The Fall of Saigon. On this day in 1975.
Wikipedia.org Article for the Fall of Saigon:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fall_of_Saigon
The Deer Hunter (1978)
Run Time: 183 mins
Genre: Drama, Thriller, War
Format: Widescreen Format, Color
Director: Michael Cimino
Starring: Robert De Niro, John Cazale, John Savage, Christopher Walken, Meryl Streep and George Dzundza
IMDB.com Entry for the Film:
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0077416/?ref_=nv_sr_1
Wikipedia.org Article for the Film:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Deer_Hunter
Find the link to Robert De Niro's Wikipedia.org Article from our The Untouchables (1988) Post:
http://film366.blogspot.com/2016/01/the-untouchables-1987.html
or our Goodfellas (1990) Post:
http://film366.blogspot.com/2016/02/goodfellas-1990.html
or our Midnight Run (1988) Post:
http://film366.blogspot.com/2016/02/midnight-run-1988.html
Wikipedia.org Article for Christopher Walken:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christopher_Walken
Wikipedia.org Article for Meryl Streep:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meryl_Streep
Wikipedia.org Article for John Savage:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Savage_(actor)
Wikipedia.org Article for John Cazale:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Cazale
Wikipedia.org Article for George Dzundza:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Dzundza
Wikipedia.org Article for Director Michael Cimino:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Cimino
Trailer for the Film on YouTube:
This film is depressing as shit, but effective. The grainy film stock used in the film gave the film a certain reality factor, like it was almost a documentary. That was felt even in the first hour of the film, in which we are introduced to the characters and have to sit through a wedding, which annoyed me a little, but the director, Cimino, was able to force the depressing edge, even into the wedding and that gave the film an interesting dimension that would bring me back into the story. The second part of the film is the war section and that was done quite well capturing the horror and the sadness of Vietnam. The third part brings it all together, but there never really is a feeling of finality or an achievement in not feeling depressed. Hailed as a great film. - Phil
Fall of Saigon 1975 on YouTube:
About 10 years ago myself and a bunch of friends had a movie club and we did the year 1961 and Lola was on the list. Here are some of those responses to the film:
Jennifer Congleton:
This movie is awesome! Before watching it I had no idea what it was about and during that long wedding scene I started to wonder if I was ever going to find out. There were other scenes that seemed to drag on, but if you paid attention you would always find symbolism, foreshadowing, and juxtaposition. I loved the old, unrefined quality that this film has. I noticed that most of the music used in this film was environmental- in the bar, at the wedding, etc. The Russian roulette stuff was crazy! I was actually half covering my eyes each time they would pull the trigger. It’s really cool to see these actors when they were young in the 70s. Christopher Walken’s hair was awesome. Robert DeNiro looked cool too and his performance was great. - Grade: A
Ross Brakman:
It's difficult for me to give a movie like this a grade as high as a "B+" considering how effectively joyless it is. The one word that I think best describes "The Deer Hunter" is 'harrowing.' The bonding in the first hour is overwhelmed with the stark gray lifestyles of the poverty in northeastern Pennsylvania's coal region. The intensity of the second hour in war torn Vietnam is emotionally exhausting, and the return to Pennsylvania in the third hour is dominated by misery and despair. But it's all presented so effectively and realistically. America felt this way when surviving soldiers returned thoroughly damaged from an unjust war where too many were killed for dubious reasons, and our political institutions were corrupted from the highest officials down. The love of country was still there, but tainted by flawed politics. Although timely, I hope no one tries to remake this movie. I simply cannot imagine it done any better a second time. - Grade: B+
The Deer Hunter and Michael Cimino winning Best Picture and Directing: 1979 Oscars on YouTube:
Russ Fama:
I forgot how well crafted this movie is. Another Pennsylvania moment from 1978. A master stroke in humanistic and personal dignity. Great realistic settings, dialogue, characters and soundtrack. Best Frankie Vallie song ever. (His royalty check for 1978 must have been impressive. - Grease, etc...) - Grade: A+
Dana Stevenson:
Wow, make sure you have the box of tissues next to you when you watch this film. How depressing!!! It’s really a movie that’s worth watching though, as it is such a realistic depiction of the Vietnam War and how it affected the men who fought in it, as well as their families. Granted the beginning of the movie is rather slow with the whole wedding scene but after that I really found myself glued to the screen and couldn’t wait to find out what was going to happen to each of the characters. DeNiro and Walken give brilliant performances and it’s easy to see why the movie was nominated for and won so many academy awards. - Grade: A
Rich Shumaker:
Wow! Powerful film! The foreshadowing at the wedding with the Vietnam vet was creepy. The disconnect of war is clearly shown in this film. It is not a Vietnam War film more as it is a film about life that includes war. The other thing I found ironic or funny and I don't know if it was the writers idea was Russian Roulette. The reason I say funny or ironic is that they were from a Russian American community outside of Pittsburgh. They travel to Vietnam and end up playing Russian Roulette. The only bad thing about this film is the dig on the Eagles. That is how you can tell they are in a suburb of Pittsburgh because they say the Philadelphia Eagles wear skirts, ouch! - Grade: A
TCM Comments on the Deer Hunter (1978) on YouTube:
Click the link below at GoWatchIt.com to see where you can stream or watch The Deer Hunter (1978) online or on TV right now:
https://gowatchit.com/watch/movies/the-deer-hunter-42625
Or check out TVGuide.com to see if this film is playing on TV/Cable in your area:
http://www.tvguide.com/movies/the-deer-hunter/104711/
Check back in tomorrow ......................
For our next Film of the Day .....................
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