If you are a fan of the iconic film The Deer Hunter, which currently sits at number 78 on the American Film Institute's list of the greatest films ever, you might also know that many of the most memorable scenes in the movie were filmed in Cleveland and other areas nearby.
The Deer Hunter Films in Cleveland: The Why and Where
For starters, a unique thing about the film was the fact that every single scene was filmed on location; no sound stages were used at all. This is considered rare for any film and in rewatching The Deer Hunter, it's easy to see how much director Michael Cimino's insistence on this filming style added so much more depth to the complex character relationships. Robert De Niro considered the selection of shooting locations so important he often was along on the scouting trips himself to find the perfect locations.
So back to why Cleveland was chosen. The film - set in a Pennsylvania steel town, which gives you a good idea why Cleveland was such a great shooting location - centers around three main characters about to head off to Vietnam, and upon their return focuses on the struggles to maintain a normal life.
Where in Cleveland Was The Deer Hunter Filmed?
One of the scenes shot in the Cleveland area was the wedding scene between Steven and Angela at St. Theodosius Russian Orthodox Cathedral on Starkweather Avenue. St. Theodosius’s Father Stephen Kopestonsky was cast as the priest for the scenes, which took five days to complete. The reception scenes were shot at Lemko Association Hall nearby on W. 11th. These were very lively scenes in the movie that came with a couple of fun facts of their own.
First, all the extras that were going to be part of the reception scenes were asked to bring a wrapped box to serve as a wedding present. Not especially noteworthy yet, but when the scenes were completed and the boxes opened, most contained actual gifts, everything from dishes and silverware to other household needs.
Second, and probably most memorable, is that the extras cast were actually consuming real beer and liquor for the lively wedding dance scenes at the reception. Also, the sign above the entrance for Lemko Hall still stands today just as it was filmed in 1978, and despite the building’s overall rich history it is best remembered as the beginning of Nick and Linda’s ill-fated romance that started with his proposal.
Also of Cleveland note is the filming of the scene where Mike visits Steven in the hospital after his return from Vietnam. This scene was filmed at the Louis Stokes VA Medical Center on East Boulevard and passed quite nicely for a military hospital.
Moving on to Lorain, these scenes show the three main characters working hard at a steel mill. The interior scenes were considered a very dangerous environment and ended up requiring the film to purchase a $5 million insurance policy to satisfy the liability concerns of the plant’s owners.
Probably my favorite fact to uncover were the bar scenes shot in Mingo Junction, Ohio - not exactly Cleveland proper. These scenes were shot in an abandoned storefront acquired and made up to be an actual bar. The fictional bar in the movie was called Welsh’s Bar. Two widely different singing scenes were shot at Welsh’s, the first being the trio singing “Can’t Take My Eyes Off You” prior to leaving for the war and then on a much more somber note, the singing of “God Bless America” after Nick’s funeral. The bar constructed from this abandoned building remains as an actual operating bar today.
If you're a native Clevelander, it's your duty to watch The Deer Hunter. Hopefully this trivia sparked your interest if you haven't seen it before, but it's a classic worth checking out no matter what. Still, it's worth seeing even if you just want to point out all the Cleveland locales you can find.
(Photo source: Google Maps)