The Deer Hunter (1978)

Along with Apocalypse Now, Michael Cimino’s brutal but ultimately contemplative war movie is a key American cinematic take on the Vietnam conflict.

The Deer Hunter, which won five Oscars including Best Picture, was an early attempt by Hollywood to process traumatic memories of Vietnam. It is split into three parts: the calm before a group of Pennsylvania steel-workers leave for their tour of duty, the men’s harrowing spell in a POW camp where they are forced to play Russian roulette, and the return home of Michael (Robert De Niro) without his missing buddy Nicky (Christopher Walken, who won an Oscar).

The film was accused of xenophobia for its depiction of the Vietnamese, while a closing rendition of ‘God Bless America’ only inflamed left-wing dissent. But there is unexpected compassion and tenderness here, particularly in Vilmos Zsigmond’s cinematography, and in understated performances by De Niro, Walken, Meryl Streep and the late John Cazale.

1978 USA
Directed by
Michael Cimino
Produced by
Barry Spikings, Michael Deeley, Michael Cimino, John Peverall
Written by
Deric Washburn
Featuring
Robert De Niro, John Cazale, John Savage
Running time
182 minutes

Ranked in The Greatest Films of All Time poll

Sight and Sound

Who voted for The Deer Hunter

Critics

Alice Black
Ireland
Olga Bobrowska
Poland
Giulio Casadei
Italy
Toni Dimkov
North Macedonia
Arnaud Hée
France
Carlos Losilla
Spain
Craig McLean
UK
Thierry Méranger
France
Frédéric Mercier
France
Eithne O'Neill
France
Philippe Rouyer
France
Pini Schatz
Israel
Víctor J. Vázquez
Spain
Éric Vernay
France

Directors

Davy Chou
France/Cambodia
Sean Durkin
USA
Margo Harkin
Paul Kelly
UK
Lone Scherfig
Denmark

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