The Academy Award-winning film The Deer Hunter (1978) stands out as the most controversial Vietnam-era film. Starring Robert De Niro in the role of Staff Sgt. Michael “Mike” Vronsky, it presented the conflict in a manner that stirred significant discomfort among audiences. Several elements that particularly perturbed viewers included the movie’s portrayal of America’s involvement, the depiction of the Viet Cong and what some perceived as a lack of historical accuracy.
Despite the controversy it generated, The Deer Hunter garnered critical acclaim and earned five Oscars. Here are some lesser-known facts about the film.
Robert De Niro nearly walked off set
One of the most unforgettable moments in The Deer Hunter occurs when Christopher Walken, portraying the psychologically scarred Cpl. Nikanor “Nick” Chevotarevich, unexpectedly spits in Robert De Niro‘s face during a confrontation about his lack of self-preservation. This emotionally charged scene underscores the psychological toll the Vietnam War exacted on those who served.
What many may not realize is that this spontaneous action wasn’t scripted. Director Michael Cimino had approached Walken before shooting the scene and somehow persuaded him to spit in De Niro’s face without the latter’s knowledge. This decision nearly led to De Niro storming off the set in a fit of anger.
In reflection, Cimino commented on Walken, saying, “He’s got courage!”
John Wayne’s final public appearance
Despite not being involved in The Deer Hunter, famed Western star John Wayne is a part of the move’s legacy. During the 59th Academy Awards, Wayne was suffering from stomach cancer. However, this didn’t stop him from taking the stage to present the Oscar for Best Picture.
“Well, Oscar and I have something in common. Oscar first came to the Hollywood scene in 1928. So did I,” he told the audience before announcing that The Deer Hunter would be taking home the award. “We’re both a little weather-beaten, but we’re still here and plan to be around for a whole lot longer.”
Wayne passed away a few months later, on June 11, 1979.
Real-life Russian Roulette
Robert De Niro is known for being a method actor. In fact, he’s so dedicated to it that he requested that the Russian Roulette scene in The Deer Hunter be a bit more authentic, vis-à-vis a live round in the chamber of the gun.
The scene itself is already jarring to watch, with the audience growing ever more tense as the weapon passes between the soldiers. To increase the perceived danger among the actors, De Niro requested the addition of a live round, which his co-star, John Cazale, agreed to, but under one condition: the gun be checked before each take, to ensure the bullet wasn’t in the next chamber.
To make the sequence even more authentic, Michael Cimono brought in live mosquitos and rats to irritate the actors, and even had a local actor surprise Christopher Walken mid-scene by slapping him, making his reaction all the more realistic.
The cast rallied around John Cazale
The late John Cazale portrayed Stanley, and while he might not have looked it, he was suffering from end-stage lung cancer at the time. Best known for portraying Fredo Corleone in The Godfather franchise, his was a name Michael Cimono wanted attached to The Deer Hunter, a fact that became even-more evident on the actions taken to ensure the studio didn’t remove Cazale from set.
When Universal Pictures wanted to replace Cazale with another actor, a number of the film’s stars threatened action. Not only did Cimino say he’d walk away from the project, Meryl Streep also revealed she’d quit if he was removed. As well, Robert De Niro put up his own money for Cazale’s insurance, as he’d been ruled un-insurable by the production company.
All scenes involving Cazale were filmed first, to ensure he could appear in them. He died shortly after, having never seen the completed movie.
Christopher Walken’s restrictive diet
In order to vividly portray the psychological scars borne by Nick as a result of his Vietnam War service, Christopher Walken underwent a dramatic dietary transformation. In fact, the change was so profound that his appearance in The Deer Hunter left him nearly unrecognizable. By subsisting solely on a diet of bananas, water and rice, he shed a lot of weight, which was a key factor in crafting his character’s emaciated countenance.
His unwavering commitment to the role garnered widespread critical acclaim, culminating in an Oscar win for Best Supporting Actor at the 51st Academy Awards.
One scene has forever stuck with Robert De Niro
There are a number of emotional scenes in The Deer Hunter, but one has remained with Robert De Niro. When speaking in the 2003 special, AFI Life Achievement Award: A Tribute to Robert De Niro, the actor revealed that the moment his character visits Cpl. Steven “Steve” Pushkov still brings him to tears decades after filming wrapped.
The character, portrayed by John Savage, became paralyzed after falling from a helicopter and shattering his legs. Prior to visiting him in the hospital, Michael gives Steve a call, which prompts his visit. What ensues is an emotional conversation about money being sent from Saigon, which culminates in Michael making the executive decision to bring Steve home from the hospital.
Michael Cimino lied about his military service
Throughout the course of filming and promoting The Deer Hunter, Michael Cimino claimed to have drawn upon his own personal experiences to write the script. In actuality, his military service was little more than a brief stint.
In interviews, Cimino claimed to have enlisted in the US Army in 1968 and, while never deployed to Vietnam, was attached to a Special Forces medical unit. Some digging later proved that he’d actually joined the service six years prior to that. What’s more, he’d never been assigned to the Green Berets.
Speaking with Vanity Fair, screenwriter Deric Washburn later said, “Mike is or was a pathological liar. The movie never would have gotten made had he not been.”
Robert De Niro and John Savage performed their own stunts
It’s a well-known fact that Robert De Niro and John Savage performed their own stunts for The Deer Hunter‘s helicopter scene. What many might not be aware of, however, is that the two were almost seriously injured while filming the sequence.
While De Niro and Savage awaited rescue from a rope bridge that crosses the Khwae Noi river, one of the helicopter’s skids caught the bridge, causing it to twist and shake. De Niro, worried the chopper would come down on top of him and Savage, began yelling at the crew, “There’s something wrong, move it back.” However, that’s not what happened.
“The helicopter went straight up in the air, pulling the bridge upside down,” explained Savage in an interview with Vanity Fair. “Bobby and I flipped over and were hanging next to each other underneath the helicopter, whose blades barely were missing the steel cable on either side of the bridge.”
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The pair did the only thing they could: jump into the water below. Despite the river being filled with large rocks and tree stumps, they made it out unscathed.