Home
search
more | tips
IMDb > Heaven's Gate (1980)
Heaven's Gate
Quicklinks
Top Links
trailers and videosfull cast and crewtriviaofficial sitesmemorable quotes
Overview
main detailscombined detailsfull cast and crewcompany creditstv schedule
Awards & Reviews
user commentsexternal reviewsnewsgroup reviewsawardsuser ratingsparents guiderecommendationsmessage board
Plot & Quotes
plot summaryplot synopsisplot keywordsAmazon.com summarymemorable quotes
Fun Stuff
triviagoofssoundtrack listingcrazy creditsalternate versionsmovie connectionsFAQ
Other Info
merchandising linksbox office/businessrelease datesfilming locationstechnical specslaserdisc detailsDVD detailsliterature listingsNewsDesk
Promotional
taglines trailers and videos posters photo gallery
External Links
showtimesofficial sitesmiscellaneousphotographssound clipsvideo clips

Heaven's Gate (1980) More at IMDbPro »

Photos (see all 29 | slideshow)

Overview

User Rating:
6.4/10   3,994 votes
MOVIEmeter: ?
Down 30% in popularity this week. See rank & trends on IMDbPro.
Director:
Michael Cimino
Writer:
Michael Cimino (writer)
Contact:
View company contact information for Heaven's Gate on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
19 November 1980 (USA) more
Genre:
Drama | History | Western more
Tagline:
What one loves about life are the things that fade. more
Plot:
Michael Cimino's bleak anti-western based on events in 1890s Wyoming. Sheriff James Averill attempts... more | add synopsis
Plot Keywords:
more
Awards:
Nominated for Oscar. Another 1 win & 5 nominations more
NewsDesk:
(4 articles)
Baz Luhrmann's "Australia" Racing To Meet Premiere Deadline
 (From CinemaRetro. 11 November 2008, 5:49 PM, PST)

Cimino Returns
 (From Studio Briefing - Film News. 31 October 2008, 2:32 AM, PDT)

User Comments:
A Masterpiece - I Thought There Were Only Three Of Us more

Cast

  (Cast overview, first billed only)

Kris Kristofferson ... James Averill

Christopher Walken ... Nathan D. Champion

John Hurt ... Billy Irvine

Sam Waterston ... Frank Canton

Brad Dourif ... Mr. Eggleston

Isabelle Huppert ... Ella Watson
Joseph Cotten ... The Reverend Doctor

Jeff Bridges ... John L. Bridges
Ronnie Hawkins ... Major Wolcott

Paul Koslo ... Mayor Charlie Lezak

Geoffrey Lewis ... Trapper Fred
Richard Masur ... Cully
Rosie Vela ... Beautiful girl (as Roseanne Vela)
Mary Catherine Wright ... Nell (as Mary C. Wright)
Nicholas Woodeson ... Small man
more
Create a character page for: ?

Additional Details

Also Known As:
Michael Cimino's Heaven's Gate (USA) (complete title)
The Johnson County Wars (USA) (original script title)
Das Tor zum Himmel (Austria) (West Germany) [de]
Heaven's Gate - Das Tor zum Himmel (Austria) (West Germany) [de]
As Portas do Céu (Portugal) [pt]
Brama nieba (Poland) [pl]
Heaven's Gate (West Germany) [de]
I cancelli del cielo (Italy) [it]
I pyli tis Dyseos (Greece) [el]
La porte du paradis (France) [fr]
La puerta del cielo (Spain) [es]
O Portal do Paraíso (Brazil) [pt]
Portti ikuisuuteen (Finland) [fi]
more
Runtime:
149 min (re-cut) | 219 min (original cut)
Country:
USA
Language:
English
Color:
Color (Technicolor)
Aspect Ratio:
2.20 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Dolby (35 mm prints) | 70 mm 6-Track (70 mm prints)
Certification:
Canada:R (Nova Scotia/Ontario) | Singapore:M18 | UK:X (original rating) | West Germany:16 (f) | Australia:M | Germany:12 (video rating) | Canada:18 (Nova Scotia) | Finland:K-16 | Norway:15 | Sweden:15 | UK:18 (cut) | USA:R

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
This film is notorious for the amount of animal abuse that took place during production. Actual cockfights, decapitated chickens and physical torture of horses including at least four deaths are all proven to have taken place. The outcry prompted the Screen Actors Guild (SAG) and the Alliance of Motion Picture & Television Producers (AMPTP) to contractually authorize the American Humane Society to monitor the use of all animals in all filmed media. more
Goofs:
Continuity: When Ella Watson sees her birthday present, only one of her breasts is covered by the blanket wrapped around her. Whilst the shot cuts between her and Jim, the breast that is uncovered changes repeatedly between shots. more
Quotes:
Wolcott: They're an ignorant, degraded gang of paupers. Their only stock in trade consists of having large numbers of ragged kids. more
Movie Connections:
Referenced in Dark Ride (2006) more
Soundtrack:
An der schönen, blauen Donau (On the Beautiful Blue Danube), Op. 314 more

FAQ

This FAQ is empty. Add the first question.
59 out of 95 people found the following comment useful:-
A Masterpiece - I Thought There Were Only Three Of Us, 15 March 2004
9/10
Author: Jack Landman from San Antonio, TX

Until today, I thought there only three people, including me, who considered Heaven's Gate (1980)to be a masterpiece and perhaps the last great western, (since the 1970), after, Little Big Man (1970), Jeremiah Johnson (1972), The Outlaw Josey Wales (1976) and The Long Riders (1980).

I was stunned and pleased to see that 22.5% of those voting at IMDB rate this movie a 10, as do I. A recent book, the Worst Movies of All Time, includes Heaven's Gate. Through it's production and release it was vilified, as no movie since Cleopatra, almost twenty years before. At one time it was considered the most expensive over-budget movie of all time, surpassing even Cleopatra. It was blamed for the downfall of its studio, United Artists, until everyone finally saw all the studios were falling. Michael Cimino, fresh from his glory with the Deer Hunter was hated and despised for his success and movie making excess, but clearly, that was petty jealousy at its worst.

Cimino ended up fashioning one of the great expositions of the American experience. This film is not to be missed but any serious student of American filmmaking.

Was the above comment useful to you?
more

Message Boards

Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for Heaven's Gate (1980)
Recent Posts (updated daily)User
Could not get through this boring mess!!! hannahp1
Which languages do the immigrants speak? col_rutherford
Harvard Dance Scene Aleatory
Galloping Horses Actually 'Trip-Wired' ? It's a Near Certainty. Arthur_2323
soundtrack fhei
Spoiler: End Question reverler
more

Recommendations

If you enjoyed this title, our database also recommends:
- - - - -
The Phantom Rider Caligola Watchmen Novecento Custer's Last Stand
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
Show more recommendations

Related Links

Full cast and crew Company credits External reviews
News articles IMDb Drama section IMDb USA section
Add this title to MyMovies

You may report errors and omissions on this page to the IMDb database managers. They will be examined and if approved will be included in a future update. Clicking the 'Update' button will take you through a step-by-step process.