The Deer Hunter (1978)
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The story
The Deer Hunter follows three Russian-American steelworkers—Mike, Steven, and Nick—who live in a working-class town in Pennsylvania. The men share a close bond, spending their time working in a local steel mill and hunting deer. Their lives are drastically altered when they enlist to fight in the Vietnam War. The story explores their experiences in the conflict and the lasting psychological impact of the war as they navigate the transition from the camaraderie of their home and the hunt to the harrowing reality of combat and the aftermath of their experiences.
Full plot (contains spoilers)
In Clairton, Pennsylvania, three friends—Mike, Steven, and Nick—work in a steel mill and share a bond forged by their shared heritage and local traditions. Before heading to the Vietnam War, they participate in a final hunting trip and a wedding. During the war, the three men are captured by the Viet Cong and forced to participate in a deadly game of Russian roulette. Mike, Steven, and Nick suffer varying degrees of physical and psychological trauma. Upon returning to Pennsylvania, they find their lives forever changed. Nick becomes lost in the world of gambling and drugs, while Steven is left with severe physical injuries. Mike, haunted by the memories of the war and the loss of his friends, struggles to cope with the trauma. The film concludes with a poignant scene of the remaining friends reuniting and finding a sense of shared solace in a final, communal moment.
- First release year
- 1978
- Runtime (minutes)
- 184
- Production countries
- United States
- Original languages
- English; Russian; Vietnamese; French
- Directors
- Michael Cimino
- Writers
- Deric Washburn · screenplay; Michael Cimino · uncredited
- Cast and characters
- Robert De Niro · Mike; Christopher Walken · Nick; John Savage · Steven; Meryl Streep · Linda; John Cazale · Stan
- Genres
- war drama; epic
- Themes
- war; masculinity; trauma; friendship
- Tone and mood
- somber; tense; poignant
- Premise and plot tags
- war; hunting; Russian roulette
- Source material / true-story basis
- The Man Who Came to Play by Louis A. Garfinkle and Quinn K. Redeker
- Content notes
- violence
- Reception
- The film received critical acclaim for its direction, performances, and realistic themes, while also sparking controversy over its depiction of the Viet Cong.
- Reported review scores
- Rotten Tomatoes · score: 8.80 · scale: 10 · review count: 129; Metacritic · score: 90 · scale: 100 · review count: 18
- Awards and nominations
- Academy Award · Best Picture · won; Academy Award · Best Director · won; Academy Award · Best Supporting Actor · won; Academy Award · Best Sound · won; Academy Award · Best Film Editing · won; Academy Award · Best Original Screenplay · nominated; Academy Award · Best Supporting Actress · nominated
- Production trivia
- The film was the first feature to depict the Vietnam War filmed in Thailand.; The character of Nick was named after director Michael Cimino's real-life best friend.; The film was selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry.
Film metadata comes from the open sources listed in Credits & Contact. Catalogue details may be incomplete.
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