The Deer Hunter: Difference between revisions
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==Miscellaneous== |
==Miscellaneous== |
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Many, including [[Thomas Radecki|Dr. Thomas Radecki], a psychiatrist and former spokesperson for the [[National Coalition on TV Violence], contend that ''The Deer Hunter'' sparked a string of [[Russian roulette]] [[suicide]]s because of its dramatic depiction of captured American soldiers forced to play Russian roulette by their [[Viet Cong]] captors [http://www.snopes.com/movies/films/deerhunt.htm]. The scene has also been parodied in numerous television productions (for example in ''[[The Simpsons]]'') and even advertisements; and popularized the Vietnamese sentence "Di-di mao!" which loosely translated means "Go ahead!" |
Many, including [[Thomas Radecki|Dr. Thomas Radecki]], a psychiatrist and former spokesperson for the [[National Coalition on TV Violence]], contend that ''The Deer Hunter'' sparked a string of [[Russian roulette]] [[suicide]]s because of its dramatic depiction of captured American soldiers forced to play Russian roulette by their [[Viet Cong]] captors [http://www.snopes.com/movies/films/deerhunt.htm]. The scene has also been parodied in numerous television productions (for example in ''[[The Simpsons]]'') and even advertisements; and popularized the Vietnamese sentence "Di-di mao!" which loosely translated means "Go ahead!" |
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There has been some criticism of details in the film, mainly the hunting scenes supposedly taking place in the Alleghenies of Western Pennsylvania. While the native deer in Pennsylvania is the White Tail, the characters are hunting Elk in the film. The rocky mountainous terrain portrayed in the film is actually located in Washington state. As these scenes in the film were a major theme (hence the title), the setting error is glaringly noticeable by residents and anyone who has been through the region. |
There has been some criticism of details in the film, mainly the hunting scenes supposedly taking place in the Alleghenies of Western Pennsylvania. While the native deer in Pennsylvania is the White Tail, the characters are hunting Elk in the film. The rocky mountainous terrain portrayed in the film is actually located in Washington state. As these scenes in the film were a major theme (hence the title), the setting error is glaringly noticeable by residents and anyone who has been through the region. |
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Revision as of 18:03, 30 March 2006
- For the video game, see Deer Hunter (video game).
| The Deer Hunter | |
|---|---|
| File:DeerHunter.jpg | |
| Directed by | Michael Cimino |
| Written by | Deric Washburn |
| Produced by | Michael Deeley |
| Starring | Robert De Niro, Christopher Walken, Meryl Streep |
| Distributed by | Universal Studios |
Release dates | December 8, 1978 |
Running time | 182 min. |
| Language | English |
| Budget | $15,000,000 |
The Deer Hunter is a 1978 film which tells the story of how the Vietnam War affects the people in the industrial town of Clairton, Pennsylvania just south of Pittsburgh along the Monongahela River (although it was also filmed in Cleveland and Mingo Junction, Ohio). It stars Robert De Niro, John Cazale, John Savage, Christopher Walken, Meryl Streep and George Dzundza.
Plot
De Niro, Savage and Walken portray American factory workers and avid deer hunters of Russian ancestry. The first third of the film covers the wedding of Steven (Savage) and Angela, during which it is implied that Angela is pregnant by Nick (Walken). Following a final deer hunting trip, the trio leaves for a combat tour in Vietnam. The three end up as prisoners where they are forced to play Russian Roulette. Michael (DeNiro) engineers an escape, only to become separated from the other two, and eventually to return home alone. After reuniting with Steven, who is wheelchair-bound in a veteran's hospital, he discovers that Nick (Walken) has remained behind in Vietnam. Mike travels to Saigon (about to fall at any time). There, he learns that Nick has become champion at the deadly game of Russian Roulette. He is reunited with Nick, but his best friend now appears to be addicted to hard drugs, as evidenced by severe tract marks on his arms and has no recollection of him. They face each other in the contest, with screaming gamblers looking on. During the final match, Mike tries to persuade Nick to come home but, with a compelling acknowledgement that he does remember Mike and their lives back home("One Shot"), Nick takes the gun and fires the fatal shot into his head. Mike brings his body back to America, but the fulfilled promise not to leave Nick in Vietnam is an empty one. The film ends on the morning of Nick's funeral with the remaining main characters, somewhat ironically, singing God Bless America.
Inspired by German First World War soldier and author Erich Maria Remarque's 1937 novel Drei Kameraden (Three Comrades) depicting the lives of a trio of disillusioned World War I veterans in 1920s Weimar Germany, this film attempts to explore the meaning of violence, predation and survival, the often ghastly misuses of patriotism as well as illustrating the concepts of ethnicity, family, friendship and community ties and how they complement as well as clash with one another.
Credits
The movie was written by Michael Cimino, Louis Garfinkle, Quinn K. Redeker and Deric Washburn, and directed by Cimino.
Producers
- Joann Carelli - associate producer
- Michael Cimino - producer
- Michael Deeley - producer
- John Peverall - producer
- Marion Rosenberg - associate producer
- Barry Spikings - producer
Cast and roles include
- Robert De Niro - Michael Vronsky, "Mike"
- Christopher Walken - Nikonar "Nick" Chevotarevich
- John Cazale - Stanley Stosh
- John Savage - Steven Pushkov
- Meryl Streep - Linda Venkarvaatar
- George Dzundza - John Siminoff
- Chuck Aspegren - Peter "Axel" Axelrod
- Shirley Stoler - Steven's mother
- Rutanya Alda - Angela Ludhjduravic-Pushkov
- Pierre Segui - Julien Hasangjekaj
- Mady Kaplan - Axel's girl
- Amy Wright - Bridesmaid
Filming locations
Filming locations include:
- Saint Theodosius Russian Orthodox Cathedral, Cleveland
- Patpong, in Bangkok, Thailand - the area was rented during 2 days for the film. In the film, it is portrayed as a part of Saigon.
- Kanchanaburi Province, Thailand
- Olympic National Park, Washington state.
Awards and recognition
The Deer Hunter won Oscars for Best Picture, Best Director (Michael Cimino), Best Actor in a Supporting Role (Christopher Walken), Best Film Editing, and Best Sound. In addition, it was nominated for Best Actor in a Leading Role (Robert De Niro), Best Actress in a Supporting Role (Meryl Streep), Best Cinematography (Vilmos Zsigmond) and Best Writing, Screenplay Written Directly for the Screen.
It has been selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry and is consistently on the Internet Movie Database's list of top 250 films.
It is also renowned independently for its theme tune, Cavatina by Stanley Myers, commonly called The Theme from The Deer Hunter.
Miscellaneous
Many, including Dr. Thomas Radecki, a psychiatrist and former spokesperson for the National Coalition on TV Violence, contend that The Deer Hunter sparked a string of Russian roulette suicides because of its dramatic depiction of captured American soldiers forced to play Russian roulette by their Viet Cong captors [1]. The scene has also been parodied in numerous television productions (for example in The Simpsons) and even advertisements; and popularized the Vietnamese sentence "Di-di mao!" which loosely translated means "Go ahead!"
There has been some criticism of details in the film, mainly the hunting scenes supposedly taking place in the Alleghenies of Western Pennsylvania. While the native deer in Pennsylvania is the White Tail, the characters are hunting Elk in the film. The rocky mountainous terrain portrayed in the film is actually located in Washington state. As these scenes in the film were a major theme (hence the title), the setting error is glaringly noticeable by residents and anyone who has been through the region.
The film's quiet ending with the cast softly singing "God Bless America" is open to interpretation but does not let an ironic reading be lost on the audience.
