Michael, Nick, and Steven are three buddies from the steel mill town of Clairton, Penn.They are like schoolmates, hanging out in a local bar and enjoying weekends of deer-hunting. Michael and Nick are also both in love with Linda, who seems to juggle both of the men. But their placid life is soon to be changed after they are enlisted in the airborne infantry of Vietnam. So they all celebrate a goodbye at Steven’s wedding and they leave to Vietnam, where they are captured by the enemy and forced to play a game of Russian Roulette. They escape and return home, but their lives are forever changed. Nick stays in Vietnam, Michael returns to Linda, and Steven is handicapped after losing a leg in the war.

The Deer Hunter (1978)
  • Rating: (120,159 votes)
  • Taglines:Best Picture 1978 » Winner of 5 Academy Awards including Best Picture 1978 »
  • Runtime:182 minutes
  • Director: Michael Cimino
  • Countries:USA, UK
  • Actors:
    Michael
    Robert De Niro
    Stan
    John Cazale
    Steven
    John Savage
    Nick
    Christopher Walken
    Linda
    Meryl Streep
    John
    George Dzundza
    Axel
    Chuck Aspegren
    Steven's Mother
    Shirley Stoler
    Angela
    Rutanya Alda
    Julien
    Pierre Segui
  • Genres:Drama, War
  • Producers:
    Joann Carelli
    associate producer  
    Michael Cimino
    producer  
    Michael Deeley
    producer  
    John Peverall
    producer  
    Marion Rosenberg
    associate producer  
    Barry Spikings
    producer  
  • Plots: Michael, Steven and Nick are young factory workers from Pennsylvania who enlist into the Army to fight in Vietnam. Before they go, Steven marries the pregnant Angela and their wedding-party is also the men's farewell party. After some time and many horrors the three friends fall in the hands of the Vietcong and are brought to a prison camp in which they are forced to play Russian roulette against each other. Michael makes it possible for them to escape, but they soon get separated again. Written by Leon Wolters <wolters@strw.LeidenUniv.nl>
The Deer Hunter
  • User's comment:Immense poignancy by kevandeb

    I cannot fathom the absolute horror that war brings to a persons life, but never has a film depicted it more harrowing than The Deerhunter. At 182 minutes, it seemed to fly by, leaving me wanting more and wishing this would not end. all facets are explored, all people's emotions are laid bare, not just the combatants. If we obviously did not know better, one would have to say this was a British film, as it has all the best elements that British movie making displays. i can eulogise for hundreds of lines, but this really is the ONLY American movie i can think of (others? apart from taxi driver) that is RAW. A strange word i know but the movie oozes a raw edge to it. Immense performances from all concerned, and if i had to say, i believe i have not seen Christopher Walken in a better role. One of the very few films i deservedly give 10/10. A must for any collection and a stunning example of every aspect of film making coming together, albeit for a sombre depiction of life.


  • Quotes: Axel: You're so full of shit, you're gonna float away. Michael: Stanley, see this? This is this. This ain't something else. This is this. From now on, you're on your own. Nick: I don't think about that much with one shot anymore, Mike.
  • Also known as: Lovac na jelene (Croatia - imdb display title), Lovac na jelene (Serbia), Lovac na jelene (Yugoslavia - imdb display title, Croatian title), Deer Hunter (Japan - English title), Deer Hunter (Sweden), Die durch die Hölle gehen (Austria), Die durch die Hölle gehen (West Germany), El Francotirador (Argentina), El Francotirador (Mexico), Voyage au bout de l'enfer (Canada - French title), Voyage au bout de l'enfer (France), A szarvasvadász (Hungary), Avci (Turkey - Turkish title), Die durch die Hölle gehen - The Deer Hunter (West Germany - closing credits title), El cazador (Spain), El francotirador (Peru), Hjortejegeren (Norway), Hjortjägaren (Finland - Swedish title), Il cacciatore (Italy), Kauriinmetsästäjä (Finland), Lovec jelenu (Czechoslovakia), Lovec na jelene (Slovenia - imdb display title), Lowca jeleni (Poland), O Caçador (Portugal), O Franco Atirador (Brazil), O elafokynigos (Greece - transliterated ISO-LATIN-1 title), The Man Who Came to Play (USA - original script title), Vanatorul de Cerbi (Romania - imdb display title),

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