The Deer Hunter
Drama, War
Universal Studios  (1978) 184 mins R (Restricted)

8.2 (68,905 votes) Top 250: #137
Three friends from a small Pennsylvania town are drafted to serve in Vietnam, and their lives are forever changed. Michael (Robert DeNiro) and Nick (Christopher Walken) work in a local steel mill, each wooing Linda's (Meryl Streep) affections. Steven (John Savage) has just gotten married. The three friends regularly hunt deer through the mountains of Pennsylvania, with non-enlisted Axel (Chuck Aspegren) and the snide Stanley (John Cazale). While Axel and Stanley lead traditional lives at home, Michael, Nick and Steven encounter brutal and shocking circumstances while at war. These experiences not only change their perceptions of the hunt, but their perspectives on life in whole....

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Cast and Crew
Meryl Streep  ......  Linda
John Savage  ......  Steven
John Cazale  ......  Stanley
Robert De Niro  ......  Michael Vronsky
Chuck Aspegren  ......  Axel
George Dzundza  ......  John
Director  .....  Michael Cimino
Producer  .....  Michael Deeley; Marion Rosenberg; Joann Carelli; Michael Cimino
Writer  .....  Michael Cimino; Deric Washburn
Cinematography  .....  Vilmos Zsigmond
Musician  .....  Stanley Myers
Notes
Goofs:
Continuity: After escaping the from the VC after the Russian Roulette scene, Michael is initially carrying a rifle in his right hand and helping an injured Nicholas with his left hand. In the next shot, he no longer has the rifle in hand and it is not present in the remainder of the escape scene. (more)

Trivia:
The cast and crew viewed large amounts of news footage from the war to ensure authenticity. (more)

Filming Locations:
993 N. 7th Street, Steubenville, Ohio, USA (more)

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

Awards:
Won 5 Oscars. Another 16 wins & 19 nominations (more)