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The Deer Hunter went beyond method: • De Niro demanded a real bullet in the revolver during Russian roulette scenes. • Cimino told the guard to slap Walken without warning—his shock is real. 1970s cinema was insane.

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Emir Han

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2,216,489 views • 1 year ago •via X (Twitter)

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In The Deer Hunter (1978), Michael Cimino urged Christopher Walken to spit in Robert De Niro’s face. Walken actually did it. De Niro’s stunned reaction is real and he was reportedly walked off set. Cimino later said of Walken, “He’s got courage.”
1:24

In The Deer Hunter (1978), Michael Cimino urged Christopher Walken to spit in Robert De Niro’s face. Walken actually did it. De Niro’s stunned reaction is real and he was reportedly walked off set. Cimino later said of Walken, “He’s got courage.”

cinesthetic.

1,256,886 views • 6 months ago

While filming this Russian Roulette scene between Robert De Niro & John Cazale in "The Deer Hunter" (1978), De Niro, being a method actor, told Michael Cimino that he could perform better in the scene if they put a real bullet in the gun. Cimino who was flabbergasted by the request, hinted to De Niro that it was dangerous and he had to ask Cazale. De Niro replied that Cimino could somehow rig it. When Cimino conveyed this weird request to Cazale, he didn't bat an eye. He just said, "I could go along with that". But while filming the scene, Cazale obsessively rechecked the gun before each take to be sure that the live round was not in the next chamber. "That was John Cazale" Cimino said, "He was just the sweetest guy. He was a sweetheart." ("Realizing The Deer Hunter: An Interview with Michael Cimino" & DVD commentary by director Michael Cimino and film critic F. X. Feeney) P.S: Remembering the legendary American actor, John Cazale on his 91st birthday!
1:25

While filming this Russian Roulette scene between Robert De Niro & John Cazale in "The Deer Hunter" (1978), De Niro, being a method actor, told Michael Cimino that he could perform better in the scene if they put a real bullet in the gun. Cimino who was flabbergasted by the request, hinted to De Niro that it was dangerous and he had to ask Cazale. De Niro replied that Cimino could somehow rig it. When Cimino conveyed this weird request to Cazale, he didn't bat an eye. He just said, "I could go along with that". But while filming the scene, Cazale obsessively rechecked the gun before each take to be sure that the live round was not in the next chamber. "That was John Cazale" Cimino said, "He was just the sweetest guy. He was a sweetheart." ("Realizing The Deer Hunter: An Interview with Michael Cimino" & DVD commentary by director Michael Cimino and film critic F. X. Feeney) P.S: Remembering the legendary American actor, John Cazale on his 91st birthday!

DepressedBergman

100,239 views • 4 days ago

Filming the Russian Roulettes scenes in THE DEER HUNTER, Robert De Niro reportedly asked for the gun to be (safely) loaded for real.
2:19

Filming the Russian Roulettes scenes in THE DEER HUNTER, Robert De Niro reportedly asked for the gun to be (safely) loaded for real.

All The Right Movies

42,461 views • 7 months ago

The Deer Hunter debuted OTD in 1978. The slaps in the Russian Roulette scene were real, agitating Robert De Niro and Christopher Walken—making the moment even more intense. The film won 5 Oscars, including Best Picture, and remains powerful 47 years later
4:47

The Deer Hunter debuted OTD in 1978. The slaps in the Russian Roulette scene were real, agitating Robert De Niro and Christopher Walken—making the moment even more intense. The film won 5 Oscars, including Best Picture, and remains powerful 47 years later

The Sting

29,827 views • 8 months ago

The Russian roulette scenes in The Deer Hunter (1978) are among the most harrowing depictions of psychological trauma in cinema, symbolizing the destructive impact of war on soldiers’ minds and bodies. Robert De Niro and Christopher Walken’s performances, done without stunt doubles, made these moments unforgettable.
1:58

The Russian roulette scenes in The Deer Hunter (1978) are among the most harrowing depictions of psychological trauma in cinema, symbolizing the destructive impact of war on soldiers’ minds and bodies. Robert De Niro and Christopher Walken’s performances, done without stunt doubles, made these moments unforgettable.

Love Classical Music and Movies 🎺🎻💖🎥🎬

60,661 views • 2 months ago

The Deer Hunter (1978) leaves a bruise that doesn’t fade. Cimino staged the Russian roulette scenes with almost no rehearsal so the actors’ fear and hesitation were real, and that raw tension carries straight into the film’s devastating final stretch.
2:15

The Deer Hunter (1978) leaves a bruise that doesn’t fade. Cimino staged the Russian roulette scenes with almost no rehearsal so the actors’ fear and hesitation were real, and that raw tension carries straight into the film’s devastating final stretch.

cinesthetic.

92,683 views • 8 months ago

Robert De Niro realizing his best friend lost his mind and became nothing more than a brainwashed puppet in The Deer Hunter. Did you know Christopher Walken mostly eat banana and rice to get the hollow appearance.
2:38

Robert De Niro realizing his best friend lost his mind and became nothing more than a brainwashed puppet in The Deer Hunter. Did you know Christopher Walken mostly eat banana and rice to get the hollow appearance.

Emir Han

1,889,637 views • 5 months ago

The Deer Hunter (1978) isn’t really a Vietnam War movie — it’s a film about the people war leaves behind. Instead of focusing on combat, Michael Cimino shows ordinary working-class friends before, during, and after Vietnam, making the emotional damage feel devastatingly real. The long first act matters because it builds the friendships and innocence that later collapse under trauma. The Russian roulette scenes remain some of cinema’s most intense, but the film’s real power is in its aftermath — how war fractures minds, friendships, and entire lives. Haunting, painful, and unforgettable, it remains one of the greatest works of American cinema.
0:50

The Deer Hunter (1978) isn’t really a Vietnam War movie — it’s a film about the people war leaves behind. Instead of focusing on combat, Michael Cimino shows ordinary working-class friends before, during, and after Vietnam, making the emotional damage feel devastatingly real. The long first act matters because it builds the friendships and innocence that later collapse under trauma. The Russian roulette scenes remain some of cinema’s most intense, but the film’s real power is in its aftermath — how war fractures minds, friendships, and entire lives. Haunting, painful, and unforgettable, it remains one of the greatest works of American cinema.

Love Classical Music and Movies 🎺🎻💖🎥🎬

516,538 views • 3 months ago

Christopher Walken in The Deer Hunter is one of the greatest performances by an actor. He simply looks lost. And that moment when De Niro realizes his best friend lost his mind and became nothing more than a brainwashed puppet is heartbreaking.
2:38

Christopher Walken in The Deer Hunter is one of the greatest performances by an actor. He simply looks lost. And that moment when De Niro realizes his best friend lost his mind and became nothing more than a brainwashed puppet is heartbreaking.

Emir Han

103,401 views • 4 months ago

In this scene of The Deer Hunter real bullets were actually loaded into the revolver’s cylinder but never in the firing chamber. Director Michael Cimino wanted the actors to have the terrifying awareness that something could go wrong.
2:51

In this scene of The Deer Hunter real bullets were actually loaded into the revolver’s cylinder but never in the firing chamber. Director Michael Cimino wanted the actors to have the terrifying awareness that something could go wrong.

Oscar Race

688,856 views • 10 months ago

Meryl Streep is 77 today & it’s a great reminder that Streep, alongside Robert De Niro, is breathtaking in The Deer Hunter, which earned Streep an Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actor. The Deer Hunter is as good as Cinema gets & marked the end of the New Hollywood era. Streep was there for all of it. She’s still here & I’m thankful. 🎂
3:46

Meryl Streep is 77 today & it’s a great reminder that Streep, alongside Robert De Niro, is breathtaking in The Deer Hunter, which earned Streep an Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actor. The Deer Hunter is as good as Cinema gets & marked the end of the New Hollywood era. Streep was there for all of it. She’s still here & I’m thankful. 🎂

Cinema Tweets

39,612 views • 1 month ago

A widely repeated behind-the-scenes story says Paul Sorvino’s slap to Ray Liotta in Goodfellas (1990) was real and unrehearsed. That is why Henry’s reaction feels so sharp it lands like Paulie’s warning hit him for real.
1:12

A widely repeated behind-the-scenes story says Paul Sorvino’s slap to Ray Liotta in Goodfellas (1990) was real and unrehearsed. That is why Henry’s reaction feels so sharp it lands like Paulie’s warning hit him for real.

Scorsese Universe

50,798 views • 3 months ago

In The Irishman (2019), Robert De Niro wore platform shoes to match Frank Sheeran’s real-life height of 6’4”. De Niro is actually 5’10”, which is why the difference really shows in scenes with Al Pacino’s Jimmy Hoffa, who was only about 5’5”.
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In The Irishman (2019), Robert De Niro wore platform shoes to match Frank Sheeran’s real-life height of 6’4”. De Niro is actually 5’10”, which is why the difference really shows in scenes with Al Pacino’s Jimmy Hoffa, who was only about 5’5”.

cinesthetic.

482,309 views • 8 months ago

The actors spent weeks with real cops and notorious bank robbers before filming. Robert De Niro even went out to dinner with a real thief for his character.
0:51

The actors spent weeks with real cops and notorious bank robbers before filming. Robert De Niro even went out to dinner with a real thief for his character.

CineLost

38,633 views • 1 month ago

A Russian woman demanded to be served in Russian...in Kazakhstan. "Answer properly," she told the sales person. Later, information appeared that the Russian woman was fined. She might also be fined more for posting the Kazakh lady online without her consent.
1:18

A Russian woman demanded to be served in Russian...in Kazakhstan. "Answer properly," she told the sales person. Later, information appeared that the Russian woman was fined. She might also be fined more for posting the Kazakh lady online without her consent.

Anton Gerashchenko

239,878 views • 1 month ago

Christopher Walken survived on a strict diet of rice and bananas to achieve his skeletal look in The Deer Hunter (1978). He starved himself for weeks before the final act to physically embody the hollowed-out, haunted state of his character.
4:34

Christopher Walken survived on a strict diet of rice and bananas to achieve his skeletal look in The Deer Hunter (1978). He starved himself for weeks before the final act to physically embody the hollowed-out, haunted state of his character.

Best Movie Moments 🍿

473,412 views • 7 months ago

IShowSpeed was curious about where the nose of the Sphinx in Egypt🇪🇬 went, and his guide told him the interesting history behind it. The nose was cut off to show that he is not a real god
1:24

IShowSpeed was curious about where the nose of the Sphinx in Egypt🇪🇬 went, and his guide told him the interesting history behind it. The nose was cut off to show that he is not a real god

Saken

966,324 views • 7 months ago

John Cazale was very weak with lung cancer when filming began, and for this reason, all of his scenes were filmed first. Michael Cimino knew from the start that Cazale was dying from cancer, but the studio did not. When they found out, they wanted to replace Cazale. When Meryl Streep learned of their intentions, she threatened to quit if they did. Cazale died in March 1978 shortly after filming was completed. Robert De Niro was so anxious about the film's controversy that he did not attend the Oscars ceremony. He asked the Academy if he could sit out the show backstage, but when the Academy refused, De Niro stayed home in New York City. The Deer Hunter (1978).
0:50

John Cazale was very weak with lung cancer when filming began, and for this reason, all of his scenes were filmed first. Michael Cimino knew from the start that Cazale was dying from cancer, but the studio did not. When they found out, they wanted to replace Cazale. When Meryl Streep learned of their intentions, she threatened to quit if they did. Cazale died in March 1978 shortly after filming was completed. Robert De Niro was so anxious about the film's controversy that he did not attend the Oscars ceremony. He asked the Academy if he could sit out the show backstage, but when the Academy refused, De Niro stayed home in New York City. The Deer Hunter (1978).

Love Classical Music and Movies 🎺🎻💖🎥🎬

543,359 views • 6 months ago

🚨ELON MUSK AND JOE ROGAN TALK ABOUT JOHN MCAFEE: ELON: "McAfee had a lab and he was making a wide range of drugs. I talked to a reporter who went down and interviewed him in Belize. He was quite terrified. One of the things that McAfee did was that he played Russian Roulette with himself. Clearly he had some way of knowing where the bullet was, it was a trick, but I think if he was high he may not have been able to execute the trick. He did this to this reporter. He put a bullet in the gun and spun the revolver and pulled the trigger and it went click click click and he pointed it at the ground and BANG -- he shot a bullet in the ground. That's a hell of a party trick. ROGAN: "That's a dude who has seen The Deer Hunter too many times. Didn't he give the government a bunch of laptops with viruses on them? I wouldn't be surprised if Government whacked that guy. That would be a guy that Government would say 'This guy is too loose.'" 😂
2:45

🚨ELON MUSK AND JOE ROGAN TALK ABOUT JOHN MCAFEE: ELON: "McAfee had a lab and he was making a wide range of drugs. I talked to a reporter who went down and interviewed him in Belize. He was quite terrified. One of the things that McAfee did was that he played Russian Roulette with himself. Clearly he had some way of knowing where the bullet was, it was a trick, but I think if he was high he may not have been able to execute the trick. He did this to this reporter. He put a bullet in the gun and spun the revolver and pulled the trigger and it went click click click and he pointed it at the ground and BANG -- he shot a bullet in the ground. That's a hell of a party trick. ROGAN: "That's a dude who has seen The Deer Hunter too many times. Didn't he give the government a bunch of laptops with viruses on them? I wouldn't be surprised if Government whacked that guy. That would be a guy that Government would say 'This guy is too loose.'" 😂

Autism Capital 🧩

635,800 views • 1 year ago