan (1988) (Poland) (theatrical)
• United Artists (1979) (France) (theatrical) (as Les Artistes Associés)
• Universal Pictures Canada (1979) (Canada) (theatrical)
• Argentina Video Home (????) (Argentina) (VHS)
• Atlantic Film (2002) (Sweden) (DVD)
• Cannon Screen Entertainment (198?) (West Germany) (VHS)
• Ekaterinburg Art Home Video (EAHV) (Russia) (VHS)
• Gativideo (2006) (Argentina) (DVD)
• Leader Music (2011) (Argentina) (DVD) (as Leader Vision)
• Lumiere Home Video (Australia) (VHS)
• MCA/Universal Home Video (USA) (DVD)
• MCA/Universal Home Video (USA) (laserdisc)
• Thorn EMI Video Australia
• Universal Films Española (Spain)
• Universal Pictures Nordic (2007) (Sweden) (DVD)
• Universal Pictures Nordic (2007) (Sweden) (DVD) (HD DVD)
• Universal Pictures Nordic (2008) (Sweden) (DVD) (Blu-ray)
• Universal Pictures Nordic (2009) (Sweden) (DVD)
• Universal Pictures Nordic (2009) (Sweden) (DVD) (Blu-ray)
• Universal Studios Home Entertainment (2006) (USA) (DVD) (HD DVD)
• Universal Studios Home Entertainment (2011) (USA) (DVD) (Blu-ray)
• Warner Home Video

Other Companies

• ABC Evening News, The  we gratefully acknowledge the cooperation of the following organization in the production of "The Deer Hunter" (as The ABC Evening News)
• Choir and Congregation of St. Theodosius Cathedral, Cleveland, Ohio, The  we gratefully acknowledge the cooperation of the following organization in the production of "The Deer Hunter" (as The Choir and the Congregation of St. Theodosius Cathedral, Cleveland, Ohio)
• Citizens of Bangkok, The  we gratefully acknowledge the cooperation of the following organization in the production of "The Deer Hunter" (as The Citizens of Bangkok)
• Government of Thailand, The  we gratefully acknowledge the cooperation of the following organization in the production of "The Deer Hunter" (as The Government of Thailand)
• Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) Studios  post-production sound (as MGM Studios)
• Pennsylvania Department of Commerce, The Office of Film Promotion  we gratefully acknowledge the cooperation of the following organization in the production of "The Deer Hunter" (as The Office of Film Promotion, Pennsylvania Department of Commerce)
• People of Mingo Junction, Ohio, The  we gratefully acknowledge the cooperation of the following organization in the production of "The Deer Hunter" (as The People of Mingo Junction, Ohio)
• People of the State of West Virginia, The  we gratefully acknowledge the cooperation of the following organization in the production of "The Deer Hunter" (as The People of the State of West Virginia)
• Royal Thai Police, The - Aviation Division  we gratefully acknowledge the cooperation of the following organization in the production of "The Deer Hunter" (as The Royal Thai Police Aviation Division)
• The Ohio Film Bureau  we gratefully acknowledge the cooperation of the following organization in the production of "The Deer Hunter"
• The United States Department of Interior, National Park Service  we gratefully acknowledge the cooperation of the following organization in the production of "The Deer Hunter" (as North Cascades National Park, United States Department of the Interior, National Park Service)
• United States Steel  we gratefully acknowledge the cooperation of the following organization in the production of "The Deer Hunter" (as United States Steel Corporation, Cleveland, Ohio)
• Veterans Administration Hospital, Cleveland, OH, The  we gratefully acknowledge the cooperation of the following organization in the production of "The Deer Hunter" (as The Veterans Administration Hospital, Cleveland, Ohio)

Also Known As:

"Deer Hunter" - Japan (English title)

Runtime:

182 min

Country:

UK | USA

Language:

English | Russian | Vietnamese | French

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

70 mm 6-Track (70 mm prints) | Dolby (35 mm prints)

Certification:

Argentina:18 (original rating) | 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) (1996) (2006) | UK:X (original rating) | USA:R (PCA #25008) | West Germany:16 | 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-16 (1988) | Finland:K-18 (1979) | Brazil:18 | South Korea:18 | Argentina:16 (re-rating) | Peru:18 | UK:18 (tv rating) | Japan:PG12 (2010) | Italy:VM14

Filming Locations:

993 N. 7th Street, Steubenville, Ohio, USA

Company:

EMI Films

Trivia:

The church used in the wedding sequence was the Theodosius Russian Orthodox Cathedral located in Cleveland, Ohio. One can clearly see the name plaque in one scene.

Goofs:

Crew or equipment visible: When Angela looks at herself in the mirror wearing her wedding gown, a mic hanging over her head is also reflected in the mirror.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Michael:Hey, watch out, Axel. We'll be calling him old fireballs after tonight.
Axel:Fuckin' A.
Michael:Not bad.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Sniper 3 (2004) (V)

Soundtrack:

Drop-Kick Me, Jesus (Through the Goalposts of Life)

Touching drama about the ruin of a group of men's friendship by war

"The Deer Hunter" is not a film about the Vietnam war, as it is wrongly said in many cases.

"The Deer Hunter" is a film tells the story of 3 friends within about 5-6 years, during which their friendship is repeatedly put to the test.

It is primarily a picture of the contemporary life of a group of people around 30 living in a small American town during the Vietnam war.

The first hour of the film portrays the every day life of three friends Mike (De Niro), Steven (Savage) and Nick (Walken), who look forward to Steve's wedding but at the same time have to prepare for their commitment in Vietnam. The main actors (above all De Niro and Walken) perfectly picture the character's inner conflict between their easygoing home town life and the forthcoming assignment in Vietnam. Despite this conflict the characters don't show their concerns to their environment.

Particularly Nick is worried about him and his friends leaving his home town and perhaps never coming back, but he only tells his best friend Mike of his thoughts, who is much more resolute and sees their engagement as a strong masculine act.

Cimino manages to show the simple irrationality of young men, going to a senseless war from which they might never return for the only purpose of glory and approval, and abandoning their settled and happy life for it. The spectator just can't understand why those young men voluntarily sign for the army and give up everything they have. The passage from the small-town-idyll to the war cruelty is greatly pictured. Cimino does not show the three friends' way to Vietnam or the training, he immediately switches from a happy get-together to the cruel war captivity of the Vietcong. This passage perfectly underlines the contrast and the inexplicability of the three men's actions.

Although the passage that is set in Vietnam is only about one third of the whole film long, the war is omnipresent at any time, which is probably the best benefit of the whole film, Cimino does not need to bomb the spectator with pictures of crying children, mutilated soldiers or desert battlefields in order to illustrate the cruelty of war. Far from it! The changed behavior of all characters after the friends' returns tell more about wars' capability of changing someone's life, than anything else.

And the fact that the many dreams that these three friends had before they went to Vietnam didn't come true, because of their longing for recognition by becoming an acclaimed veteran can even pluck your heartstrings.

Cimino's great directing and the cast's awesome acting provide for a touching and honest drama about the friendship of a group of young men, that is destroyed by the Vietnam war.