They have spent their whole life existing this way and it is hard to replicate that richness. I am not being disparaging to actors but sometimes you need to that flavour and authenticity somebody like Chuck brought to the movie. “When you meet characters like this, people you meet on location, you gotta use them. One night enjoying a beer Bob suggested to Cimino that they offer Chuck the role of Axel.” – Jay Glennie Bob and Michael Cimino met Chuck while on a scouting trip. “The guys had built up a great chemistry. We were open to any possibilities that might occur.” – Robert De Niro I look back fondly at those days of filming. “No matter how serious you take your craft you have to find time to have fun while making a film and Mike allowed has that opportunity on The Deer Hunter. It happens seamlessly when you work with a collaborative director.” – Robert De Niro It felt right to be involved and offer Mike any support I could. Meryl, Chris, John, George Dzundza all spoke of meeting Bob during their auditions.” – Jay Glennie It was one the most surprising facts that I learnt during the writing of this book. “ The Deer Hunter features one of the great casts: the late great John Cazale, Meryl Streep, Chris Walken, John Savage… and alongside director Michael Cimino, in the auditions, sat Robert De Niro he was fundamental in casting the film. Here I was working with Bob’s amazing archives, being passed images and wonderful pre-production material from executive producers Marion Rosenberg and Joann Carelli and many more from the cast and crew, which all opened up the story of the making of the film to me. With the inclusion of Meryl Streep, Chris Walken, Vilmos Zsigmond – heroes of mine – I knew that I had been handed a golden baton and it was just a case of not dropping it.