Angel Heart (1987)

Harry Angel is a private investigator. He is hired by a man who calls himself Louis Cyphre to track down a singer called Johnny Favorite. But the investigation takes an unexpected and somber turn.

Director:

Alan Parker

Writers:

William Hjortsberg (novel), Alan Parker (screenplay)

Stars:

Mickey Rourke, Robert De Niro, Lisa Bonet

2 wins & 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:

investigator | clinic | time | investigation | singer | 

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Taglines:

Harry Angel has been hired to search for the truth... Pray he doesn't find it.

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Genres:

Horror | Mystery | Thriller

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Certificate:

X

Details

Official Sites:

William Hjortsberg

Country:

UK Canada USA

Language:

English French

Release Date:

6 March 1987 (USA)

Also Known As:

Corazón satánico

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

Edward Kelley is also the name of a 16th-century English alchemist and magician (1555-1597/8).

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Goofs

When Harry mets Margaret she ask him if he would like a tea. He accepts and puts the cup on the edge of the table near him. When he gets up the cup vanishes.

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Quotes

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

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Crazy Credits

After the end credits roll, you hear the whisper on a black screen, "Harry? Johnny?"

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Connections

Referenced in Se7en (1995)

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Soundtracks

Soul On Fire
Performed by La Vern Baker
Written by La Vern Baker, Ahmet Ertegun, Jerry Wexler

User Reviews

Alan Parker's Masterpiece

"Angel Heart" deserves to be considered Alan Parker's masterpiece. The direction is truly amazing, as Parker drives us deeply through a meticulously prepared dark atmosphere, full of allegories and secret hints.

In "Angel Heart", we watch Mickey Rourke in his finest acting hour, who plays Harry Angel, a private investigator hired by the mysterious Louis Cyphre, depicted by the great Robert De Niro. Cyphre assigns Angel the task to find a guy named Johnny Favorite who has disappeared, with whom he has unsettled debts. The task is much harder than it first looks however, as Angel bumps into several murders in the process; and as if that were not enough, the quest makes him realize some very unpleasant truths about himself and Mr. Cyphre.

As noted before, both Rourke and De Niro are excellent in their roles; a high mark goes for the rest of the cast as well, with Lisa Bonnet standing out as charming and apocryphal Epiphany Proudfoot. Yet, the 10/10 mark for this film is definitely credited to Alan Parker's direction: It is his masterpiece.