Heaven's Gate (1980)

Director:

Michael Cimino

Writer:

Michael Cimino (written by)

Release Date:

19 November 1980 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | History | Western

Tagline:

What one loves about life are the things that fade.

Plot:

Michael Cimino's bleak anti-western based on events in 1890s Wyoming. Sheriff James Averill attempts...

Plot Keywords:

Immigrant | Love | Sheriff | Frontier | Battle

Awards:

Nominated for Oscar. Another 1 win & 5 nominations

Cast

Kris Kristofferson	...	James Averill
Christopher Walken	...	Nathan D. Champion (as Chris Walken)
John Hurt	...	Billy Irvine
Sam Waterston	...	Frank Canton
Brad Dourif	...	Mr. Eggleston
Isabelle Huppert	...	Ella Watson
Joseph Cotten	...	The Reverend Doctor
Jeff Bridges	...	John L. Bridges
Ronnie Hawkins	...	Major Wolcott
Paul Koslo	...	Mayor Charlie Lezak
Geoffrey Lewis	...	Trapper Fred
Richard Masur	...	Cully
Rosie Vela	...	Beautiful girl (as Roseanne Vela)
Mary Catherine Wright	...	Nell (as Mary C. Wright)
Nicholas Woodeson	...	Small man
Stefan Shcherby	...	Big man
Waldemar Kalinowski	...	Photographer
Terry O'Quinn	...	Capt. Minardi
Jack Conley	...	Morrison (as John Conley)
Margaret Benczak	...	Mrs. Eggleston
Jim Knobeloch	...	Kopestansky (as James Knobeloch)
Erika Petersen	...	Mrs. Kopestonsky
Robin Bartlett	...	Mrs. Lezak
Tom Noonan	...	Jake
Marat Yusim	...	Russian merchant
Aivars Smits	...	Mr. Kovach
Gordana Rashovich	...	Mrs. Kovach
Jarlath Conroy	...	Mercenary in new suit
Allen Keller	...	Dudley
Caroline Kava	...	Stefka
Mady Kaplan	...	Kathia
Anna Levine	...	Little Dot
Pat Hodges	...	Jessie
Mickey Rourke	...	Nick Ray
Kevin McClarnon	...	Arapaho Brown
Kai Wulff	...	German merchant
Steven Majstorovic	...	Czech merchant (as Steve Majstorovic)
Gabriel Walsh	...	Zindel's clerk
Norton Buffalo	...	Private
Jack Blessing	...	Emigrant boy
Jerry Sullivan	...	Governor of Wyoming
Jerry McGee	...	Heaven's Gate band
Cleve Dupin	...	Heaven's Gate band
Stephen Bruton	...	Heaven's Gate band
Sean Hopper	...	Heaven's Gate band
David Mansfield	...	John DeCoy, Heaven's Gate band violinist
T-Bone Burnett	...	Heaven's Gate band
David S. Cass Sr.	...	Moustached mercenary (as David Cass)
Paul D'Amato	...	Bearded mercenary
Peter Osusky	...	Peter
Ivan Kormanik	...	Ivan
Michael Christensen	...	Juggler
Anatoli Davydov	...	Fighting Bulgarian emigrant (as Anatoly Davydov)
Nina Gaidarova	...	Bulgarian emigrant's wife
Wally McCleskey	...	Chicken fighter
Gary Vezane	...	Canton's bodyguard (as Gary 'Buzz' Vezane)
H.P. Evetts	...	Wolcott's bodyguard
Bruce Morgan	...	Miner (mercenary)
Bobby Faber	...	Class marshal (Harvard)
Judi Trott	...	Irvine's girlfriend (as Judi Trot)
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Loyd Catlett	...	Morison's sentry (uncredited)
Willem Dafoe	...	Extra (uncredited)
Juli Erickson	...	Refugee (uncredited)
Les Gapay	...	Extra (uncredited)
Ian Hislop	...	Bit Part - Graduation Scene (uncredited)
Al Nazario Hunter	...	Regulator (uncredited)
Lincoln Hurst	...	Harvard Undergraduate (uncredited)
David Lewis	...	Extra (uncredited)
Norbert Weisser	...	Immigrant (uncredited)
Eric Wood	...	Immigrant (uncredited)

Directed by
Michael Cimino

Writing credits
Michael Cimino		(written by)

Produced by
Joann Carelli	....	producer
Denis O'Dell	....	executive producer
Charles Okun	....	executive producer
William Reynolds	....	executive producer

Original Music by
David Mansfield

Cinematography by
Vilmos Zsigmond

Film Editing by
Lisa Fruchtman
Gerald B. Greenberg		(as Gerald Greenberg)
William Reynolds
Tom Rolf

Casting by
Cis Corman
Tony Gaznick
Jane Halloran

Production Design by
Tambi Larsen

Art Direction by
Spencer Deverell		(as Spencer Deverill)
Maurice Fowler

Set Decoration by
James L. Berkey		(as Jim Berkey)
Josie MacAvin

Costume Design by
J. Allen Highfill		(as Allen Highfill)

Makeup Department
Thomas R. Burman	....	special makeup effects artist (as Tom Burman)
Verne Caruso	....	hair stylist (as Vern Caruso)
Ken Chase	....	makeup artist
Tom Hoerber	....	makeup artist (as Thomas A. Hoerber)
Mary Keats	....	hair stylist
Ben Nye	....	makeup artist
Jerry O'Dell	....	makeup artist (as Gerald W. O'Dell)
Ken Diaz	....	makeup artist (uncredited)

Production Management
Robert Grand	....	production manager (as Bob Grand)
Denis O'Dell	....	production manager (as Dennis O'Dell)
Charles Okun	....	production manager
Peter Price	....	production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Andy Armstrong	....	second assistant director
Dennis Capps	....	second assistant director
Brian W. Cook	....	assistant director (as Brian Cook)
Richard Graves	....	second assistant director
Michael Grillo	....	assistant director
Terry Needham	....	second assistant director
Michael Stevenson	....	second assistant director
Ken Tuohy	....	second assistant director

Art Department
Ragnar Antonsen	....	drapery foreman
Gus Basso	....	greensman
Joseph D. Brady	....	construction foreman
Carmine Goglia	....	stand-by painter
Jaymes Hinkle	....	sign painter (as Jimmy J. Hinkle)
Maurice Larson	....	sign painter gang boss
Nancy Mickelberry	....	set designer
James F. Orendorff	....	construction coordinator (as James Orendorff)
David Q. Quick	....	assistant property master (as David Quick)
Rudy Reachi	....	assistant property master (as Rodolfo Reachi)
Bob Sherwood	....	stand-by propman
Alan Sims	....	assistant property master
Alan Sims	....	lead man
Robert J. Visciglia Sr.	....	property master (as Robert Visciglia)
James T. Woods	....	painter gang boss
Tom Jung	....	poster artist (uncredited)
Tom Jung	....	poster designer (uncredited)
William Ladd Skinner	....	set designer (uncredited)

Sound Department
Richard Adams	....	sound editor (as Richard W. Adams)
Donald L. Bolger	....	boom operator (as Don Bolger)
Charles J. Bond	....	cable person (as Charles Bond)
Arthur Carelli	....	cable person
Ken Dufva	....	foley artist
Michael Jablow	....	assistant sound editor
Chris Jenkins	....	sound re-recording mixer
James J. Klinger	....	supervising sound editor
Jas. Klinger	....	assistant sound editor
C. Darin Knight	....	sound mixer (as Darin Knight)
Robert Knudson	....	sound re-recording mixer (as Buzz Knudsen)
Skip MacDonald	....	assistant sound editor
Don MacDougall	....	sound re-recording mixer (as Don Mac Dougall)
Tom C. McCarthy	....	sound editor (as Tom McCarthy)
Gene Radzik	....	stereo sound consultant: Dolby (2004 5.1 update)
Winston Ryder	....	sound editor
Curt Schulkey	....	sound editor
Jonathan Andrews	....	sound liason (uncredited)
Malcolm Davies	....	sound (uncredited)
Richard Portman	....	sound re-recording mixer (uncredited)

Special Effects by
James Camomile	....	special effects (as Jim Camomile)
Stan Parks	....	special effects
Ken Pepiot	....	special effects
Samuel E. Price	....	special effects (as Sam Price)
Kevin Quibell	....	special effects
Paul Stewart	....	special effects

Stunts
Tom Elliott	....	stunts
Buddy Van Horn	....	stunt coordinator
William H. Burton	....	stunts (uncredited)
Hank Calia	....	stunts (uncredited)
Joe Finnegan	....	stunts (uncredited)
Alan Gibbs	....	stunts (uncredited)
Bill Hart	....	stunts (uncredited)
Billy Hank Hooker	....	stunts (uncredited)
Leroy Johnson	....	stunts (uncredited)
George Orrison	....	stunts (uncredited)
Larry Randles	....	stunts (uncredited)
Walter Scott	....	stunts (uncredited)
Chuck Waters	....	stunts (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Tony Cridlin	....	key grip
Ray De La Motte	....	camera operator
Dick Deats	....	key grip (as Richard Deats)
Doug DiGioia	....	camera operator (as Doug DiGoia)
Eric Engler	....	assistant camera
Jeff Gershman	....	camera operator (as Jeff Gerhsman)
Michael Gershman	....	assistant camera
Paul Gilbert	....	camera operator
Ernst Haas	....	still photographer
John Harris	....	camera operator
Lee Heckler	....	gaffer
John Hull	....	grip
Jan Kiesser	....	camera operator
Kyle T. MacDowell	....	grip
Ken Miller	....	best boy grip
Louis Niemeyer	....	assistant camera
Ken Nishino	....	assistant camera
Kelvin Pike	....	camera operator
Paul M. Pollard	....	camera operator (as Paul Pollard)
László Regos	....	camera operator (as Laszlo Regos)
Joseph D. Steuben	....	camera operator (as Joseph Steuben)
Jenny Thomson	....	camera operator: "b" camera, second unit

Casting Department
Pam Caper	....	casting associate
Jim Comfort	....	extras casting assistant

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Beth Alexander	....	costumer
Sandy Berke Jordan	....	costumer: women (as Sandy Berke)
James P. Cullen	....	costumer
Barry Francis Delaney	....	costumer (as Barry Delaney)
Claudia Everett	....	wardrobe assistant
Frimi Okun	....	costumer
Laurie Riley	....	costumer: men

Editorial Department
Donah Bassett	....	negative cutter
Mellissa Bretherton	....	assistant editor
Neil Farrell	....	assistant editor
Aubrey Head	....	color timer
Harry Peck Bolles	....	apprentice editor
Michael E. Polakow	....	assistant editor
Michael Ripps	....	assistant editor
Ralph Sandler	....	assistant film editor
Penelope Shaw	....	assistant editor
José Antonio Torres	....	assistant film editor (as Jose Torres)

Music Department
Joann Carelli	....	music supervisor
William Saracino	....	music editor (as Bill Saracino)

Transportation Department
Gene R. Johnson	....	transportation coordinator (as Gene Johnson)

Other crew
Ted Albert	....	unit publicist
Bryan Buchanan	....	lead stand-in
Kim Burke	....	wrangler
Alan B. Curtiss	....	location manager
Eleanor Fazan	....	choreographer
Wayne Fitzgerald	....	title designer
Joy Helman	....	unit publicist: UK
Sally Jones	....	script supervisor
Lynda Karjola	....	production coordinator
Alex Matcham	....	assistant accountant
Patty Nelson	....	secretary: Mr. Cimino
Gene O'Brien	....	wrangler (as Gene O'Brian)
Fred O'Dell	....	wrangler (as Freddie O'Dell)
Betty Owens	....	assistant production accountant
Sally Pardo	....	production assistant
Ellen Ribner	....	researcher
June Samson	....	script supervisor
Dominic Santarone	....	caterer
Ruth Santarone	....	caterer
B. Thomas Seidman	....	assistant trainee (as Thomas Seidman)
Nanette Siegert	....	production coordinator
William Snyder	....	production assistant
Joe Stanley	....	location manager
Tad Tadlock	....	additional choreographer
Ann Tait	....	production controller (as Anne M. Tait)
Bill Twaddle	....	wrangler
Rudy Ugland	....	boss wrangler
Robert Weinstein	....	researcher
Jerry Young	....	wrangler
Natalie Drache	....	script supervisor (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Partisan Productions

Distributors

• United Artists (1980) (worldwide) (theatrical)
• United Artists (1981) (Sweden) (theatrical)
• United Artists (1984) (Sweden) (theatrical) (extended version)
• Tobis (1985) (West Germany) (theatrical)
• 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment (2007) (USA) (DVD)
• MGM/UA Home Entertainment (1996) (USA) (VHS)
• Chapel Distribution (1997) (Australia) (theatrical)
• MGM Home Entertainment (2000) (Germany) (VHS)
• MGM Home Entertainment (2000) (USA) (DVD)
• MGM Home Entertainment (2001) (Germany) (DVD)
• Chapel Distribution (2004) (Australia) (theatrical) (re-release director's cut new 35mm print)
• MGM Home Entertainment (2007) (USA) (DVD)
• United Artists Films (1981) (Finland) (theatrical)
• Mainostelevisio (MTV3) (1985) (Finland) (TV)
• Scanvideo (1980s) (Finland) (VHS)
• Yleisradio (YLE) (1993) (2008) (Finland) (TV)

Other Companies

• Crest Digital  post-production
• Lee Lighting  grip and lighting equipment
• MGM/UA Home Entertainment  VHS package design
• Montana Film Office  special thanks

Also Known As:

"Michael Cimino's Heaven's Gate" - USA (complete title)

Runtime:

149 min (re-cut) | 219 min (original cut)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.20 : 1

Sound Mix:

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

Certification:

Canada:R (Nova Scotia/Ontario) | Singapore:M18 | UK:X (original rating) | West Germany:16 (f) | Australia:M | Germany:12 (video rating) | Brazil:14 | Peru:14 | Argentina:16 | Canada:18 (Nova Scotia) | Finland:K-16 | Norway:15 | Sweden:15 | UK:18 (cut) | USA:R

Filming Locations:

Blackfeet Indian Reservation, Montana, USA

Company:

Partisan Productions

Trivia:

Over 1.5 million ft. of film was used. Over a million feet were processed in labs.

Goofs:

Continuity: When Ella Watson sees her birthday present, only one of her breasts is covered by the blanket wrapped around her. Whilst the shot cuts between her and Jim, the breast that is uncovered changes repeatedly between shots.

Quotes:

Captain Minardi:Do you know what I really dislike about you, Jim? You're a rich man with a good name. You only pretend to be poor.

Movie Connections:

Featured in Z Channel: A Magnificent Obsession (2004) (TV)

Soundtrack:

The Battle Hymn of the Republic

Noble effort...but a dusty mess.

I won't entirely pan this movie because I think it was a noble effort. It's basic story is good (based on fact), but it's a loooong haul in steerage. We've heard the stories regarding this movie...the bloated budget, (incidentally the 5 min scene on the yacht at the end supposedly cost 1 million to shoot???) the expensive set that was torn down because of an imperfection, it's infamous New York opening. But as far as the film itself......

It's hard to imagine that a 3hr 40min movie could not generate any memorable characters, but thats what they've done here. There is no one to relate to, everybody seems to have had a lobotomy and is just mouthing their dialogue as if they could care less, which is odd because this film has great actors in it!

The story takes forever to unfold. By the time it really gets going it seems too late. Literally nothing happens in the first 90 minutes! the film feels longer than it actually is and I've heard that originally it was meant to be released at over 5 hours.

Another major problem... and I think Roger Ebert said it the best. "This film opens at Harvard..continues in Wyoming and closes aboard a ship, yet there is a grim industrial pall that hangs low over everything. The film is so foggy, so smoky, so unfocused and so brownish yellow, that you feel like you want to wipe windex on the screen. A director's in very deep trouble when we don't even enjoy the primary act of looking at his movie."

I personally think that Michael Cimino is very talented. Trouble is, thanks to this film and the financial disaster that it became, he has been somewhat branded, and was never really given much control of his projects since (so I've heard). It seems too bad as I think he could have made some great American films.