The Deer Hunter image

The Deer Hunter

Genre
Drama
Rating
R
Released
8 December, 1978
The Deer Hunter

The Deer Hunter is a 1978 American epic war drama film co-written and directed by Michael Cimino about a trio of Russian-American steelworkers whose lives were changed forever after fighting in the Vietnam War. The three soldiers are played by Robert De Niro, Christopher Walken, and John Savage, with John Cazale, Meryl Streep, and George Dzundza playing supporting roles. The story takes place in Clairton, Pennsylvania, a working-class town on the Monongahela River south of Pittsburgh, and in Vietnam. The film was based in part on an unproduced screenplay called The Man Who Came to Play by Louis A. Garfinkle and Quinn K. Redeker, about Las Vegas and Russian roulette. Producer Michael Deeley, who bought the script, hired writer/director Michael Cimino who, with Deric Washburn, rewrote the script, taking the Russian roulette element and placing it in the Vietnam War. The film went over-budget and over-schedule, and ended up costing $15 million.

Director Michael Cimino
Produced by Barry Spikings, Michael Deeley, Michael Cimino, John Peverall
Screenplay by Deric Washburn
Story by Deric Washburn, Michael Cimino, Louis A. Garfinkle, Quinn K. Redeker
Starring Robert De Niro, John Cazale, John Savage, Meryl Streep, Christopher Walken
Music Stanley Myers
Cinematography Vilmos Zsigmond
Edited by Peter Zinner
Production, company EMI
Distributed by Universal Pictures (North America), EMI Films (International)
Released December 08, 1978 (Los Angeles), February 23, 1979 (United States)
Running time 184 minutes
Country United States
Language English, Russian, Vietnamese, French
Budget $15 million
Box office $49 million
Netflix ID 431994

About The Deer Hunter

This film explores how a Vietnam War veteran and the surrounding town can be haunted everyday by the inhumanities of war. The film takes place in Clairton, Pennsylvania.

Achievement of The Deer Hunter

Robert De Niro and John Savage performed some of their own stunts in the film. The entire film was shot on location. 

Top Facts You Did Not Know About The Deer Hunter

The Deer Hunter (novel) (1978).. The Last Hunter (1980), an Italian film originally made as an unofficial sequel.. Films set in Saigon.. Anti-war films about the Vietnam War.. Films directed by Michael Cimino.. Films shot in West Virginia.. Films shot in Cleveland.. Films shot in Youngstown, Ohio.. Vietnamese-language films.. Films whose director won the Best Director Golden Globe.. Films whose editor won the Best Film Editing Academy Award.. Films featuring a Best Supporting Actor Academy Award-winning performance.. Films shot in Bangkok.. Films that won the Best Sound Mixing Academy Award.. Films whose director won the Best Directing Academy Award.. Best Picture Academy Award winners.. Films set in Pittsburgh.. War epic films.. Films shot in Washington (state).. Films set in Pennsylvania.. Films shot in Pennsylvania.. American war drama films.

Latest information about The Deer Hunter updated on July 28 2021.