Days of Heaven

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Days of Heaven

PG

1978

1h 35m

Drama

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Popcornmeter

93%

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125 Reviews

89%

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10,000+ Ratings

A screen poem about life in America at the turn of the century. A story of love and murder told through the voice of a child and expressive images of nature in 1916. A steelworker flees Chicago after a fight with his boss; he takes his little sister and girlfriend with him.

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Critics Consensus

Illuminated by magic hour glow and wistful performances, Days of Heaven is a visual masterpiece that finds eloquent poetry in its spare scenario.

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Joseph Gelmis

Newsday

Feb 4

The film seems twice as long as its hour and a half running time, because each scene is so simple yet full. It's like a minimal painting.

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Elston Brooks

Fort Worth Star-Telegram/DFW.com

Feb 4

4/4

Writer-director Terrence Malick has given us a montage of stunningly beautiful scenes that can only be labeled the work of an artist.

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Peter Travers

Gannett Westchester Rockland Newspapers

Feb 4

Days of Heaven is too self-consciously beautiful to support its narrative framework. Intentionally or not, the wonders and horrors of nature dwarf the characters to such an extent that they are rendered insignificant and often boring by contrast.

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Jack Garner

Rochester Democrat and Chronicle

Feb 4

If you believe in film as visual art, an art form in which the visual element is primary, then this is, indeed, a work of art, perhaps the most beautiful movie ever made.

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Kirk Honeycutt

Escondido Times-Advocate (CA)

Feb 4

An exhilarating experience. Here is a movie to measure other movies by, a movie of pristine brilliance that has one open-mouthed at its visual dexterity.

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Bernard Drew

Gannett News Service

Feb 4

It quite takes the breath away. I cannot recall being so visually stunned since the first time I saw Murnau's "Sunrise." Malick has not only created his own language, he seems to have invented a whole new world and landscape never seen before.

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Hector I

@Hector1184BC Jan 30

Following the brilliant "Badlands," Terrence Malick’s "Days of Heaven" tells the story of Bill and Abby, a couple fleeing Chicago in 1910 to work as seasonal laborers on a Texas wheat farm. The work is harsh, and, unmarried, they must pose as siblings. This deception changes their fate: the dying wealthy landowner falls for Abby and proposes marriage. They play along, hoping for a small paradise. Yet fate, like Greek tragedy, catches up. Love sustains the owner until he discovers the truth, triggering rage and destruction. Bill kills him in self-defense, and they flee, echoing Adam and Eve leaving paradise. Bill dies, leaving Abby alone to return to civilization. The film is contemplative and impressionistic: earth, sky, and labor are almost actors. Inspired by Hopper and enhanced by Saint-Saëns, Malick transforms the ordinary into the mystical, exploring destiny, love, and the divine.

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Jakub V

@SirJames Dec 15

Eart, fire, air, water. One of the best movies ever made. It has everything.

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Patrick S

@PatrickStruik Dec 13

An absolute masterpiece.

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Richard W

@rdwoolf Sep 25

Another long and drawn out story from Terrence Malick. it looks extremely good. But it's hard to get through without becoming distracted. Still, it's 100 times better than Tree of Life.

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STEVEN M

@RT95376924 Aug 30

Terrance Malik makes everything big on this film. The bridge crossing is iconic.

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Blobbo X

@Blobbo Jul 8

Visually is masterpiece, think Blobbo.

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Terrence Malick

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Richard Gere

Bill

Brooke Adams

Abby

Sam Shepard

The Farmer

Linda Manz

Linda

Robert J. Wilke

The Farm Foreman

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Synopsis

A screen poem about life in America at the turn of the century. A story of love and murder told through the voice of a child and expressive images of nature in 1916. A steelworker flees Chicago after a fight with his boss; he takes his little sister and girlfriend with him.

Director: Terrence Malick
Producer: Bert Schneider, Harold Schneider
Screenwriter: Terrence Malick
Distributor: Paramount Pictures
Production Co: Paramount Pictures
Rating: PG
Genre: Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Jan 1, 1978, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Mar 22, 2016
Runtime: 1h 35m
Sound Mix: Surround, Dolby Stereo
Aspect Ratio: Flat (1.85:1)

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