City of Angels (1998)

An angel on Earth, a doctor unable to believe, a patient with a secret, a love story made in Heaven.

Director:

Brad Silberling

Writers:

Wim Wenders (screenplay "Der Himmel über Berlin"), Peter Handke (screenplay "Der Himmel über Berlin")

Stars:

Nicolas Cage, Meg Ryan, Andre Braugher

Nominated for 1 Golden Globe. Another 10 wins & 13 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Nicolas Cage	...	Seth
Meg Ryan	...	Dr. Maggie Rice
Andre Braugher	...	Cassiel
Dennis Franz	...	Nathaniel Messinger
Colm Feore	...	Jordan Ferris
Robin Bartlett	...	Anne
Joanna Merlin	...	Teresa Messinger
Sarah Dampf	...	Susan
Rhonda Dotson	...	Susan's Mother
Nigel Gibbs	...	Doctor
John Putch	...	Man in Car
Lauri Johnson	...	Woman in Car
Christian Aubert	...	Foreign Visitor in Car
Jay Patterson	...	Air Traffic Controller
Shishir Kurup	...	Jimmy, Anesthesiologist

Storyline

Seth is an angel who accompanies the spirits of the recently dead to the ever after. Seth has never been human and so has never experienced touch or taste. When in the hospital however he comes across Dr. Maggie Rice, a brilliant young heart surgeon who is devoted to her profession and her patients. Seth has the power to let himself be seen but Maggie finds him far too mysterious. Seth also meets a patient, Nathaniel Messinger, who has news for him - he too was once an angel like Seth but chose to fall to Earth and become human. Seth makes a decision on his future, which does not turn out as he had expected.

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Plot Keywords:

candlelit bath | woman wears eyeglasses | barefoot male | man in a shower | male objectification | 

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Taglines:

She didn't believe in angels until she fell in love with one.

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Genres:

Drama | Fantasy | Romance

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Certificate:

PG

Did You Know?

Trivia

The rooftop scene with Dennis Franz and Nicolas Cage sitting on scaffolding high above the city was shot for real. Both actors were afraid of heights.

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Goofs

When Seth is cutting the lettuce, he pulls a knife out of the knife block containing 4 or 5 knives. In a later shot, after he has cut his hand, there is only one knife in the block.

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Quotes

Seth: That doctor in the operating room. She looked right at me.

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Alternate Versions

When the film aired on the TVONE channel in New Zealand on Sunday afternoon April 16th 2012, the love scene between Seth and Maggie was omitted for daytime broadcast.

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Connections

Referenced in I Spit on Your Grave 3: Vengeance Is Mine (2015)

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Soundtracks

Further Up the Road
Written by Joe M. Veasy and Don D. Robey
Performed by Eric Clapton
Courtesy of PolyGram International Music B.V.
By arrangement with PolyGram Film & TV Licensing

User Reviews

So-So

I'm about the easiest person in the world from which to jerk a tear, and this movie left me completely dry-eyed. Yes, it was a very Hollywood story, complete with quick, convenient character transformations & plot discoveries & a very predictable plot-line, but a well-done Hollywood tale can often reduce me to big, blubbering sobs. I think the main problem with this movie was the total miscasting of Nicholas Cage - I agree completely with those who say that had they met him in the hospital corridor as Meg did they would have been terrified & called hospital security!! There was no warmth or wisdom or charisma or anything in his portrayal - it was as though he was hiding everything that normally makes Nicholas Cage sexy & compelling in a mis-guided effort to appear wise & ethereal. Had an actor like John Travolta or Jeff Bridges or any number of independent film stalwarts been cast, some charm & a sense of humor could have shown through, I could have understood why he compelled her, and perhaps the story would have moved me, in spite of the Hollywoodish-ness.

Details

Official Sites:

Warner Bros.

Country:

USA Germany

Language:

English

Release Date:

10 April 1998 (Canada)

Also Known As:

La cité des anges

Filming Locations:

Johnie's Coffee Shop - 6101 Wilshire Boulevard, Fairfax, Los Angeles, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$55,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$15,369,048, 12 April 1998

Gross USA:

$78,685,114

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$198,685,114

Company Credits

Production Co:

Atlas Entertainment, Monarchy Enterprises B.V., New Regency Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

114 min

Sound Mix:

DTS Dolby Digital SDDS

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.39 : 1