Angel Heart (1987)

Harry Angel has a new case, to find a man called Johnny Favourite. Except things aren't quite that simple, and Johnny doesn't want to be found. Let's just say that, amongst the period ... See full summary »

Director:

Alan Parker

Writers:

William Hjortsberg (novel), Alan Parker (screenplay)

Stars:

Mickey Rourke, Robert De Niro, Lisa Bonet

1 win & 3 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Mickey Rourke	...	Harry Angel
Robert De Niro	...	Louis Cyphre
Lisa Bonet	...	Epiphany Proudfoot
Charlotte Rampling	...	Margaret Krusemark
Stocker Fontelieu	...	Ethan Krusemark
Brownie McGhee	...	Toots Sweet
Michael Higgins	...	Dr. Albert Fowler
Elizabeth Whitcraft	...	Connie
Eliott Keener	...	Det. Sterne
Charles Gordone	...	Spider Simpson
Dann Florek	...	Herman Winesap
Kathleen Wilhoite	...	Nurse
George Buck	...	Izzy
Judith Drake	...	Izzy's Wife
Gerald Orange	...	Pastor John (as Gerald L. Orange)

Storyline

Harry Angel has a new case, to find a man called Johnny Favourite. Except things aren't quite that simple, and Johnny doesn't want to be found. Let's just say that, amongst the period detail and beautiful scenery, it all gets really, really nasty.

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Plot Keywords:

singer | voodoo | blood spatter | stockings | countryside | 

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Taglines:

Nothing can prepare you for the ending of Angel Heart.

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Genres:

Mystery | Thriller

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Certificate:

X

Details

Official Sites:

William Hjortsberg

Country:

USA Canada UK

Language:

English French

Release Date:

6 March 1987 (USA)

Also Known As:

Angel Heart - Ascensore per l'inferno

Filming Locations:

Albany, New York, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$17,000,000 (estimated)

Gross:

$17,185,632 (USA)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Carolco International N.V., Winkast Film Productions, Union

Technical Specs

Runtime:

113 min

Sound Mix:

70 mm 6-Track (70 mm prints) Dolby (35 mm prints)

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

When Louis blows salt from his egg onto the restaurant table, Harry Angel takes a pinch and throws it over his left shoulder. The superstition is that by doing so you blind the devil (or your evil angel).

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Goofs

Supposedly set during 1955, modern day traffic signals can be seen in New Orleans.

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Quotes

[first lines]
Louis Cyphre: Johnny. Johnny. Johnny.

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Crazy Credits

Scene during credits shows Mickey Rourke's character descending to 'Hell' inside of an elevator.

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Connections

Remade as Angel Heart (2014)

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Soundtracks

"Basin Street Blues"
By Spencer Williams

User Reviews

One of the creepiest thrillers ever made

Harry Angel(Mickey Rourke) is a sleazy private detective in 1955 New York. One day, Harry is approached by a mysterious lawyer named Louis Cyphre(Robert De Niro). Louis also has unusually long fingernails and needs help in searching for a former client of his who disappeared mysteriously without ever paying him back. So Harry begins his investigation which takes him from the dark alleys and streets of New York to the hot, musty bayous of Louisiana. While there, he meets up with Epiphany Proudfoot(Lisa Bonet) who is a voodoo priestess and soon enough Harry becomes caught up in voodoo mysticism.

This is the first movie directed by Alan Parker that I've seen and is also the movie that introduced me to Mickey Rourke. The movie has a really dark atmosphere and I really like the heartbeat on the soundtrack that helps to build the tension. "Angel Heart" ranks up there with those really twisted supernatural thrillers like "The Sixth Sense" and "Jacob's Ladder". Why this movie hasn't gotten much attention over the last fourteen years I'll never know. What really makes this movie good is probably its 1950s setting which gives "Angel Heart" some originality. The film's ending just gives me the creeps because it just comes at you from out of no where and there is nothing that hints it. Viewers should also be cautioned when watching "Angel Heart" because it is extremely bloody and then of course there is that love scene between Mickey Rourke and Lisa Bonet which stirred up a little bit of controversy when it was first released back in 1987.

10/10