Michael Cimino The Deer Hunter

directed by Michael Cimino
USA 1978

Following the funeral of Nick, the intimate group of friends sit together around a table at their bar and sing “God bless America”. Their voices are raised just enough to be heard, their minds elsewhere. They do not become one in mind until they raises their glasses to Nick. A stunning scene in every sense, from the positioning of the players around the table, to its intertextual qualities, the ending of “Deer Hunter” not only invokes allusions of Ford and Visconti, it also allows the viewer to dwell upon the story by stressing its main theme: Friendship.

Looking at “Deer Hunter” as a whole, it has many scenes or sequences, which one can pick out and dwell upon or talk endlessly in enthusiasm, like grandeur of the wedding sequence, the Widerbergian drop of wine on the wedding dress, the close-ups of de Niro hunting, the fragility of Streep, despite that most would pick the “I love you baby” scene as their favourite. “Deer Hunter” is a film with so much detail in each scene and every scenic detail, that it steals our attention. It is larger than any single statement about how great its direction, cinematography, acting and storytelling is, as each element enriches the other. It is a film that with time has unfolded its greatness to become one of the greatest American films ever made.

Henrik Sylow

Posters

Theatrical Release: 8th December 1978, Los Angeles, California, USA

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DVD Comparison:

Optimum (2-Disc Special Edition) - Region 2 - PAL vs. Universal (Legacy Series) - Region 1 - NTSC vs. Universal (1998 - First U.S. release) - Region 1 - NTSC vs. Bitwin (Korean Ed.) - Region 0 - NTSC vs. Warner (Special Edition 2-Disc) - Region 2 - PAL

Big thanks to Henrik Sylow and Gary and Guillaume Mareri and Mathias Nielsen for the Screen Caps!

(Optimum (2-Disc Special Edition) - Region 2 - PAL LEFT vs. Universal (Legacy Series) - Region 1 - NTSC MIFFLE vs. Universal (1998 (First U.S. release)) - Region 1 - NTSC - RIGHT)

DVD Box Covers

Distribution

Optimum

Region 2 - PAL

Universal (Legacy Series)

Region 1 - NTSC

Universal

Region 1 - NTSC

(Bitwin (Korean Ed.) - Region 0 - NTSC - LEFT vs. Warner (Special Edition 2-Disc) - Region 2 - PAL - RIGHT)

Bitwin
Region 0 - NTSC

Warner
Region 2 - PAL

Distribution	Optimum Region 2 - PAL	Universal (Legacy Series) Region 1 - NTSC	Universal Region 1 - NTSC	Bitwin Region 0 - NTSC	Warner Region 2 - PAL
Runtime	2:56:01 (4% PAL speedup)	3:03:24	3:03:18	3:02:54	2:56:12 (4% PAL speedup)
Video	2.35:1 Original Aspect Ratio 16X9 enhanced Average Bitrate: 5.77 mb/s PAL 720x576 25.00 f/s	2:35:1 Original Aspect Ratio 16X9 enhanced Average Bitrate: 5.38 mb/s NTSC 720x480 29.97 f/s	2:35:1 Original Aspect Ratio Average Bitrate: 5.38 mb/s NTSC 720x480 29.97 f/s	2.35:1 Original Aspect Ratio Average Bitrate: 5.40 mb/s NTSC 720x480 29.97 f/s	2.35:1 Original Aspect Ratio 16X9 enhanced Average Bitrate: 5.41 mb/s PAL 720x576 25.00 f/s
	NOTE: The Vertical axis represents the bits transferred per second. The Horizontal is the time in minutes.
Bitrate: Optimum
Bitrate: Universal (Legacy)
Bitrate: Universal (1998 (First U.S. release))
Bitrate: Bitwin (Korean Ed.)
Bitrate: Warner (Special Edition 2-Disc)
Audio	2.0 Dolby Digital English, 5.1 Dolby Digital English	English Dolby Digital 5.1, English Dolby Digital 2.0, DUB: Spanish Dolby Digital 2.0	English Dolby 2.0	English Dolby Digital 2.0	English Dolby Digital 2.0
Subtitles	No Subtitles	English (HOH), French, Spanish, none	English, French, Spanish, none	English, Korean, Cantonese, Thai, Mandarin, none	None
Features	Release Information: Studio: Optimum Aspect Ratio: Widescreen anamorphic - 2.35:1 Edition Details: • Audio Commentary by SX Finnie and Michael Cimino • Shooting The Deer Hunter - an Interview with cinematographer Vilmos Zsigmond (15:31) • Playing The Deer Hunter - an Interview with actor John Savage (15:39) • Realising The Deer Hunter - an Interview with director Michael Cimino (23:33) • Original Trailer (3:03) DVD Release Date: October 23, 2006 Keep Case Chapters 20	Release Information: Studio: Universal Aspect Ratio: Widescreen anamorphic - 2.35:1 Edition Details: • Audio Commentary with Cinematographer Vilmos Zsigmond and film journalist Bob Fischer • Deleted and Extended Scenes • Production Notes • Original Theatrical Trailer DVD Release Date: September 6th, 2005 Bookstyle double thick case Chapters 16	Release Information: Studio: Universal Aspect Ratio: Widescreen letterboxed - 2:35:1 Edition Details: • Theatrical Trailer • Production Notes • Cast and Filmmaker Bios DVD Release Date: March 31, 1998 Keep Case Chapters 16	Release Information: Studio: Bitwin Aspect Ratio: Widescreen letterboxed - 2.35:1 Edition Details: • Theatrical Trailer • Cast & crew profiles DVD Release Date: September 14, 2004 Keep Case Chapters 21	Release Information: Studio: Warner Aspect Ratio: Widescreen anamorphic - 2.35:1 Edition Details: • Commentary with director Michael Cimino • Realising The Deer Hunter - an Interview with director Michael Cimino (23:33) • Playing The Deer Hunter - an Interview with cinematographer Vilmos Zsigmond (15:36) • Playing The Deer Hunter - an Interview with John Savage (15:39) • Theatrical Trailer (3:04) • Photo Gallery • DVD-ROM: Downloadable Original Press Brochure • Animated Menus DVD Release Date: August 4, 2003 Keep Case Chapters 20

Comments

The image appears to be from the same source as the R1 Universal (Legacy Series). While there are minute artifacts present, these are only visible when zooming into a still frame. For regular viewing, this is basically a flawless transfer of a 3 hour film onto DVD. Colors are well balanced, details strong and blacks deep.

The sound is the films original 2.0 stereo and a new "improved" 5.1 Dolby Digital surround track. Both are without any noise, with crystal clear dialogue. While the new 5.1 does add a little to the surround scene, I prefer the 2.0 track.

The additional material is identical to the 2003 Warner edition. First a rather chatty commentary between critic SX Finnie and director Micheal Cimino, full of anecdotes and reflections, but also with some detailed comments towards specific scenes, which shows how great a director Cimino is. An enriching commentary.

On Disc 2, three interviews - produced by Blue Underground - are to be found, where John Savage, Vilmos Zsigmond and Michael Cimono offer their perspective to their respective field; acting, cinematography and creating / directing.

Opposite to the Warner, the trailer here is not anamorphic, but presented in 2.35 in 4:3.

To me, this is the best edition of the film available, as Optimum has taken the best source and added the best additional material.

- Henrik Sylow

*****

ADDITION: Universal - Legacy Series - NTSC (Sept - 05) - Firstly - this was unnecessarily a two disc set - the Bonus disc is only 1.2 Gig and could have fit on the Dual layered first disc with a little room to spare. I would have preferred the commentary from the Warner PAL edition but Cinematographer Vilmos Zsigmond has some interesting knowledge to share.

Image: I think the Legacy image is the best of the four - the other two (non-16X9) NTSC editions are quite dull in comparison and the PAL has had some contrast boosting. This Legacy appears to be from a cleaner print that the other three as I could not find the damage seen in the last large capture.

Subtitles are more discreet in the Legacy which also boasts a 5.1 track in addition to the optional mono.

For viewing the film, the Legacy appears to be the one to own, but Universal, please don't expand your package unnecessarily with the superfluous bonus disc - not appreciated.

******

The image on the Universal and the Bitwin seem to have come from the same transfer. But the Bitwin is much sharper. The extras are nothing to fuss about. Both of these versions has overly reddish skin tones; see caps 5 and 6.

The image on the Warner edition is sharper and more detailed, but it is not a perfect version either. Print damages appear throughout the movie and white flashes are occasionally seen during scene shifts. This been caused by contrast boosting, but still the Warner image is much sharper than the two other versions.

The best version of the film, as it is right now, is the 2-disc edition from Warner which has some nice extras, including an interesting interview with the eccentric director, Michael Cimino, and animated 3-D menus.
Unfortunately it has no subtitle options.

The Universal disc seems to be out of print, so maybe there is an anniversary edition on the way.

Until then we recommend the Warner 2-disc edition.

- Mathias Nielsen

DVD Menus

Optimum (2-Disc Special Edition) - Region 2 - PAL

Universal (Legacy) - Region 1 - NTSC Disc 1

Universal (Legacy) - Region 1 - NTSC Disc 2

(Universal (1998 (First U.S. release)) - Region 1 - NTSC - LEFT vs. Bitwin (Korean Ed.) - Region 0 - NTSC - MIDDLE vs. Warner (Special Edition 2-Disc) - Region 2 - PAL - RIGHT)

Screen Captures

(Optimum (2-Disc Special Edition) - Region 2 - PAL TOP vs Universal (Legacy) - Region 1 - NTSC 2nd vs. Universal (1998- First U.S. release) - Region 1 - NTSC - 3rd vs. Bitwin (Korean Ed.) - Region 0 - NTSC - 4th vs. Warner (Special Edition 2-Disc) - Region 2 - PAL - BOTTOM)
There are no subtitles on the R2 editions