The Deer Hunter is a 1978 epic war drama film co-written and directed by Michael Cimino. It tells the story of a trio of Slavic-American steelworkers from a working-class town in Pennsylvania and their experiences during the Vietnam War.
The film stars Robert De Niro, Christopher Walken, and John Savage, with Meryl Streep and John Cazale in supporting roles. The story explores the effects of the war on the characters and those around them. The film has been praised for its direction and performances, but some critics have noted its length and storytelling weaknesses.
Plot
The Deer Hunter is a 1978 film that tells the story of three young factory workers from Pennsylvania who enlist in the Army to fight in the Vietnam War. The film follows their experiences, including the wedding of one of their friends before they depart for war. After facing many horrors, the three friends fall into the hands of the Vietcong and are brought to a prison camp where they are forced to play Russian roulette against each other. The movie is known for its portrayal of the effects of war on the characters and has been praised for its direction and performances.
Trailer
Cast
- Robert De Niro as Michael
- John Cazale as Stan
- John Savage as Steven
- Christopher Walken as Nick
- Meryl Streep as Linda
- George Dzundza as John
- Chuck Aspegren as Axel
- Rutanya Alda as Angela
- Pierre Segui as Julien Grinda
- Shirley Stoler as Steven's mother
- Joe Grifasi as Bandleader
- Amy Wright as Bridesmaid
- Paul D'Amato as Sergeant
Director: Michael Cimino
Writer: Michael Cimino, Deric Washburn
Box Offoce Gross: $49,074,379
Genre: War, Drama
Distributor: Universal Pictures, MCA/Universal Pictures [us]
Release Date (Theaters): Dec 8, 1978
Release Date (Streaming): Dec 2, 2016
Themes & Reception
The Deer Hunter is a film that explores various themes, including the effects of war, the power of friendship, and the cultural background of the characters. The film has received mixed reviews from critics, with some praising its direction and performances, while others criticize its length and storytelling weaknesses
Wedding and reception: The film begins with a Russian Orthodox wedding ceremony and reception, which provide a glimpse into the cultural background of the characters. The wedding serves as a symbol of the characters' lives before they embark on their military journey.
War and its effects: The film portrays the horrors of the Vietnam War, including the brutality and the emotional toll.. The film also explores the concept of "Russian roulette," which plays a significant role in the wartime sequences and the conclusion of the film with Nicky's death.
Friendship: The film emphasizes the strong bond between the three friends, Michael, Nick, and Steven, as they face the challenges of war together. Their friendship serves as a central element of the story, highlighting the importance of support and loyalty in the face of adversity.
Cultural background: The Russian-American cultural background of the characters is significant in the film, as the wedding ceremony and reception are held in a Russian Orthodox church and an American Legion hall, respectively. This cultural context adds depth to the characters and their experiences, forging connections between their lives and the broader social and political issues of the time.
Challenges Faced
Scriptwriter issues: The production faced setbacks related to the script and the scriptwriter, adding to the challenges during filming.
Filming setbacks: The production encountered various filming setbacks, including difficulties in achieving the desired visual effects, such as the cold, rainy, autumn look for the steel mill areas.
Stunt incidents: There were incidents during filming that posed significant risks to the actors, such as a stunt that almost resulted in the death of Robert De Niro.
Logistical nightmares: Filming in Thailand to depict the Vietnam scenes led to a significant increase in the budget and posed logistical challenges, as it coincided with a military uprising in Thailand.
Critical reception: The film received a divided reception, with criticism for its portrayal of Vietnamese people and its ambiguous political allegories.
Visual Styles & Techniques
"The Deer Hunter" is known for its unique visual style and techniques, which were made possible by the collaboration of renowned cinematographer Vilmos Zsigmond and director Michael Cimino. Some of the key visual styles and techniques used in the film include:
Saturated, naturalistic color: The film employs a natural, lifelike color scheme, with each background distinctly rendered, from moldy wood slats of a dingy motel to snowcapped peaks of distant mountains.
One-point perspectives and camera movement: Cimino frames a lot of the action using one-point perspectives and incorporates a lively mix of dolly shots and rack zooms to create kinetic energy and complement the choreography.
Elaborate set design and Americana imagery: Cimino's films are known for their elaborate set design and Americana imagery, which became staples of his work.
Geometrically-minded compositions: Cimino's compositions often feature geometric elements, adding depth and complexity to the visuals.
Avoiding poetic look: Cimino did not want to create a "poetic" look that he had become known for in some of his earlier films, opting for a harsher, more realistic documentary feeling, especially in the Vietnam War sequences.
Mixing light sources: The film uses a combination of blueish outside light coming through stained glass windows with warm light motivated as a source by chandeliers in the cathedral interior, creating a unique visual effect.
Altering film stock: To achieve a visually different look for the Vietnam War segment, the filmmakers decided to alter the characteristics of the 5247 color negative, giving it a golden tone on faces and hair lights.
Settings
The settings of The Deer Hunter encompass a diverse range of locations that play a crucial role in the visual storytelling of the film. The visual style of the film, characterized by a naturalistic color scheme and elaborate set design, is a key element in creating the immersive settings. Director Michael Cimino's use of one-point perspectives, dolly shots, and rack zooms contributes to the film's kinetic energy and complements the choreography of the scenes.
The film's settings include:
Pennsylvania Steel Town: The film begins in a small industrial town in Pennsylvania, where the wedding of one of the main characters takes place. This setting provides a glimpse into the characters' working-class background and serves as a contrast to the later settings of the Vietnam War.
Vietnam: The Vietnam War is a significant setting in the film, and the visual style of these scenes is distinct from the rest of the movie. The filmmakers aimed to make the Vietnam War segment visually different from the rest of the film, using techniques such as altering the characteristics of the film stock to achieve a unique look.
Thailand: The production of the film faced logistical challenges due to filming in Thailand to depict the Vietnam scenes. The filming coincided with a military uprising in Thailand, leading to a significant increase in the budget and posing logistical nightmares.
Trivia
John Cazale, who played Stan in the film, was suffering from terminal cancer during the filming and had to summon all his strength each day to help director Michael Cimino achieve his vision.
The wedding scene in the film did not go according to plan, as the extras got drunk and rowdy, causing the production to fall behind schedule.
Michael Cimino lied about his military service to gain the trust of the veterans who were advising him on the film.
The film's budget skyrocketed from $7 million to $13 million due to the decision to film in Thailand to ensure the Vietnam scenes looked as real as possible. This decision coincided with a military uprising in Thailand, making filming a logistical nightmare.
The film's portrayal of Russian roulette has been criticized for being inaccurate, as there is no evidence that the Vietcong ever forced American prisoners to play the game.
The film won five Academy Awards, including Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Supporting Actor for Christopher Walken.
The film's running time is three hours and two minutes, making it one of the longest Best Picture winners in Academy Awards history.
Fun Fact
- The film's portrayal of Russian roulette has been criticized for being inaccurate, as there is no evidence that the Vietcong ever forced American prisoners to play the game. However, the Russian roulette scenes serve as a metaphor for the random and merciless nature of war, highlighting the psychological toll that war takes on individuals and the desperation they can experience in extreme situations