Mike(Robert De Niro) enters himself in a game of Russian roulette against Nick(Christopher Walken), attempting to persuade him to come home, but Nick's mind is gone. In the last moment, after Mike's attempts to remind him of their trips hunting together, he finally breaks through, and Nick recognizes Mike and smiles. Nick then tells Mike, "one shot," then raises the gun and pulls the trigger. The bullet happens to be in the chamber on that turn, resulting in the gun firing and killing Nick instantly. Horrified, Michael tries to revive him but to no avail.
Director Michael Cimino stated that Robert De Niro requested a live bullet in the revolver for the scene in which he subjects John Cazale's character to an impromptu game of Russian roulette, to heighten the intensity of the situation. Cazale agreed without protest.
Christopher Walken achieved the withdrawn, hollow look of his character by eating nothing but rice, bananas, and water for the week before he filmed the third act.
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