Christopher Walken achieved the withdrawn, hollow look of his character by consuming nothing but water, rice and bananas.ġ2. The actors grew very agitated by the constant slapping, which naturally added to the realism of the scenes.ġ1. The slapping in the Russian roulette sequences was authentic. Cazale died shortly after filming was completed.ġ0. Robert De Niro put up the money for the insurance. The studio wanted to replace John Cazale when he was ruled un-insurable. Cimino later said of Walken, “He’s got courage!”ĩ. In fact, De Niro was so furious about it, he nearly left the set. When Walken actually did it, De Niro was completely shocked, as evidenced by his reaction. Co-Writer and Director Michael Cimino convinced Christopher Walken to spit in Robert De Niro’s face.
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In 1996, the movie was selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry by the Library of Congress as being, “culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant,” and was named the 53rd greatest American movie of all time by the American Film Institute in 2007.Ĩ. The Deer Hunter won 5 Academy Awards, including Best Picture, Best Director for Michael Cimino, and Best Supporting Actor for Christopher Walken, and marked Meryl Streep’s first Academy Award nomination.ħ. The scenes depicting Russian roulette were highly controversial after the movie’s release.Ħ.
The movie went over budget and over schedule, and ended up costing $15 million.ĥ. Producer Michael Deeley, who bought the script, hired writer and director Michael Cimino who, with Deric Washburn, rewrote the script, taking the Russian roulette element and placing it in the Vietnam War.Ĥ. Redeker, about Las Vegas and Russian roulette.ģ. The movie was based in part on an unproduced screenplay called The Man Who Came to Play by Louis Garfinkle and Quinn K. The story takes place in Clairton, Pennsylvania, a small working class town on the Monongahela River south of Pittsburgh, and in Vietnam.Ģ.
Take a look below for 30 more fun and interesting facts about The Deer Hunter.ġ. The three soldiers are played by Robert De Niro, Christopher Walken and John Savage, with Meryl Streep, John Cazale, and George Dzundza playing supporting roles. The Deer Hunter is a 1978 American epic war drama movie co-written and directed by Michael Cimino about a trio of Russia American steelworkers whose lives are changed forever after they fight in the Vietnam War.