Angel (1982)

Saxophonist Danny witnesses the murder of his band manager and a deaf-mute girl after a gig. Questioned by the police, he remembers only the orthopedic shoes of the killers' leader. So ... See full summary »

Director:

Neil Jordan

Writer:

Neil Jordan

Stars:

Veronica Quilligan, Stephen Rea, Alan Devlin

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Veronica Quilligan	...	Annie
Stephen Rea	...	Danny
Alan Devlin	...	Bill
Peter Caffrey	...	Ray
Honor Heffernan	...	Deirdre
Lise Ann McLaughlin	...	Bride
Ian McElhinney	...	Groom
Derek Lord	...	Best Man
Ray McAnally	...	Bloom
Donal McCann	...	Bonner
Marie Kean	...	Mae
Don Foley	...	Bouncer
Gerard McSorley	...	Assistant
Liz Bono	...	Girl Assistant
Tom Collins	...	Photographer

Storyline

Saxophonist Danny witnesses the murder of his band manager and a deaf-mute girl after a gig. Questioned by the police, he remembers only the orthopedic shoes of the killers' leader. So begins his quest to avenge her. He seeks an answer to the simple question 'Why?' but finds only more, and deeper, questions which resonate with the wider context of 'the Troubles', the inter-communal strife gripping the modern-day Northern Ireland which is the film's setting.

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Plot Keywords:

murder | ireland | saxophonist | band manager | witness | 

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Genres:

Drama | Music

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Certificate:

R

Details

Country:

Ireland UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

December 1982 (UK)

Also Known As:

Danny Boy

Filming Locations:

Bray, County Wicklow, Ireland

Company Credits

Production Co:

Bórd Scannán na hÉireann, Channel Four Films, Motion Picture Company of Ireland

Technical Specs

Runtime:

92 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Did You Know?

Trivia

John Boorman (executive producer) wanted Liam Neeson to play Danny.

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Connections

References Outlaw Blues (1977)

User Reviews

Neil Jordan's first masterpiece

In this movie we follow a young Irish sax player who accidentally witnesses the murder of a young mute girl he just met. He decides not to tell anything to the police and track the killers down all by himself. Even if it sounds like one, it is all but an action movie. What it really is, is a great psychological drama which in spite of its pretty amateurish style really embarks us in its story. Stephen Rea is as silent and as good as usual. His cold and severe but at the same time fragile look fits magnificently in this tale of revenge and naïveté. Undoubtedly, only an Irish director could have done a movie with such an atmosphere and as much style. We can almost feel the dirt, despair and disillusion in the Irish suburb as well as the corrupted purity and quietness of the country. Danny is the spokes-man of a disenchanted nation only trying to understand what is going on and hoping for a long-awaited revenge.