The Deer Hunter/Trivia
- All-Star Cast
- Enforced Method Acting: At Cimino's request, Christopher Walken spat in Robert DeNiro's face during Nick and Michael's last encounter. Needless to say, DeNiro wasn't prepared for that. Also, the slapping during the Russian Roulette scenes was real.
- Also subverted: Per Robert DeNiro's suggestion, a real charge was placed in the gun during the Russian Roulette scenes to heighten the tension. The crew made sure, however, that the actors wouldn't get the bullet for real.
- Robert de Niro worked in a real steel mill as an ordinary steelworker at a blast furnace for nine months under a false name, to get a grasp of a steeler's life. Chuck Aspegren was a real-life steelworker before his acting career.
- The bamboo cages in the river scenes actually contained live rats.
- Executive Meddling: An example of someone actually subverting it. When John Cazale's condition became known to the studio heads, they tried to get him replaced, but Cimino and Meryl Streep (Cazale's fiancée) threatened to walk off the set.
- Hey, It's That Guy!: Linda was Meryl Streep's second film role, and her first Oscar-nominated one.
- John Cazale's final film was nominated (and won) for Best Picture. Every film he starred in - just five feature-length when he lived - had been nominated for Best Picture.
- Real Life Relative: John Cazale was engaged to Meryl Streep during the film and would remain so until his death.
- What Could Have Been: In an original draft of the script, Nick lived and Michael played the Russian Roulette.