The Deer Hunter

In late 1968, three friends in Pennsylvania – Mike Vronsky (De Niro), Steven Pushkov (Savage) and Nick Chevotarevich (Walken)– work in a steel mill and hunt for deer with their co-workers Axel and Stan, and bartender friend John. Mike, Steven and Nick are preparing to leave for military service in Vietnam. Steven is engaged to Angela, who is secretly impregnated by another man. Mike and Nick are close friends who live together and both love Linda, who will be moving into their home to escape from her abusive and alcoholic father. During Steven and Angela's wedding, Nick asks for Linda's hand, and she accepts. As the newlyweds drive away, Nick asks Mike to not abandon him in Vietnam. Mike, Nick and their friends make a final deer hunt. As is his custom, Mike fires a single shot, which kills the deer.