The Deer Hunter

While not the first film to be about the Vietnam War, The Deer Hunter was the most controversial major theatrical film to criticize America’s involvement after the war had ended. Despite being released during a year that saw many films about Vietnam, The Deer Hunter was the only film to break the mold and became a colossal hit with critics and audiences. The film juxtaposes the lives of three friends before and after their time fighting in Vietnam to show the gruesome toll the conflict had on them. The Deer Hunter looks behind the curtain of the common romanticized depictions of war to give audiences an emotionally draining, flawlessly acted, Oscar-winning film.

Production

Directed by Michael Cimino

Produced by Barry Spikings, Michael Deeley, Michael Cimino, John Peverall

Screenplay by Deric Washburn

Story by Deric Washburn, Michael Cimino, Louis Garfinkle, Quinn K. Redeker

Starring Robert De Niro, John Cazale, John Savage, Meryl Streep, Christopher Walken

Music by Stanley Myers

Cinematography by Vilmos Zsigmond

Edited by Peter Zinner

Production company: EMI

Distribution & Stats

Distributed by Universal Pictures (North America,) EMI Films (International)

Release date: December 8, 1978 (Los Angeles,) February 23, 1979 (United States)

Running time: 184 minutes

Country: United States

Language: English, Russian, Vietnamese, French

Budget: $15 million

Box office: $49 million