In 1955 New Orleans, small-time private investigator Harry Angel is hired by a man who calls himself Louis Cypher to track down a singer named Johnny Favorite, but the investigation takes an... Read allIn 1955 New Orleans, small-time private investigator Harry Angel is hired by a man who calls himself Louis Cypher to track down a singer named Johnny Favorite, but the investigation takes an unexpected and somber turn.In 1955 New Orleans, small-time private investigator Harry Angel is hired by a man who calls himself Louis Cypher to track down a singer named Johnny Favorite, but the investigation takes an unexpected and somber turn.
- Awards
- 2 wins & 5 nominations
Gerald Orange
- Pastor John
- (as Gerald L. Orange)
Dave Petitjean
- Baptism Preacher
- (as David Petitjean)
- Director
- Writers
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaWriter and director Sir Alan Parker claims that Robert De Niro's performance as Louis Cyphre was so eerie and realistic that he generally avoided him during his scenes, letting him just direct himself.
- GoofsIn New Orleans, there is a daybill ad for a drive-in movie theater posted on a mailbox, which advertises a showing of Cast a Giant Shadow (1966), released 11 years after the setting. The poster also features the Elvis film "Double Trouble" and the Waylon Jennings film "Nashville Rebel", both from the late 60s.
- Quotes
Louis Cyphre: Alas... how terrible is wisdom when it brings no profit to the wise, Johnny?
- Crazy creditsAfter the end credits roll, you hear the whisper on a black screen, "Harry? Johnny?"
- Alternate versionsA scene featuring Mickey Rourke and Lisa Bonet having sex was slightly cut by around 10 secs before release in order to avoid a X rating. The European theatrical version and US video version restore the missing footage.
Featured review
"Angel Heart" is a true standout film among director Alan Parkers' filmography: a seedy, depressing, disturbing, provocative, and mesmerizing mystery with all the creepy imagery one could hope for. It begins on a very ominous note and remains gripping all the way through its serpentine story. Mickey Rourke, in one of his very best performances, stars as Harry Angel, low rent NYC private eye hired by mysterious Louis Cyphre (Robert De Niro, who's fantastic) to locate a vanished crooner named Johnny Favourite. His search leads him from NYC to New Orleans, and with the story (based on the novel "Falling Angel" by William Hjortsberg) taking place in the mid-1950s, that merely adds to the overpowering atmosphere. Along the way, the dead bodies start piling up, and Harry finds things just getting more and more gloomy as his search moves inexorably towards its devastating conclusion. I think that a key to this films' success is that it *can* work even for the viewer who knows the major revelations beforehand, or guesses at them early on. It's the gravitas that Parker and his fine cast brings to the proceedings that make it so compulsively watchable. Also appearing are Charlotte Rampling, beautiful as ever, in the role of black magic practitioner Margaret, and the stunning Lisa Bonet, who's memorable in the role of young mother Epiphany. Familiar faces in smaller roles include Pruitt Taylor Vince, as a detective (he acted again for Parker in "Mississippi Burning"), Kathleen Wilhoite, as a nurse, Michael Higgins as a drug-addicted doctor, musician Brownie McGhee as Toots Sweet, and Dann Florek ('Law & Order: SVU') as an attorney. As this story plays out, one just knows that whatever Harry finds out, it won't be pleasant, and the dark tone extends to the memorable sex scene, which is erotic and creepy in equal measure. The music score by Trevor Jones is suitably eerie and there's a serving of blues music that is irresistible, adding to the overall experience. In the end there's a strong message about the nature of living a lie, and the final confrontation between two characters is brilliantly subtle, depending on acting rather than spectacle or much in the way of cheese. This represents a solid effort from all concerned. Eight out of 10.
- Hey_Sweden
- Jul 1, 2012
- Permalink
Details
- Release date
- Countries of origin
- Official site
- Languages
- Also known as
- Linh Hồn Quỷ Dữ
- Filming locations
- St Charles Track Avenue, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA(Streetcar scenes)
- Production companies
- See more company credits at IMDbPro
Box office
- Budget
- $17,000,000 (estimated)
- Gross US & Canada
- $17,185,632
- Opening weekend US & Canada
- $3,688,721
- Mar 8, 1987
- Gross worldwide
- $17,185,954
- Runtime1 hour 53 minutes
- Color
- Aspect ratio
- 1.85 : 1
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