After 37 Years, Cinema Legend Regrets Not Thanking Clint Eastwood: An Unforgettable Experience

The ghost of Vietnam looms over America and its cinema. One of the earliest to address the war’s trauma was “The Deer Hunter,” directed by Michael Cimino in 1978. “My film isn’t about politics, Vietnam, or the United States; it’s primarily the story of a group of friends or a family, and how they endure this tragedy. That’s the heart of my film,” the late filmmaker told us in 2013, who passed away three years later in July 2016 at the age of 77.

From Most Sought-After to Most Hated

Filled with a deep sense of melancholy and supported by extraordinary actors delivering their best performances, including an Oscar-winning role by Christopher Walken among the five Oscars it received, “The Deer Hunter” is one of the greatest films in American cinema and cinema at large. After this absolute masterpiece, Cimino became the most sought-after American director in Hollywood.

However, just two years later, he became the most despised following the disastrous flop of “Heaven’s Gate,” which nearly bankrupted United Artists. Although he managed to come back with the success of “Year of the Dragon” in 1985, he ultimately directed only a handful of films, with his last, “The Sunchaser,” dating from 1996. A secretive man and rare in interviews, he remained a legendary filmmaker until the end.

“I’m Really Very Disappointed I Didn’t Thank Clint Eastwood”

In February 2015, Cimino spoke at length to a journalist from The Hollywood Reporter, generously sweeping through his career. He recalled his debt to Clint Eastwood, who had strongly supported him to helm his very first movie, “Thunderbolt and Lightfoot,” which launched his career.

“It was the first film from Malpaso [Eastwood’s production company]. One of Eastwood’s great qualities is that he never hesitated to give new talents a chance… I was incredibly lucky to have them [NDR: Clint Eastwood and Jeff Bridges] in my first film. And I’ve never had so much fun making a movie.

I used to go see Clint every day and I’d say, ‘Hey boss, are you happy with the rushes?’ He would respond, ‘Michael, just keep shooting what you’re shooting.’ He added, ‘I’ve made so many films with great settings, and it seems like they could have been shot in Burbank, but you, you have an eye for large formats. Looking back, given all my experiences, this was by far the best. And I’m still receiving checks for that film today. It’s still being shown all around the world.”

Cimino then expressed a keen regret: “I am really very, very upset that I didn’t thank Clint Eastwood particularly when I received my Oscar. Clint should have been the first person I thanked, because without him, I would never have had the chance to make ‘The Deer Hunter’.”

In fact, he was so mortified by this oversight that he tried to make amends immediately: “I placed an ad in the trade press trying to explain why I had failed to thank certain people and to make up for the shortcomings of my acceptance speech, which was really awful. You know, when you’re in front of thousands of people… And they’re all from the industry and they all voted for you. It’s hard not to be moved.” Forty years later, Cimino still harbored regrets over this largely forgivable omission.

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