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 summarysynopsisplot 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 »

Videos
Heaven's Gate (1980) -- Trailerfan.com - Trailer (Flash)

Overview

User Rating:
6.4/10   4,192 votes
MOVIEmeter: ?
Down 7% in popularity this week. See why 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:
(10 articles)
Avatar’s Budget is Almost $500 Million?! Can It Make a Profit?
 (From Slash Film. 8 November 2009, 10:29 PM, PST)

20 Ways to Get Your "Arrested Development" Movie Fix*
 (From IFC. 5 November 2009, 7:09 PM, PST)

User Comments:
loved it more (139 total)

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)
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) | Brazil:14 | Canada:18 (Nova Scotia) | Finland:K-16 | Norway:15 | Sweden:15 | UK:18 (cut) | USA:R

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
After the film received scathing reviews after its New York premiere in November 1980, 'Michael Cimino' sent a signed memo to the head of United Artists that asked them to pull the film from theaters so he go back and re-cut the film to a version that everyone would be satisfied with. It had been a misconception for years that it was United Artists that had pulled the film despite its negative press and reviews. more
Goofs:
Audio/visual unsynchronized: Despite music and a yard full of waltzing couples, several 360-degree panning shots at the Harvard commencement ball show that there is no orchestra. more
Quotes:
John L. Bridges: It's getting dangerous to be poor in this country. more
Movie Connections:
Referenced in Heaven's Gate: The Untold Story (1999) more
Soundtrack:
An der schönen, blauen Donau (On the Beautiful Blue Danube), Op. 314 more

FAQ

This FAQ is empty. Add the first question.
7 out of 10 people found the following comment useful.
loved it, 9 March 2006
10/10
Author: raganaga

i watched the longer version and could not take my eyes off the screen. 219 minutes passed and yet it seemed like only an hour had gone by. the characters were very believable and entertaining, and the photography was excellent. the story pulled me in and held my attention. i will definitely watch this again and again. this true story telling at it's best... not Hollywoods usual cheap thrills and skin deep glitz. i've seen a quite a lot of reviews on this movie. most seem to pan the film or give it faint praise. basically, it's a great film that received unfairly harsh reviews. watch it for yourself with an open mind. if you like westerns, historic period pieces, albeit historically inaccurate you'll enjoy the movie. Superb!!! 10/10

Was the above comment useful to you?
more (139 total)

Message Boards

Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for Heaven's Gate (1980)
Recent Posts (updated daily)User
Four questions kohntarkosz
5 hr 20 min version??? jeek
Perplexity about script loopholes michel.lejeune2
How did this movie ruin Cimino's career? mihajlo321
Why were the Male and Female Leads... Owlman8
Galloping Horses Actually 'Trip-Wired' ? It's a Near Certainty. Arthur_2323
more

Recommendations

If you enjoyed this title, our database also recommends:
- - - - -
The Phantom Rider Pat Garrett & Billy the Kid Die Blechtrommel Novecento The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford
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.