Spikings

“There was discussion about shooting the film on a back lot, but the material demanded more realism,” says Spikings.

The Vietnam Oscars Peter Biskind 2008

Ironically, Voight is bookended by Spikings, who, although he too is still proud of The Deer Hunter, which he considers an anti-war movie, also has misgivings.

The Vietnam Oscars Biskind, Peter 2008

The production was plagued with all kinds of logistical problems, and Spikings flew from London to get it under control.

The Vietnam Oscars Peter Biskind 2008

Ironically, Voight is bookended by Spikings, who, although he too is still proud of The Deer Hunter, which he considers an anti-war movie, also has misgivings.

The Vietnam Oscars Peter Biskind 2008

Cimino told Spikings that he wanted to work again with Washburn, who was living in New York, writing for the theater — an innocent, Washburn says, as far as the movie business was concerned.

The Vietnam Oscars Peter Biskind 2008

Spikings recalls, “We needed lots of weapons, helicopters, armored personnel carriers — and he provided them all.”

The Vietnam Oscars Peter Biskind 2008

“There was a lot wrong with The Deer Hunter,” Spikings continues.

The Vietnam Oscars Peter Biskind 2008

Spikings had bought a script called The Man Who Came to Play, about people who go to Las Vegas to play Russian roulette.

The Vietnam Oscars Peter Biskind 2008

But at that point in the production, nearly halfway through principal photography, Cimino was already overbudget, and Spikings could tell from the script that shooting the extended scene could sink the project.

The Vietnam Oscars Peter Biskind 2008

After he opened the envelope and named Cimino, Spikings, and the other producers of The Deer Hunter, “the acclaim was respectful but well short of thunderous,” according to the Los Angeles Times.

The Vietnam Oscars Peter Biskind 2008