Heaven’s Gate (1980)

January 13, 2023
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Heaven's Gate (1980)    Listen Movie Details
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6.789/10 68%
Average of Ratings
61%
World Popularity
1%
Internet Movie Database
67%
Rotten Tomatoes
59%
Metacritic
57%
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Movie basic details

Current status - Released
Total runtime - 219 mins.
Release date - 19-11-1980
Release year - 1980
Genres - Drama, Western

Overall ratings and scores for Heaven's Gate:
Happiness Score - 6.789/10, World Popularity Score - 9.988/100, IMDB Score - 6.7, Metascore - 57, Internet Movie Database - 6.7/10, Rotten Tomatoes - 59%, Metacritic - 57/100, .
Heaven's Gate movie has Total Global Votes - 275, Total IMD Votes - 15,373

Heaven's Gate Movie Introduction: Movie Heaven's Gate, release year 1980 is written by Michael Cimino and directed by Michael Cimino. The leading star-cast in this movie are Kris Kristofferson, Christopher Walken, John Hurt along with the other stars and crew members.

Movie overview and plot by

Movie in-short: During the Johnson County War in 1890 Wyoming, a sheriff born into wealth does his best to protect immigrant farmers from rich cattle interests.

Movie story-line: Harvard graduate James Averill is the sheriff of prosperous Jackson County, Wyo., when a battle erupts between the area's poverty-stricken immigrants and its wealthy cattle farmers. The politically connected ranch owners fight the immigrants with the help of Nathan Champion, a mercenary competing with Averill for the love of local madam Ella Watson. As the struggle escalates, Averill and Champion begin to question their decisions.

Movie synopsis: In 1890 Wyoming, James Averill is the Sherriff of Johnson County, which is largely inhabited by foreign immigrants. The wealthy cattle owners view the immigrant farmers as a nuisance and hindrance to them enlarging their own land. The cattlemen's association, the Wyoming Stock Growers Association, effectively declares war on the immigrant farmers and gets the state government's blessing. They assemble an army of guns-for-hire and, backed by the U.S. Cavalry, set out to rid the state of the immigrants. James Averill's heart is with the immigrants, but he doesn't think they have a chance of winning the inevitable war.

Highlights - Heaven's Gate (1980)

Total budget - $44,000,000.00
Total revenue - $3,484,331.00
Produced by - United Artists
Produced in - United States of America
Available languages - French (Français), English (English),
Homepage URL -
Awards won / Nominations - Nominated for 1 Oscar. 2 wins & 9 nominations total
Certificate(s) - DE : 16 US : R CA : R FR : U

Lead Actors, Writer(s), Director(s) of Heaven's Gate (1980)

Lead Actors - Kris Kristofferson, Christopher Walken, John Hurt
Writer(s) - Michael Cimino
Director(s) - Michael Cimino

Frequently Asked Questions(FAQ) about Heaven's Gate (1980)

What is the release date of Heaven's Gate (1980)?
Release date of Heaven's Gate (1980) is 19-11-1980.


What is the total runtime of Heaven's Gate (1980) in minutes?
Total runtime of Heaven's Gate (1980) in minutes is 219 min.


What is the budget consumed to produce Heaven's Gate (1980) movie?
The budget consumed to produce Heaven's Gate (1980) movie is around $44,000,000.00.


How much revenue is expected from movie Heaven's Gate (1980)?
Expected revenue from movie movie Heaven's Gate (1980) is around $3,484,331.00.


What is the pupularity of Heaven's Gate (1980)?
Worldwide pupularity of Heaven's Gate (1980) movie is 9.988%.


What is the name of the production company of film Heaven's Gate (1980)?
Production company of film Heaven's Gate (1980) is/are United Artists, .


Which country the film Heaven's Gate (1980) is produced in?
Film production country for the film Heaven's Gate (1980) is United States of America, .


Which language the film Heaven's Gate (1980) is produced in?
Film Heaven's Gate (1980) is produced in French (Français), English (English), language(s).


Which Genre the film Heaven's Gate (1980) belongs to?
Movie Heaven's Gate (1980) is categorized under Adventure, Drama, Western genre(s).


Who are the lead actors of the film Heaven's Gate (1980)?
Lead actors of the film Heaven's Gate (1980) are Kris Kristofferson, Christopher Walken, John Hurt.


Who is the writer of the film Heaven's Gate (1980)?
The writer(s) of the film Heaven's Gate (1980) is/are Michael Cimino.


Who is the director of the film Heaven's Gate (1980)?
The director(s) of the film Heaven's Gate (1980) is/are Michael Cimino.


Which awards, nominations and recognitions are won by Heaven's Gate (1980) movie?
Movie Heaven's Gate (1980) has Nominated for 1 Oscar. 2 wins & 9 nominations total awards and nomination in it's profile.


What is the story of Heaven's Gate (1980) in-short?
Short plot of movie Heaven's Gate (1980): During the Johnson County War in 1890 Wyoming, a sheriff born into wealth does his best to protect immigrant farmers from rich cattle interests..


What is the full story of Heaven's Gate (1980) movie?
Full plot of movie Heaven's Gate (1980): In 1890 Wyoming, James Averill is the Sherriff of Johnson County, which is largely inhabited by foreign immigrants. The wealthy cattle owners view the immigrant farmers as a nuisance and hindrance to them enlarging their own land. The cattlemen's association, the Wyoming Stock Growers Association, effectively declares war on the immigrant farmers and gets the state government's blessing. They assemble an army of guns-for-hire and, backed by the U.S. Cavalry, set out to rid the state of the immigrants. James Averill's heart is with the immigrants, but he doesn't think they have a chance of winning the inevitable war..


Where to find full details of Heaven's Gate (1980) movie?
You can find the full details of movie Heaven's Gate (1980) at https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0080855


Where to stream or watch movie Heaven's Gate (1980) online?
You can stream or watch online movie Heaven's Gate (1980) on Apple iTunes, Amazon Prime Video, MGM Amazon Channel, Filmin, Amazon Video, Vudu, .


List of full Starcast and crew members of Heaven's Gate (1980)

Full Starcast:

profie photo of Kris KristoffersonName: Kris Kristofferson
Character: James Averill

profie photo of Christopher WalkenName: Christopher Walken
Character: Nathan D. Champion

profie photo of John HurtName: John Hurt
Character: Billy Irvine

profie photo of Sam WaterstonName: Sam Waterston
Character: Frank Canton

profie photo of Brad DourifName: Brad Dourif
Character: Mr. Eggleston

profie photo of Isabelle HuppertName: Isabelle Huppert
Character: Ella Watson

profie photo of Joseph CottenName: Joseph Cotten
Character: The Reverend Doctor

profie photo of Jeff BridgesName: Jeff Bridges
Character: John L. Bridges

profie photo of Ronnie HawkinsName: Ronnie Hawkins
Character: Major Wolcott

profie photo of Paul KosloName: Paul Koslo
Character: Mayor Charlie Lezak

profie photo of Geoffrey LewisName: Geoffrey Lewis
Character: Trapper Fred

profie photo of Richard MasurName: Richard Masur
Character: Cully

profie photo of Rosie VelaName: Rosie Vela
Character: Beautiful girl

profie photo of Mary Catherine WrightName: Mary Catherine Wright
Character: Nell

profie photo of Nicholas WoodesonName: Nicholas Woodeson
Character: Small man

profie photo of Stefan ShcherbyName: Stefan Shcherby
Character: Big man

profie photo of Waldemar KalinowskiName: Waldemar Kalinowski
Character: Photographer

profie photo of Terry O'QuinnName: Terry O'Quinn
Character: Captain Minardi

profie photo of Jack ConleyName: Jack Conley
Character: Morrison

profie photo of Margaret BenczkName: Margaret Benczk
Character: Mrs. Eggleston

profie photo of Jim KnobelochName: Jim Knobeloch
Character: George Kopestonsky

profie photo of Erika PetersenName: Erika Petersen
Character: Mrs. Kopestonsky

profie photo of Robin BartlettName: Robin Bartlett
Character: Mrs. Lezak

profie photo of Tom NoonanName: Tom Noonan
Character: Jake

profie photo of Marat YusimName: Marat Yusim
Character: Russian Merchant

profie photo of Aivars SmitsName: Aivars Smits
Character: Michael Kovach

profie photo of Gordana RashovichName: Gordana Rashovich
Character: Mrs. Kovach

profie photo of Jarlath ConroyName: Jarlath Conroy
Character: Mercenary in new suit

profie photo of Allen KellerName: Allen Keller
Character: Dudley

profie photo of Caroline KavaName: Caroline Kava
Character: Stefka

profie photo of Mady KaplanName: Mady Kaplan
Character: Kathia

profie photo of Anna Levine ThomsonName: Anna Levine Thomson
Character: Little Dot

profie photo of Mickey RourkeName: Mickey Rourke
Character: Nick Ray

profie photo of T Bone BurnettName: T Bone Burnett
Character: Heaven's Gate Band

profie photo of Patricia HodgesName: Patricia Hodges
Character: Jessie

profie photo of Kevin McClarnonName: Kevin McClarnon
Character: Arapaho Brown

profie photo of Kai WulffName: Kai Wulff
Character: German Merchant

profie photo of Steven MajstorovicName: Steven Majstorovic
Character: Czech Merchant

profie photo of Gabriel WalshName: Gabriel Walsh
Character: Zindel's Clerk

profie photo of Norton BuffaloName: Norton Buffalo
Character: Private

profie photo of Jack BlessingName: Jack Blessing
Character: Emigrant Boy

profie photo of Jerry SullivanName: Jerry Sullivan
Character: Governor of Wyoming

profie photo of Jerry McGeeName: Jerry McGee
Character: Heaven's Gate Band

profie photo of Cleve DupinName: Cleve Dupin
Character: Heaven's Gate Band

profie photo of Stephen BrutonName: Stephen Bruton
Character: Heaven's Gate Band

profie photo of Sean HopperName: Sean Hopper
Character: Heaven's Gate Band

profie photo of David MansfieldName: David Mansfield
Character: John DeCory - Skating Violinist

profie photo of David S. Cass Sr.Name: David S. Cass Sr.
Character: Moustached Mercenary

profie photo of Paul D'AmatoName: Paul D'Amato
Character: Bearded Mercenary

profie photo of Peter OsuskyName: Peter Osusky
Character: Peter

profie photo of Ivan KormanikName: Ivan Kormanik
Character: Ivan

profie photo of Michael ChristensenName: Michael Christensen
Character: Robert Steingart - Juggler

profie photo of Anatoli DavydovName: Anatoli Davydov
Character: Fighting Bulgarian Emigrant

profie photo of Nina GaidarovaName: Nina Gaidarova
Character: Bulgarian Emigrant's Wife

profie photo of Wally McCleskeyName: Wally McCleskey
Character: Chicken Fighter

profie photo of Gary VezaneName: Gary Vezane
Character: Canton's Bodyguard

profie photo of H.P. EvettsName: H.P. Evetts
Character: Wolcott's Bodyguard

profie photo of Bruce MorganName: Bruce Morgan
Character: Miner - Mercenary

profie photo of Bobby FaberName: Bobby Faber
Character: Class Marshal - Harvard

profie photo of Judi TrottName: Judi Trott
Character: Irvine's Girlfriend

profie photo of Willem DafoeName: Willem Dafoe
Character: Willy (uncredited)

profie photo of Loyd CatlettName: Loyd Catlett
Character: Morrison's Sentry (uncredited)

profie photo of Juli EricksonName: Juli Erickson
Character: Refugee (uncredited)

Crew Members:

profie photo of Lisa FruchtmanName: Lisa Fruchtman
Department: Editing
Job/Role: Editor

profie photo of Gerald B. GreenbergName: Gerald B. Greenberg
Department: Editing
Job/Role: Editor

profie photo of Tom RolfName: Tom Rolf
Department: Editing
Job/Role: Editor

profie photo of William ReynoldsName: William Reynolds
Department: Editing
Job/Role: Editor

profie photo of William ReynoldsName: William Reynolds
Department: Production
Job/Role: Executive In Charge Of Post Production

profie photo of Cis CormanName: Cis Corman
Department: Production
Job/Role: Casting Director

profie photo of Brian W. CookName: Brian W. Cook
Department: Directing
Job/Role: Assistant Director

profie photo of Charles OkunName: Charles Okun
Department: Production
Job/Role: Executive Producer

profie photo of David MansfieldName: David Mansfield
Department: Sound
Job/Role: Original Music Composer

profie photo of Josie MacAvinName: Josie MacAvin
Department: Art
Job/Role: Set Decoration

profie photo of James L. BerkeyName: James L. Berkey
Department: Art
Job/Role: Set Decoration

profie photo of Denis O'DellName: Denis O'Dell
Department: Production
Job/Role: Executive Producer

profie photo of Terry NeedhamName: Terry Needham
Department: Directing
Job/Role: Second Assistant Director

profie photo of Michael CiminoName: Michael Cimino
Department: Writing
Job/Role: Screenplay

profie photo of Michael CiminoName: Michael Cimino
Department: Directing
Job/Role: Director

profie photo of Vilmos ZsigmondName: Vilmos Zsigmond
Department: Camera
Job/Role: Director of Photography

profie photo of Ken ChaseName: Ken Chase
Department: Costume & Make-Up
Job/Role: Makeup Artist

profie photo of Ben NyeName: Ben Nye
Department: Costume & Make-Up
Job/Role: Makeup Artist

profie photo of Michael GrilloName: Michael Grillo
Department: Directing
Job/Role: Assistant Director

profie photo of Jan KiesserName: Jan Kiesser
Department: Camera
Job/Role: Camera Operator

profie photo of Joann CarelliName: Joann Carelli
Department: Production
Job/Role: Producer

profie photo of Joann CarelliName: Joann Carelli
Department: Sound
Job/Role: Music Supervisor

profie photo of Tambi LarsenName: Tambi Larsen
Department: Art
Job/Role: Production Design

profie photo of Thomas R. BurmanName: Thomas R. Burman
Department: Costume & Make-Up
Job/Role: Special Effects Makeup Artist

profie photo of Mary KeatsName: Mary Keats
Department: Costume & Make-Up
Job/Role: Hairstylist

profie photo of Jane HallarenName: Jane Hallaren
Department: Production
Job/Role: Casting Director

profie photo of Maurice FowlerName: Maurice Fowler
Department: Art
Job/Role: Art Direction

profie photo of Michael GershmanName: Michael Gershman
Department: Camera
Job/Role: Assistant Camera

profie photo of Eleanor FazanName: Eleanor Fazan
Department: Crew
Job/Role: Choreographer

profie photo of James J. KlingerName: James J. Klinger
Department: Sound
Job/Role: Supervising Sound Editor

profie photo of Tom HoerberName: Tom Hoerber
Department: Costume & Make-Up
Job/Role: Makeup Artist

profie photo of Verne CarusoName: Verne Caruso
Department: Costume & Make-Up
Job/Role: Hairstylist

profie photo of Christine AllsoppName: Christine Allsopp
Department: Costume & Make-Up
Job/Role: Makeup Artist

profie photo of Eric EnglerName: Eric Engler
Department: Camera
Job/Role: Assistant Camera

profie photo of Connie ReeveName: Connie Reeve
Department: Costume & Make-Up
Job/Role: Makeup Artist

profie photo of J. Allen HighfillName: J. Allen Highfill
Department: Costume & Make-Up
Job/Role: Costume Design

profie photo of Ken NishinoName: Ken Nishino
Department: Camera
Job/Role: Assistant Camera

profie photo of Michael StevensonName: Michael Stevenson
Department: Directing
Job/Role: Second Assistant Director

profie photo of Richard GravesName: Richard Graves
Department: Directing
Job/Role: Second Assistant Director

profie photo of Jerry O'DellName: Jerry O'Dell
Department: Costume & Make-Up
Job/Role: Makeup Artist

profie photo of Spencer DeverellName: Spencer Deverell
Department: Art
Job/Role: Art Direction

profie photo of Dennis CappsName: Dennis Capps
Department: Directing
Job/Role: Second Assistant Director

profie photo of Tony GaznickName: Tony Gaznick
Department: Production
Job/Role: Casting Director

Movie Posters and Wallapapers - Heaven's Gate (1980)

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Reviews Section

rated 4 out of 5
June 23, 2021

Heaven’s Gate (1980) Barbed wire and women are the two greatest civilising agents in the world. Heaven’s Gate is written and directed by Michael Cimino and stars Kris Kristofferson, Christopher Walken, Isabelle Huppert, Jeff Bridges, John Hurt and Sam Waterston. Music is by David Mansfield and cinematography by Vilmos Zsigmond. Picture is based around the real-life Johnson County War in 1890 Wyoming, where here we have a Sheriff born into wealth attempting to protect immigrant farmers from the rich Stockholders Association. Lets begin by stating that for the clear facts about the financial disaster of Heaven’s Gate, and its impact on studios and film making in general, then research it so I don’t have to write two paragraphs about it. Also it should be known that this is hardly an historically accurate account of the so called Johnson County War (when are big epics ever truly accurate anyway?), so again research pays off there as well. Heaven’s Gate, the film, was savaged by the critics upon release, especially given that the originally theatrical release they viewed was over an hour shorter than what Cimino intended for release. Thankfully now, if you are a fan or not of the pic, we can at least see the fully formed longer version (three and half hours worth). The charges of self indulgency by Cimino are fair enough, but his vision is clinically focused to the point of producing a potent and meditative (anti) Western epic. Cimino is in no hurry to tell his story, and rightly so as he gets to grips with character building and methodically slow burning the tensions that led to the Johnson County blood bath. Before we even consider the technical smarts on show, there’s a strong emotional current swirling away in the narrative, an intimacy that’s beguiling and holds those fully invested in the first half of film – in readiness for the pay off in the superb second half. I do wonder just how many of the 1/10 reviewers actually made it to second half? The point when the gang of hired assassins ride over the hill and begin their terror of murder and sexual assault? Visually (Zsigmond on top form) the pic blends elegiac tones for the hopes and dreams of the immigrants looking for a new life in the new world, with the grainy realism of the financial greed and oppression dished out by wealthy corporate stockholders. Cimino isn’t found wanting for quality of sequence construction either. Pic features community dances, the kind that John Ford himself would be tipping his hat to. Most notably is the immigrants roller derby dance gathering, a delightfully zestful experience showing a community in love with being a community. The main battle section was laughably trashed by a couple of those original critics, it’s a breath taking sequence of events, a thunderous whirl of dust and circular carnage (circles a thematic for Ciminio), “those god damned Romans” indeed. Flaws? Absolutely, this is far from a flawless picture. The first half hour featuring Averill (Kristofferson) and Irvine’s (Hurt) Harvard Graduation is draggy and could easily have been cut by twenty minutes. Also scratchy is that both actors look way too old for such a scenario. Cast are mostly unfussy (perfectly so), but there’s an itch that although Huppert has simmering qualities for a bordello babe, she’s a touch miscast for the love triangle verve and the genre surrounds. The script sometimes lacks for 1890 chatter, while the screenplay needs the utmost attention or else you could easily lose the thread of things. True also to sadly reflect upon some obvious animal rights issues, thankfully Hollywood has moved on from such things since. A flawed masterpiece? Yes I think that fits right when revisiting it nearly 40 years after the disaster of its initial release. It’s a lyrical and majestic piece of work, one that has seen its plus column reputation grow as it is re-evaluated by new critics and new age cinema lovers alike. The themes at work, with the debunking of American mythologizing et al, were too close to the knuckle for many back in 1980, but now it stands proud as a bold, beautiful and brutal film. Yes, even with the flaws. 8/10


-- John Chard
rated 3.5 out of 5
June 23, 2021

***Cimino’s epic Western about the Johnson County War, unjustly lambasted by critics*** With the government’s blessing, cattle barons in Wyoming circa 1890 hire an army of mercenaries to kill claimed rustlers who, in many cases, are innocent settlers. A marshal born into wealth (Kris Kristofferson) sides with the poor immigrants in Johnson County; in his spare time he romances a French madam (Isabelle Huppert) who’s also pursued by a top enforcer of the stockmen (Christopher Walken). “Heaven’s Gate” (1980) is Michael Cimino’s notorious adult-oriented Western that brought down a studio. Cimino’s style is arty with a focus on mundane realism, similar to Francis Ford Coppola. I’m not a fan of Cimino’s previous film, the overrated “The Deer Hunter” (1978), because of the tedious opening hour and the disagreeable focus on Russian Roulette, although I love his Tarantino-like “Thunderbolt and Lightfoot” (1974). Cimino wisely doesn’t allow the Harvard graduation sequence that opens “Heaven’s Gate” to go on forever like the wedding in “Deer Hunter,” not to mention it has aesthetic merit. There are two versions of the film: The premiere New York City cut runs 3 hours, 39 minutes while the edited version that hit theaters five months later is a little over an hour shorter (roughly 2.5 hours). Critics complain that the story makes no sense, but it’s actually really simple with only a handful of main characters. I was never confused about what was happening and I viewed the shorter version. The locations and photography are top-of-the-line. Whether or not you appreciate the story will depend on if you favor Cimino’s arty, mature and realistic style. In any case, everything leads to an action-packed climax. When the movie was released there was a critical feeding frenzy, but much of the criticisms are disingenuous as critics conveniently jumped on the hate wagon. For instance, there’s the complaint that this is an ugly film due to an industrial pall, including dust and smoke. Actually, the visuals are awesome despite any dust, smoke or fog. Roger Ebert complained that a character in a burning cabin who is convinced that he’s going to die writes a note and signs his full name before breaking out and getting shot, but the real-life person in question kept a journal of his besieging and, in fact, signed it off before dying. Ebert also whined about a gunman breaking into a house and shooting three men who are raping a woman and yet she is unscathed. Actually the guy in question is a marshal by profession and therefore highly skilled at gunmanship. So what’s the problem? Yet another criticism is that the antagonists could’ve easily gotten to the attackers utilizing the armored wagon made of logs by going around or behind, but the settlers would’ve easily shot ’em down if they unwisely did this seeing as how they would’ve been out in the open. Aduh. The film was shot in Montana (Kalispell, Glacier National Park, Blackfeet Indian Reservation, etc.) with the Casper, Wyoming, sequence shot in Wallace, Idaho, and the Harvard segment filmed (obviously) in England. GRADE: B/B-


-- Wuchak
rated 3 out of 5
June 23, 2021

Has any film undergone the level of critical turnaround afforded HEAVEN'S GATE (1980) since its initial banishment and failure? Nearly four decades removed from the vitriol and scorn heaped upon, not only the film, but the hubris of its director and the perceived wastefulness of an out-of-control production system, what did writer/director Michael Cimino ultimately leave his audience? Well, as with most (but certainly not all) polarizing works of art, the truth is probably somewhere in the middle. At 219 minutes, there is certainly dross; unfortunately, the love triangle at the film's heart constitutes a great deal of it. I'll say it outright: The romance aspect is boring. The picture is much more successful when it focuses on the rancher/immigrant conflict. Even prior to that, the first 30 minutes or so are not only absorbing, they're downright dazzlingly written and performed. I find myself searching for Sam Waterston, John Hurt, Christopher Walken, Kris Kristofferson (away from the romance scenes), and Jeff Bridges and sort-of waiting for other elements to pass-by (almost 10 minutes of roller-skating, anyone?). Transamerica's panicked, short-sighted abandonment of United Artists initially burdened this film with a catastrophic reputation which it didn't deserve. Looked at alongside modern cinema, there is something exciting about the risk-it-all ethos which Cimino (and other directors) brought to the table in the heady '70s. Worth seeing at least once; not only for its sprawling, go-for-broke approach, but also for a look at the tail-end of an era of creative freedom in Hollywood which will almost certainly never be seen again.


-- adorablepanic

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