Michael Cimino

Cimino's biography is an example of one of the meteoric rises and falls that were seen in Hollywood in the 1970s. With two writing credits on his record (the science fiction film Silent Running and the second Dirty Harry film Magnum Force), he moved up to directing with the Clint Eastwood film Thunderbolt and Lightfoot which he also co-wrote with Eastwood. His second film, The Deer Hunter was a massive critical success, and won a number of Oscars, including one for Best Director.

On the back of this record, he was given free reign by United Artists for his next film, Heaven's Gate. The result not only was a financial disaster that nearly bankrupted the studio, but was widely viewed as being the most visible example of the out-of-control state of Hollywood at that time.

None of his subsequent films have matched the success of The Deer Hunter.

Filmography

Director:

• Thunderbolt and Lightfoot (1974)
• The Deer Hunter (1978)
• Heaven's Gate (1980)
• Year of the Dragon (1985)
• The Sicilian (1987)
• Desperate Hours (1990)
• The Sunchaser (1996)

• Cimino's Bio on IMDB