Days of Heaven (1978)

Richard Gere plays a Chicagoan trying to make a new life in the country and finding that love gets in the way.

Terrence Malick’s marvellous parable about a trio of Chicagoans trying to make a new life working on a Texan wheat farm during WWI is one of the most visually striking films of the 1970s. Cinematographer Néstor Almendros’ lighting combines with the work of Jack Fisk (Malick’s long-time art director) to create a world vividly reminiscent of the paintings of Andrew Wyeth, Edward Hopper et al.

1978 USA
Directed by
Terrence Malick
Produced by
Bert Schneider, Harold Schneider
Written by
Terrence Malick
Featuring
Richard Gere, Brooke Adams, Sam Shepard
Running time
94 minutes

Ranked in The Greatest Films of All Time poll

Sight and Sound