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The Deer Hunter

Actor(s): Robert De Niro, John Cazale, John Savage, Meryl Streep, Christopher Walken
Director(s): Michael Cimino
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Movie Details

MPAA Rating: R
Content Advisory: Graphic Violence, Adult Situations, Not For Children, Profanity, Sexual Situations, War Violence
Movie Release: 1978
DVD Release: 03/31/1998
Format: DVD - Enhanced Wide Screen Letterbox for 16x9 TV
Edition: Dual Layered
Audio Tracks: English
Subtitles: English, French, Spanish
SwapaDVD Credits: 1
Number of Discs: 1
Run Time: 3 hrs 3 mins
Studio: Universal Studios
Members Wishing: 2
Genres: Drama, War Drama, POW Drama, Reunion Films, Anti-War Film, Ensemble Film
See Also: The Deer Hunter [Special Edition], The Deer Hunter [HD DVD], The Deer Hunter, Deer Hunter [Deluxe Edition] [Blu-ray]

DVD Synopsis

One of several 1978 films dealing with the Vietnam War (including Hal Ashby's Oscar-winning Coming Home), Michael Cimino's epic second feature The Deer Hunter was both renowned for its tough portrayal of the war's effect on American working class steel workers and notorious for its ahistorical use of Russian roulette in the Vietnam sequences. Structured in five sections contrasting home and war, the film opens in Clairton, PA, as Mike (Robert De Niro), Nick (Christopher Walken), and Stan (John Cazale, in his last film) celebrate the wedding of their friend Steve (John Savage) and go on a final deer hunt before the men leave for Vietnam. Mike treats hunting as a test of skill, lecturing Stan about the value of "one shot" deer slaying and brushing off Nick's urgings to appreciate nature's beauty. As Mike ruminates post-hunt, the film cuts to the horror of Vietnam, where the men are captured by Vietcong soldiers who force Mike and Nick to play Russian roulette for the V.C.'s amusement. Mike turns the game to his advantage so they can escape captivity, but the men are permanently scarred by the episode. Steve loses his legs; Nick vanishes in the Saigon Russian roulette parlors. Mike returns alone to Clairton a changed man, as he rejects the killing of the deer hunt and finds solace with Nick's old girlfriend Linda (Meryl Streep). Disgusted by the antics of his male cohorts at home, Mike decides to bring Steve back from a veterans' hospital, and he returns to Saigon to find Nick. As Saigon falls, Mike discovers how far gone Nick is; the survivors gather in Clairton for a funeral breakfast, singing an impromptu rendition of "God Bless America." ~ Lucia Bozzola, All Movie Guide

Actors

Robert De Niro - Michael
John Cazale - Stan
John Savage - Steven
Meryl Streep - Linda
Christopher Walken - Nick

Editorial Review of DVD

Michael Cimino's sweeping emotional Vietnam film The Deer Hunter comes to DVD with a widescreen transfer that preserves the original theatrical aspect ratio of 2.35:1 and, although not perfect, is a revelation for all those who have only seen the film on cable or VHS. A closed-captioned English soundtrack is rendered in Dolby Digital Surround. Spanish and French subtitles are accessible. Supplemental materials include talent bios, production notes, and a theatrical trailer. Although more could be done with this Best Picture winner in the future, this disc will satisfy the film's fans as well as the uninitiated. ~ Perry Seibert, All Movie Guide

Member Movie Reviews

Len S. (lens) from ARMUCHEE, GA wrote on 12/20/2007...

3 of 3 member(s) found this review helpful.

Without a doubt, one of the five best movies I've ever seen. This superbly crafted drama sticks with you for days after viewing. It's chock full of vicarious "Wonder what I would've done?" situations that tend to make the viewer reflect on, and possibly even change, long-held beliefs about subjects as varied as patriotism, love, heroes, and yes, deer hunting.

The movie is just over three hours long, and upon first review you'll probably notice scenes that would normally be cut. But the more I thought about it, I realized that those seemingly mundane scenes served purposes like establishing the sameness of industrial life and the removal of all that is normal when fighting in a foreign country.

So set aside an entire evening for this extravaganza of great actors. From John Savage in the window to Meryl Streep in the stockroom to Robert DeNiro sitting across the table from a "lost" friend played by Christopher Walken, you're going to witness acting at its best. Prepare to be moved. Prepare to trade in your deer rifle for a good camera and a new appreciation of all living things.