118-488: Angel Heart is a 1987 American neo-noir psychological horror film, an adaptation of William Hjortsberg 's 1978 novel Falling Angel . The film was written and directed by Alan Parker , and stars Mickey Rourke , Robert De Niro , Lisa Bonet , and Charlotte Rampling . Harry Angel (Rourke), a New York City private investigator, is hired to solve the disappearance of a man known as Johnny Favorite. His investigation takes him to New Orleans , where he becomes embroiled in
236-548: A Harlem mission . The two actors next filmed a scene at Lanza's, an Italian restaurant located on the Lower East Side . By May 3, 1986, production had moved to New Orleans. In the town of Thibodaux, Louisiana , Parker and his crew discovered an entire plantation workers' village that would serve as a graveyard. He said, "We had the good fortune to find an entire plantation workers’ village almost intact and, with careful dressing, this became Epiphany's world. The graveyard
354-433: A better movie, but Rourke's performance is such that Angel Heart stands out from the necromancy movie crowd." Filmmaker Christopher Nolan stated the film was a major influence on his 2000 film Memento : "In terms of Memento , Alan Parker films such as Angel Heart and The Wall , which use very interesting editing techniques such as a fractured narrative , were a big influence." In 2010, Wired magazine ranked
472-678: A budget of $ 18 million. Filming began in Eldridge Street, Manhattan , New York City, which acted as Harry Angel's neighbourhood. Production designer Brian Morris and the set-decorating team spent two months designing the set prior to filming, hoping to recreate 1950s New York. Because of the warm weather conditions, ice trucks were used to create fake snow. Filming then moved to Alphabet City in Manhattan, where several bar scenes and Angel's intimate bedroom scene with Connie (Whitcraft) were filmed. The production then moved to Harlem to film
590-440: A ceremonial knife. He is later attacked by enforcers of Ethan Krusemark — a powerful Louisiana patriarch and Margaret's father — who tell him to leave town. At his hotel, Harry finds Epiphany. He invites her into his room, where they have sex during which Harry has visions of blood dripping from the ceiling and splashing around the room. He later confronts Krusemark in a gumbo hut, where the latter reveals that he and Margaret were
708-426: A chase scene set during a procession before moving to Coney Island, where the cast and crew underwent severely cold weather conditions. The location was used to film a scene in which Angel questions a man, Izzy (George Buck), about the whereabouts of Johnny Favorite while Izzy's wife Bo (Judith Drake) stands waist deep in the ocean. The original actress who was cast as Bo was injured when she was knocked off her feet by
826-583: A derivation of the French dish bouillabaisse , or Choctaw stew, but most likely all of these dishes contributed to the original recipe. It was first described in 1802, and was listed in various cookbooks in the latter half of the 19th century. The dish gained more widespread popularity in the 1970s, after the United States Senate dining room added it to the menu in honor of Louisiana Senator Allen Ellender . The popularity of chef Paul Prudhomme in
944-489: A dialogue scene between Angel and Cyphre. Production returned to Royal Street in the French Quarter , where the final confrontation between Angel and Cyphre and the film's ending were shot. "[The MPAA] can't ban a movie but this is, in a way, blackmail. I think I'm a responsible film maker. I had complete creative freedom , so if there's anything offensive about Angel Heart , I'm responsible for it." —Parker on
1062-597: A difficult situation and making choices out of desperation or nihilistic moral systems . Visual elements included low-key lighting , striking use of light and shadow , and unusual camera placement. Sound effects helped create the noir mood of paranoia and nostalgia. Few major films in the classic film noir genre have been made since the early 1960s. These films usually incorporated both thematic and visual elements reminiscent of film noir . Both classic and neo-noir films are often produced as independent features . After 1970, film critics took note of "neo-noir" films as
1180-469: A few years, rice was commonly grown along the Mississippi River. In 1721, 125 Germans settled 40 miles (64 km) from New Orleans, and introduced the art of making sausage . By 1746, the white population of Louisiana was estimated to be 3,200, with an estimated 4,730 black people. Enslaved Africans outnumbered whites in most areas of Louisiana for at least the next 40 years. The colony
1298-680: A filé base, while "Ochra Gumbo" and "Chicken Gumbo" used okra as a base. Four years later, the cookbook La Cuisine Creole documented eight varieties of gumbo. None used sausage, but almost all of them contained ham. Until the 1970s, gumbo was primarily popular on the Gulf Coast of the United States . It gained a broader profile after the death of United States Senator Allen Ellender . A native of Terrebonne Parish, Louisiana , Ellender had often cooked gumbo for his colleagues, including five American presidents. After Ellender died in 1972,
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#17327731824831416-567: A happy ending?' every bigshot demanded." In 1985, producer Elliott Kastner met with Alan Parker at Pinewood Studios to discuss a film adaptation of the novel. Parker, who had read the book following its publication, agreed to write the screenplay. He met with Hjortsberg in London before moving to New York City, where he wrote most of the script. After completing the first draft in September 1985, Parker traveled to Rome, Italy, where he brought
1534-429: A hotel and an abandoned house on Magazine Street that would serve as the home of Margaret Krusemark (Rampling). He returned to New York City, where he looked at Staten Island and Coney Island . Parker's script for Angel Heart required that a total of 78 locations be used for filming between New York and New Orleans. Principal photography for Angel Heart began on March 31, 1986, and concluded on June 20, 1986, on
1652-432: A morphine addiction. Hours later, he finds that Fowler has apparently killed himself. Harry tries to break his contract with Cyphre but agrees to continue the search when Cyphre offers him more money. He discovers that Favorite had a wealthy fiancée named Margaret Krusemark but had also begun a secret affair with a woman named Evangeline Proudfoot. Harry travels to New Orleans and meets with Margaret, who says that Favorite
1770-562: A much thinner sauce with a more intense flavor than a light roux. Gumbo is typically divided into two varieties. Combinations traditionally common in New Orleans and southeastern Louisiana are known as "Creole" after the Louisiana Creole people , descendants of the area's French, Spanish, and Enslaved Africans. "Cajun" combinations were common in southwestern Louisiana, which was populated primarily by Cajuns , descendants of
1888-529: A pairing common in the stews of native tribes. The use of corn and filé powder may imply that the dish was derived from native cuisine. These theories are intermixed in the local legend of the Frying Pan Revolt, or Petticoat Insurrection. According to legend, in 1722, female French colonists gathered in New Orleans at the home of Governor Jean-Baptiste Le Moyne, Sieur de Bienville , to protest
2006-408: A production budget of $ 18 million. The review aggregation website Rotten Tomatoes gave Angel Heart a score of 82% based on a sample of 33 reviews, with an average score of 7.4/10. The site's consensus reads: " Angel Heart lures viewers into its disturbing, brutal mystery with authentic noir flair and a palpably hypnotic mood". William Hjortsberg, author of Falling Angel , voiced his support of
2124-606: A separate genre. Noir and post-noir terminology (such as " hard-boiled ", "neo-classic" and the like) are often rejected by both critics and practitioners. Robert Arnett stated, "Neo-noir has become so amorphous as a genre/movement, any film featuring a detective or crime qualifies." Screenwriter and director Larry Gross identifies Jean-Luc Godard 's Alphaville , alongside John Boorman 's Point Blank (1967) and Robert Altman 's The Long Goodbye (1973), based on Raymond Chandler 's 1953 novel, as neo-noir films. Gross believes that they deviate from classic noir in having more of
2242-474: A series of brutal murders. Following publication of the novel, Hjortsberg began developing the screenplay for a film adaptation, but found that no major studio was willing to produce his script. The project resurfaced in 1985, when producer Elliott Kastner brought the book to Parker's attention. Parker began work on a new script and in doing so made several changes from Hjortsberg's novel. He also met with Mario Kassar and Andrew G. Vajna , who agreed to finance
2360-475: A shadowy cinematographic style. Neo-noir has a similar style but with updated themes, content, style, and visual elements. The neologism neo-noir, using the Greek prefix for the word new , is defined by Mark Conard as "any film coming after the classic noir period that contains noir themes and noir sensibility". Another definition describes it as later noir that often synthesizes diverse genres while foregrounding
2478-628: A small role in Parker's previous film Birdy was cast as Connie, a journalist who aids Angel in his investigation. Parker held another casting call in New Orleans, where he requested that local musicians audition for possible roles in the film. Clarence "Gatemouth" Brown and Deacon John Moore were among the many musicians who auditioned for roles. Moore was cast as Toots Sweet's bandmate. Parker then returned to New York, where he auditioned other musicians, including Bo Diddley and Dizzy Gillespie . Blues guitarist Brownie McGhee , who plays Toots Sweet,
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#17327731824832596-466: A sociological than a psychological focus. Neo noir features characters who commit violent crimes, but without the motivations and narrative patterns found in film noir . Neo noir assumed global character and impact when filmmakers began drawing elements from films in the global market. For instance, Quentin Tarantino 's works have been influenced by Ringo Lam 's 1987 classic City on Fire . This
2714-483: A spicy hot red chili pepper . Spanish authorities also granted permission for many French-speaking Acadian exiles to relocate from northeastern North America to Louisiana. From 1755 through 1795, almost 3,000 of these settlers, soon known as Cajuns, moved to the areas south and west of New Orleans. Louisiana was secretly returned to France in 1800 , then purchased by the United States in 1803. The southernmost part of territorial Louisiana, including New Orleans, became
2832-578: A strong interest in playing Angel and secured the leading role after a meeting with Parker in New York. Various actresses auditioned for the role of Epiphany Proudfoot before Lisa Bonet secured the part. Bonet was then known for her role on the family-oriented sitcom The Cosby Show , and her casting in Angel Heart sparked significant controversy. Before securing the role, Bonet discussed it with Bill Cosby , who encouraged her decision to appear in
2950-458: A strongly flavored stock , meat or shellfish (or sometimes both), a thickener , and the Creole " holy trinity ": celery , bell peppers , and onions . Gumbo is often categorized by the type of thickener used, whether okra or filé powder (dried and ground sassafras leaves). Gumbo can be made with or without okra or filé powder. The preferred method in the historical New Orleans variation
3068-534: A thick green liquid. Preparation for this variety of gumbo was time-consuming, and as Lenten restrictions have relaxed, the dish has become less popular. It is very rarely served in restaurants. In modern times, ham or crabmeat is occasionally added to this type of gumbo. Gumbo z'herbes may have originated with the French/Spanish/West Africans. It has similarities to the French dish potage aux herbes ("soup with greens"), as well as to
3186-469: A video interview with the actor, and the theatrical trailer. Lionsgate released the film on Blu-ray on November 24, 2009. The Blu-ray presents the film in 1080p high definition and contains all the additional materials found on the Special Edition DVD. On July 12, 2022, Lionsgate released the film on 4K Ultra HD for the first time in the United States. Neo-noir Neo-noir
3304-418: A voodoo ceremony scene choreographed by Louis Falco . Falco, who had previously choreographed Parker's 1980 film Fame , based the scene on an actual Haitian ceremony. The sex scene involving Rourke and Bonet was filmed in one of the unused buildings located on Royal Street and took four hours to shoot. Parker limited the crew to himself, cinematographer Michael Seresin, camera operator Michael Roberts, and
3422-422: A wave while delivering her first line. The actress refused to reshoot the scene, which led to her being replaced by her stand-in, Drake, whom Parker found to be a better actress for the role. Production returned to Manhattan to film the opening credits sequence. Filming then moved to Harlem, New York, where a hospice was used to film a scene involving the character Spider Simpson ( Charles Gordone ), and many of
3540-593: Is a film genre that adapts the visual style and themes of 1940s and 1950s American film noir for contemporary audiences, often with more graphic depictions of violence and sexuality. During the late 1970s and the early 1980s, the term "neo-noir" surged in popularity, fueled by movies such as Sydney Pollack 's Absence of Malice , Brian De Palma 's Blow Out , and Martin Scorsese 's After Hours . The French term film noir translates literally to English as "black film", indicating sinister stories often presented in
3658-643: Is a veritable art form in Louisiana. There are as many gumbo recipes as there are cooks. — Stir the Pot: The History of Cajun Cuisine , p. 135 Gumbo is a heavily seasoned stew that combines several varieties of meat or seafood with a sauce or gravy. Any combination of meat or seafood can be used. Meat-based gumbo may consist of chicken, duck, squirrel, or rabbit, with oysters occasionally added. Seafood-based gumbo generally has shrimp , crab meat , and sometimes oysters. Andouille sausage
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3776-544: Is added. The dish simmers for a minimum of three hours, with shellfish and some spices added near the end. If desired, filé powder is added after the pot is removed from heat. Gumbo is traditionally served with rice . A third, lesser-known variety, the meatless gumbo z'herbes, is essentially a gumbo of slow-cooked greens . The dish combines ingredients and culinary practices of several cultures, including African, French, German, Spanish, and Native American Choctaw . Gumbo may have been based on traditional native dishes, or may be
3894-442: Is always a good choice to feed a crowd". With this dish, cooks can use up small portions of various ingredients that were not sufficient for an individual meal. The dish is an efficient way to use up leftover perishable meats and seafood. Gumbo, contrary to popular belief, is good for leftovers if it is frozen or refrigerated within two hours. Also, gumbo made without filé powder stores better because it will not get stringy. Since
4012-448: Is both provocative and shocking, but it is by no means pornographic. We're pleased to give the public the opportunity to see the film as Alan Parker originally meant the film to be viewed." The film was first released on DVD on June 23, 1998, by Artisan Entertainment . Special features on the DVD included a theatrical trailer , production notes, a making-of featurette, and information on
4130-409: Is considered to be one of the defining authors of hard-boiled fiction. Both novels were adapted as crime films, the former more than once. Cain is quoted as saying, "I belong to no school, hard-boiled or otherwise, and I believe these so-called schools exist mainly in the imagination of critics, and have little correspondence in reality anywhere else." Neo-noir film directors refer to 'classic noir' in
4248-502: Is contacted by a man named Louis Cyphre to track down John Liebling, a crooner known professionally as Johnny Favorite who suffered neurological trauma , resulting from injuries received in World War II. Favorite's incapacity disrupted a contract with Cyphre regarding unspecified collateral. Cyphre believes that a private hospital where Favorite was receiving radical psychiatric treatment for shell shock has falsified records. At
4366-575: Is dead, or at least dead to her. Evangeline died years before but is survived by her 17-year-old daughter, Epiphany, who was conceived during her mother's affair with Favorite. When Epiphany is reluctant to speak, Harry tracks down Toots Sweet, a guitarist and former Favorite bandmate. After Harry uses force to try to extract details of Favorite's last known whereabouts, Toots refers him back to Margaret. The following morning, police detectives inform Harry that Toots has been murdered. Harry returns to Margaret's home and finds her murdered, her heart removed with
4484-442: Is essential, and in Louisiana adding just the right zing is considered an art". Because seafood cooks fairly quickly, it is not added to the pot until the end of the process. As the gumbo finishes cooking, green onions and parsley are sometimes sprinkled on it. When desired, filé powder is added last. Creole and Cajun gumbos are served with hot rice, which stretches the quantity of the dish for maximum portion sizes. Gumbo z'herbes
4602-419: Is his grandchild. Harry sees the child's eyes glow, just as Cyphre's had at their last meeting, implying that Satan is the mysterious entity that impregnated Epiphany. Harry later stands inside an elevator that is interminably descending, presumably to Hell. Cyphre whispers, "Harry" and "Johnny", asserting dominion over both their souls. "The original attraction was the fusion of two genres—the detective film and
4720-513: Is his: Favorite's soul. Harry insists that he knows who he is and has never killed anyone, but as he looks at his reflection in a mirror, his repressed memories showing him killing Fowler, Toots, the Krusemarks, and Epiphany come flooding back. A frantic Harry returns to his hotel room, where the police have found Epiphany murdered. Harry's dog tags are on her body. A police officer enters the room carrying Epiphany's young son, who Harry realizes
4838-541: Is often added to both meat and seafood gumbos to provide " piquancy , substance, and an additional layer of flavor" to the dish. The key is to use a tender andouille so it does not become too chewy." Most varieties of gumbo are seasoned with onions, parsley , bell pepper, and celery. Tomatoes are sometimes used in seafood gumbo, but traditionally few other vegetables are included. Gumbo broth or gravy derives from three primary thickeners: okra , filé powder , and roux . Traditionally, okra and filé powder are not used in
Angel Heart - Misplaced Pages Continue
4956-451: Is ready, the group eats and dances until midnight, when Lent begins. Gumbo is the official cuisine of the state of Louisiana. Many southern Louisiana cooking competitions center around gumbo, and it is a central feature of many local festivals. The self-described "Gumbo Capital of the World", Bridge City, Louisiana , holds an annual Gumbo Festival. The festival features gumbo cooked in
5074-449: Is served as part of a larger menu. Soniat gives examples of the main types of creole gumbos, along with descriptions of family traditions about them. In Cajun Foodways , C. Paige Gutierrez describes gumbo as "an economical dish" useful for "feed[ing] a large number of people with a small amount of meat or seafood". Nobles concurs that "one of the hallmarks of gumbo is that, with a big enough pot, it can easily be doubled or tripled and
5192-424: Is served with rice on the side. Gumbo is almost always served directly from the pot on the stove, although in wealthier or fancier homes the dish might be transferred to a tureen on the table. Often, gumbo and bread are the sole courses in a meal, although many Cajun families provide a side dish of potato salad . Some Cajun families prefer their gumbo served over potato salad instead of rice. Occasionally, gumbo
5310-455: Is set in the year 1955, whereas in the book the events take place in 1959. He explained, "The book is set in 1959 and I moved it to 1955 for a small but selfish reason. 1959 was on the way to the 1960s with its changing attitudes as well as environments. 1955 for me still belonged to the 1940s—and, because of the historical pause button of World War II, conceivably the 1930s—so quite simply, setting it in this year allowed me to give an older look to
5428-404: Is with a French dark, even chocolate-like, roux . The flavor of the dish has its origins in many cultures. Creole gumbo generally contains shellfish and a dark roux, filé, or both. Cajun gumbo is generally based on a dark roux and is made with shellfish or fowl . Sausage or ham is often added to gumbos of either variety. After the base is prepared, vegetables are cooked down, and then meat
5546-562: The 15th Saturn Awards , Angel Heart received three Saturn Award nominations, though it failed to win any. Angel Heart was released on VHS on September 24, 1987, by International Video Entertainment (IVE). The releases included the R-rated theatrical cut and an uncut version which restored the ten seconds of sexual content that was removed to satisfy the MPAA. Ralph King, senior vice president of IVE, said, "The scene cut from Angel Heart
5664-658: The R rating that the film's distributor Tri-Star Pictures wanted. An unrated version featuring the removed footage was later released on home video. Angel Heart received a mixed reaction from reviewers, who praised the performances of Rourke and Bonet, as well as the production design, score, and cinematography, but criticized Parker's screenwriting. The film underperformed at the North American box office, grossing $ 17.2 million during its theatrical run, but has since been regarded as underappreciated and influential. In 1955, New York City private investigator Harry Angel
5782-484: The sex scene involving Rourke and Bonet in which Rourke's buttocks are seen thrusting in a sexual motion. Parker appealed the rating but did not receive the two-thirds vote required to reclassify the film to an R rating . The film's distributor Tri-Star Pictures refused to release it with an X rating, as the film would have fewer theaters willing to book it and fewer venues for advertising; Steve Randall, executive vice president of marketing for Tri-Star, stated that it
5900-612: The $ 18 million production through their independent film studio Carolco Pictures . Filming took place on location in New York City and New Orleans, with principal photography lasting from March 1986 to June of that year. Weeks before its theatrical release, Angel Heart faced censorship issues from the Motion Picture Association of America for one scene of sexual content. Parker was forced to remove ten seconds of footage to avoid an X rating and secure
6018-727: The 10 Best Movie Depictions of the Devil". Angel Heart received several awards and nominations following its release. At the 10th Jupiter Awards , Mickey Rourke won a Jupiter Award for Best International Actor for his performances in both Angel Heart and A Prayer for the Dying (1987). At the 9th Youth in Film Awards , Lisa Bonet won the Young Artist Award for Best Young Female Superstar in Motion Pictures. At
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#17327731824836136-510: The 18th and 19th centuries, people from these cultures lived within a fairly small area with minimal mobility. In this environment, cultures could influence each other and combine to create new traditions and cuisine. The dish personifies the word 'Creole'; like its human counterparts, gumbo was born in the New World and took cues from the old but adapted to the new. — Cynthia Lejeune Nobles The establishment of Mobile in 1702 marked
6254-467: The 1980s spurred further interest in the dish. The name of the dish comes most likely from Africa, by way of Louisiana French . Scholars and chefs have offered various explanations for the etymology of the word "gumbo". The dish was likely named after one of its two main ingredients, okra or filé. It most likely comes from the Bambara language of West Africa in which Gombo means okra since most of
6372-451: The 1986 film Runaway Train . After meeting with the director, Jones viewed a rough cut version of the film. He stated, "When I sat in the screening room all by myself and began to see those images, I was shaking like a puppy when the movie ended and when I got out of the room I told [Parker] that it was a great picture, but that I didn’t understand what exactly he wanted from me. He told me that he expected me to deliver something special to
6490-464: The 19th century, gumbo has often been served at social gatherings or other special occasions in Louisiana. Local fais do-do (dance parties) usually provided gumbo beginning at midnight. Many families "have a gumbo", or host a casual social gathering where friends and family chat and enjoy alcoholic beverages and gumbo. Gumbo is prepared and enjoyed by Louisianians of all races and ethnicities, and its multicultural influences have evolved it through
6608-621: The Afro-Caribbean callaloo . The meatless dish also bears striking resemblance to a dish often eaten in Germany on Maundy Thursday . German Catholics, obeying the Lenten rules, often served a stew made of seven different greens on this date. Gumbo is often used as a metaphor for the mix of cultures that exist in southern Louisiana. The dish combines the culinary practices of Africans, Native Americans, German, French, and Spanish. In
6726-608: The Caribbean dish callaloo . A more familiar version of the dish was described in an 1879 cookbook by Marion Cabell Tyree. Her Housekeeping in Old Virginia described "Gumbo Filit A La Creole", a filé-based gumbo with chicken and oysters and spiced with allspice , cloves, red and black pepper, parsley, and thyme. The 1881 cookbook What Mrs. Fisher Knows About Old Southern Cooking , dictated by former slave Abby Fisher, contained three gumbo recipes. "Oyster Gumbo Soup" used
6844-468: The French-speaking settlers expelled from Acadia (located within the modern-day Canadian provinces of Quebec , Nova Scotia , New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island ) in the mid-18th century. Gumbo is usually identified by its dark roux, cooked until it is a color "a few shades from burning". The roux is used with okra or filé powder. Seafood is popular in gumbo the closer to the coast
6962-571: The MPAA's decision to give Angel Heart an X rating. After filming concluded in June 1986, Parker spent four months editing the film in Europe, with 400,000 feet of film and 1,100 different shots. The Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA) gave the original cut of Angel Heart an X rating , which is widely associated with pornographic films . The board, composed of industry executives and theater owners, expressed concerns over several seconds of
7080-569: The Senate directed that their cafeteria add Louisiana Creole Gumbo, made with seafood, to its menu in his honor. The dish became more widely popular in the 1980s, when chef Paul Prudhomme 's popularity spurred interest in Creole and Cajun cooking. Gumbo is cooked for a minimum of three hours, and often simmers all day. Meat (but not seafood) is often browned beforehand and removed from the heat. Okra and roux are cooked before other vegetables and seafood. According to Nobles, "proper seasoning of gumbo
7198-446: The art department attempted to recreate 1950s New Orleans. Parker said of the set, "As in New York, we had dressed and clad every single storefront as far as the eye could see in order to be authentic to the period, and drained everything of all primary colours for our monochromatic look." Filming then moved to Jackson Square where the crew filmed one of the final scenes, in which Angel runs from Margaret's home. The production then filmed
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#17327731824837316-493: The beginning of the French colony of Louisiana . French settlers allied with various native tribes including the Choctaw , Alabama , and Cherokee , from whom they learned new methods of cooking and ways to identify edible indigenous plants. Slave ships began arriving in Louisiana in 1719. The first ships carried rice and men who were experienced in its cultivation. The grain adapted well to its new environment, and within
7434-520: The camera assistant. To make the actors more comfortable, Parker played music during the shoot. Production then moved to a corner of New Orleans, which doubled for flashback sequences set in 1943 Times Square , New York. The crew then discovered an unused bus depot, which was used to film scenes set in Ethan Krusemark's gumbo hut. Filming then moved to the St. Alphonsus Church , where the crew filmed
7552-432: The cast and crew. The DVD release received criticism for its poor video transfer and shortage of special features. Artisan later released the film on laserdisc on August 18, 1998. Lionsgate Home Entertainment re-released Angel Heart with a "Special Edition" DVD on May 18, 2004. The Special Edition features additional material, including an introduction and audio commentary by Parker, a scene-specific commentary by Rourke,
7670-494: The cutting quite rapid, involving 60 to 80 cuts in the space of about two minutes", he said. "Eventually, I cut only 10 seconds from the scene, or about 14 feet of film." On February 24, 1987, the film was granted an R rating. Parker later stated that the MPAA's concerns led to "a wasteful, pointless and expensive exercise". The score was produced and composed by Trevor Jones , with saxophone solos by British jazz musician Courtney Pine . Parker hired Jones based on his work for
7788-517: The dish could be both humble and refined". An 1824 cookbook, Mary Randolph 's The Virginia House-Wife , was the first to include a recipe for gumbo. Called "Gumbo – A West India Dish", the simple recipe described how to boil okra and bore little resemblance to the stew commonly known as gumbo. The same book contained a recipe for "Ochra Soup" made with okra, onions, fowl, bacon, tomatoes, and lima beans thickened with flour. Although this recipe bore similarities to gumbo, it more closely resembled
7906-414: The dish, allowing it to serve as a means of community and identity. West Africans use the vegetable okra as a base for many dishes, including soups. In Louisiana, gumbo includes ingredients introduced by several cultural groups. Surviving records indicate that by 1764 Africans in New Orleans mixed cooked okra with rice to make a meal. Gumbo could be a derivation of traditional French soups, particularly
8024-481: The early 18th century, but its uncertain etymology makes it difficult to pinpoint the origins of the food. Although no conclusive evidence exists, cultural markers indicate several plausible scenarios. As aforementioned, while its exact origins are unknown, gumbo is often believed to be a dish of mixed origins of African, French, Spanish, Native American, Caribbean and German influence. Enslaved African Americans often exchanged or combined ingredients in order to make
8142-501: The early 19th century. In 1802, John Sibley described "the dish they call gumbo which is made principally of the ochre into a thick kind of soop [ sic ] & eat with rice, it is the food of every body for dinner and supper." The following year, French governor Pierre Clement de Laussat hosted a soirée in which 24 different gumbos were prepared. According to author Cynthia Lejeune Nobles, these two events "give clues to gumbo's Spanish colonial popularity and illustrate that
8260-728: The early enslaved people from Louisiana spoke this Mande language . In the Bantu languages spoken by many enslaved people from Central Africa , the vegetable okra was known as ki ngombo or quingombo ; the word is akin to the Umbundu : ochinggômbo and the Luba-Lulua : chinggômbô "okra". The native Choctaw people used filé, or dried, ground sassafras leaves to thicken soups and stews. They called sassafras komho according to Nobles, and called filé kombo according to Usner, or kombo ashish , according to Freedman. Gumbo
8378-418: The fears and emotions of the audience." He composed the score electronically on a Synclavier . Parker chose Glen Gray 's 1937 song "Girl of My Dreams" as a recurring song performed by the unseen character Johnny Favorite. He wanted the song to act as a motif that would haunt viewers as it had haunted Harry Angel. Jones incorporated elements of the song into his score. In addition to Jones's compositions,
8496-471: The film "A diabolical treat with Rourke and De Niro in top form." Almar Haflidason of the BBC wrote, "The movie maintains intrigue at every turn and Rourke is spellbinding. Robert De Niro, Charlotte Rampling, and the assembled cast are all excellent. But this is Mickey Rourke's movie, and he puts in a mesmerising performance." Richard Luck, writing for Film4 , concluded in his review, "The book's so good it deserves
8614-531: The film adaptation, stating, "[Alan] Parker wrote an excellent script and went on to make a memorable film. Casting Robert De Niro as Cyphre was a brilliant touch." Although initially supportive of Bonet's decision to appear in the film, Bill Cosby dismissed Angel Heart as "a movie made by white America that cast a black girl, gave her voodoo things to do and have sex". Initial reactions among film critics were mixed; The Hollywood Reporter indicated that reviewers generally praised Rourke's performance, as well as
8732-577: The film at number 22 on their list of "The 25 Best Horror Films of All Time", and in 2012, Mark Hughes, writing for Forbes , ranked Angel Heart at number nine on his list of the "Top 10 Best Cult Classic Horror Movies of All Time". Den of Geek writer Ryan Lambie ranked the film at number six on his list of "The Top 20 Underappreciated Films of 1987", writing that "Parker brings a wonderfully shadowy quality to his noir thriller, which takes in New York and New Orleans. Some viewers may be able to predict where this twisty, murky thriller's going to take them, but
8850-482: The film's controversial sex scene for not being "as shocking as the rating board would have you believe." Ebert, writing for the Chicago Sun-Times , gave the film three and a half stars out of four, writing that " Angel Heart is a thriller and a horror movie, but most of all it's an exuberant exercise in style, in which Parker and his actors have fun taking it to the limit". Ian Nathan of Empire called
8968-403: The film. Parker cast Bonet based on the strength of her audition and was unaware of her role on The Cosby Show . "I didn't hire [Bonet] because of The Cosby Show ", he said. "I have never even seen the show. I hired her because she was right for the role." On preparing for the role, Bonet said, "I did a lot of meditation and a lot of self-inquiry. I did some research on voodoo. My earnest endeavor
9086-453: The film." Other script changes from the novel involved characterization and dialogue. Parker sought to make Harry Angel a character that evoked sympathy. He said, "In the tradition of the down-at-heel gumshoe, his phlegmatic surface disguised an intelligence capable of unraveling a complicated, larger-than-life story with a degree of belief and conciseness. Also he had to be attractive to audiences while enlightening them, little by little, along
9204-484: The fish stew bouillabaisse . During the cold winters, Acadians generally cooked soups, using whatever ingredients were readily available. When the Acadians moved to Louisiana in the mid-18th century, they were unable to find many of their traditional ingredients, including turnips and cabbage. In this scenario, Acadian colonists substituted local ingredients for those commonly included in the original stew. Instead of
9322-419: The fish, settlers used shellfish. The dish was later modified to include ingredients common in other cultures. Some culinary experts in the early 20th century, including Celestine Eustis , maintained that gumbo was an early special occasion dish for native tribes. This is further implied by a late 18th-century Cajun practice. At that time, rice was a luxury for many Cajuns. They served gumbo over corn grits ,
9440-406: The great advantages of working with contemporary recording techniques is that we can mix onto film in a recording studio with all of the various components and options of modern, multi-track recordings . I’ve always been very mistrustful of conventional scoring, whereby a hundred musicians sit in front of the projected film and the conductor strikes up the orchestra." A motion picture soundtrack album
9558-459: The hospice's elderly residents acted as extras for the scene. On April 17, 1986, the production team moved to Staten Island to film exterior and interior scenes involving the character Dr. Fowler (Michael Higgins). Filming then moved to Hoboken, New Jersey , which doubled for a scene set in a New Orleans train station. From April 28 to April 29, 1986, the Angel Heart production team returned to Harlem, where Parker filmed Rourke and De Niro's scene in
9676-403: The hospital, Harry discovers that the records showing Favorite's transfer were indeed falsified by physician Albert Fowler. After Harry breaks into his home, Fowler admits that years before he was bribed by a man and woman so that the two could abscond with the disfigured Favorite. Believing that Fowler is withholding information, Harry locks him in his bedroom, forcing him to suffer withdrawal from
9794-419: The identity of the murdered soldier but was drafted and then injured overseas. Suffering severe facial trauma and amnesia, he was sent to the hospital for treatment. After Krusemark and his daughter took him from the hospital, they left him at Times Square on New Year's Eve 1943 (the date on the falsified hospital records). While hearing Krusemark's story, Harry runs into the bathroom, vomits and continually asks
9912-423: The identity of the soldier. He returns to find Krusemark drowned in a cauldron of boiling gumbo. At Margaret's home, Harry finds a vase containing the soldier's dog tag — stamped with the name "Angel, Harold". Harry realizes that he and Johnny Favorite are actually the same person. Louis Cyphre, whose name is a homophone for Lucifer , appears. His true nature revealed, Cyphre proclaims that he can now claim what
10030-518: The lack of familiar ingredients. Bienville's housekeeper, Madame Langlois, taught the women how to improve the basic gumbo. Langlois used okra, an ingredient which the women had previously been introduced to by the African people they were enslaving. Spanish and Choctaw introduced ingredients common in Choctaw cuisine – shrimp, crawfish, and filé powder. The first written references to gumbo appear in
10148-524: The local talent." On the syndicated television program Siskel & Ebert & the Movies , Gene Siskel gave Angel Heart a "thumbs down", while his colleague Roger Ebert praised the film and gave it a "thumbs up". In his review for the Chicago Tribune , Siskel wrote that "Parker seems more concerned with style and with hiding the film's big mystery than with pacing." Siskel also criticized
10266-423: The most popular thickener, made from cooking together a roughly equal proportion of flour and fat (traditionally hog lard , although increasingly made with butter since the mid-20th century ). The length of cooking time determines the final flavor and texture, since the longer the roux is cooked before being added to the gumbo, the darker it becomes and the less thickening power it retains. A very dark roux provides
10384-453: The novel. Another script change involved the ending and the identity of the killer. While Angel is framed for the murders (presumably by Cyphre) in the novel, Parker established the character as the killer for the film's ending. Parker originally wanted Robert De Niro to play the role of Harry Angel, but the actor expressed interest in making a cameo appearance as mysterious benefactor Louis Cyphre . De Niro, however, did not fully commit to
10502-497: The novel. He titled his script Angel Heart as he wanted to distance his film adaptation from the source material. While Falling Angel is set entirely in New York City, Parker had the second half of his script take place in New Orleans, based on the novel's perpetual allusions to voodoo and the occult. He discussed the story-setting change to Hjortsberg, who approved of the decision; the author revealed to Parker that he had also thought of setting his novel in New Orleans. Angel Heart
10620-412: The okra texture has become less palatable to changing tastes. Ground sassafras leaf, known as filé, is generally not added to the gravy until after the vegetables and meats or seafood have finished cooking and have been removed from the heat source. If added during the boiling process, filé makes the gumbo too ropey ; when added at the end, the gumbo gains a slightly stringy texture. Roux has become
10738-461: The ones who took Favorite from the hospital. Favorite was actually a powerful occultist who sold his soul to Satan in exchange for stardom. He got his stardom but then sought to renege on the bargain. To do so, he kidnapped a young soldier from Times Square , who was of his exact same age and strongly resembled him, and performed a Satanic ritual on the boy, murdering him and eating his still-beating heart to steal his soul. Favorite planned to assume
10856-456: The part without much success." Rourke then suggested English actress Charlotte Rampling , who secured the role after Parker contacted her to discuss the part. In January 1986, Parker held an open casting call at a New York nightclub known as The Kamikaze, with more than 1,400 people auditioning for various roles. "I managed to read a short scene with 600 of them as they were filtered through to me", he said. Actress Elizabeth Whitcraft , who had
10974-408: The people are, but the southwestern areas of Louisiana often use fowl, such as chicken or duck, and sausage. The fowl is generally not deboned, and onions, celery, and bell pepper are not strained out of the dish. Cajun gumbo is usually topped with parsley and green onions. Creole gumbo most often consists of seafood, tomatoes, and a thickener. Before the latter half of the 20th century, celery
11092-420: The picture and… to approach the movie from whenever I chose." For the score, Jones wanted to explore the concept of evil, explaining, "Evil is the greatest of human fears… I tried to give that feeling to the score using daily ordinary music that would bridge the world of [Harry Angel] to that which he's getting into, the black magic, his search. It was like a psychological journey for me always trying to relate to
11210-481: The ride remains one worth taking thanks to the quality of the acting and direction." Film critic Tim Dirks of the film-review website Filmsite.org added the film to his list of films featuring the "Greatest Film Plot Twists, Film Spoilers and Surprise Endings", based on two of the film's major plot twists —Harry Angel being revealed as Johnny Favorite, and Louis Cyphre revealing himself as Lucifer. Screen Rant writer Tim Butters rated Robert De Niro's performance "One of
11328-466: The role of Angel. Parker met with Nicholson in Los Angeles to discuss the project. Nicholson ultimately passed on the role. Parker said, "I did my pitch and he was most gracious, although, to be honest, he was quite distracted at the time... my movie and the possibility of him taking part seemed to slip from his immediate area of concentration and interest." Parker then met with Rourke, who expressed
11446-563: The role until after frequent discussions with Parker. The director reflected, "I had been courting [De Niro] to play [Cyphre] in Angel Heart for some months and we had met a few times—and he had continued to bombard me with questions examining every dot and comma of my script. I had walked him through the locations we had found, read through the screenplay sitting on the floor of a dank, disused church in Harlem and finally he said ‘yes’." Jack Nicholson and Mickey Rourke were also considered for
11564-435: The same dish, although this rule is sometimes broken. Roux can be used alone or in conjunction with either of the other thickeners. Okra is more often used as a thickener in seafood gumbos than those with meat. This mucilaginous vegetable is usually cooked first, and other ingredients added once the desired consistency is reached. According to The Oxford Companion to Food , okra-based gumbos are becoming less popular, as
11682-598: The scaffolding of film noir . " Film noir " was coined by critic Nino Frank in 1946 and popularized by French critics Raymond Borde and Etienne Chaumeton in 1955. The term revived in general use beginning in the 1980s, with a revival of the style. The classic film noir era is usually dated from the early 1940s to the late 1950s. The films were often adaptations of American crime novels, which were also described as " hardboiled ". Some authors resisted these terms. For example, James M. Cain , author of The Postman Always Rings Twice (1934) and Double Indemnity (1944),
11800-443: The score, cinematography, and production design, while criticism was aimed at Parker's screenwriting for being convoluted and exposition-heavy. Vincent Canby of The New York Times praised the cinematography and production design, but criticized Rourke's performance as being "suitably intense, but to such little effect". Rita Kempley of The Washington Post wrote that Angel Heart "is over-stylized, and we're over-stimulated when
11918-635: The script to Mario Kassar and Andrew G. Vajna . The two producers agreed to finance the film through their independent film studio, Carolco Pictures , and Parker was given creative control . Pre-production work on Angel Heart began in January 1986 in New York, where Parker selected the creative team, reuniting with several of his past collaborators, including producer Alan Marshall , director of photography Michael Seresin , camera operator Michael Roberts, production designer Brian Morris and editor Gerry Hambling . Parker made several changes from
12036-490: The soundtrack features a number of blues and R&B performances, including "Honeyman Blues" by Bessie Smith , and "Soul on Fire" by LaVern Baker . Brownie McGhee performed the songs "The Right Key, but the Wrong Keyhole" and "Rainy Rainy Day" for the film, with Lilian Boutte acting as a vocalist. Jones stated, "…the main bulk of the score was worked on with a Synclavier. Basically there were two types of music, one
12154-469: The soundtrack goes berserk, from a few thumpity-thumps to a visceral, ventricles a-pumping score". Pauline Kael of The New Yorker criticized Parker's direction: "There's no way to separate the occult from the incomprehensible... Parker simply doesn't have the gift of making evil seductive, and he edits like a flasher." Kael also criticized De Niro's cameo appearance, writing, "It's the sort of guest appearance that lazy big actors delight in—they can show up
12272-456: The state of Louisiana in 1812. By 1800, the slave trade had introduced new foods to Louisiana, including the African vegetable okra, and hot pepper plants which likely came from Haiti . Onions and bell peppers were long part of cooking in both the Spanish and African traditions. Tomatoes were introduced to the region shortly thereafter. Scholars agree that gumbo originated in Louisiana in
12390-492: The supernatural." —Alan Parker, writer and director. Following publication of his 1978 novel Falling Angel , William Hjortsberg began work on a film adaptation . His friend, production designer Richard Sylbert , took the book's manuscript to producer Robert Evans . The film rights to the novel had been optioned by Paramount Pictures , with Evans slated to produce the film, John Frankenheimer hired to direct, and Hjortsberg acting as screenwriter. Frankenheimer
12508-431: The use of Dutch angles , interplay of light and shadows, unbalanced framing ; blurring of the lines between good and bad and right and wrong , and thematic motifs including revenge , paranoia , and alienation . Typically American crime dramas or psychological thrillers , films noir had common themes and plot devices, and many distinctive visual elements. Characters were often conflicted antiheroes , trapped in
12626-438: The way." Parker also established Angel as being born on February 14— Valentine's Day —the same date as his own birthday. He explained that it was "for no particular reason other than Valentine's Day might be easy to remember in a labyrinthine script and the heart reference seemed to have some resonance". Parker also wanted to create a realistic depiction of Louis Cyphre, as opposed to the character's "larger-than-life" personality in
12744-408: The years. Gumbo is a feature in both urban and rural areas of Louisiana. In rural Acadiana in southern Louisiana, gumbo is a central feature of Mardi Gras celebrations. On Mardi Gras, local men wander from house to house and beg for gumbo ingredients in an event known as courir de Mardi Gras . Members of the local community then gather in a central location while the men cook the gumbo. When it
12862-518: Was a dressed set, but much of what we filmed was already there." An unused Louisiana field was used to create a racetrack where Angel meets the wealthy patriarch Ethan Krusemark (Fontelieu). On May 13, the crew encountered some difficulty filming a chase scene involving Angel, as they had to deal with shying horses, trained dogs, gunshots, two hundred chickens, and a horse specially trained to fall on top of Rourke's stuntman. Production then moved to Magazine Street, where production designer Brian Morris and
12980-461: Was cast during the film's principal photography . During the casting process, Parker and producer Alan Marshall began scouting locations in New York City. The director looked at Harlem , believing that the neighborhood was "as un-photographed as other parts of New York are over-used." On January 20, 1986, he travelled to New Orleans , where he continued writing the script. Parker looked at unused buildings located on Royal Street that would act as
13098-459: Was later replaced by Dick Richards , and Dustin Hoffman was being considered for the lead role. After Paramount's option expired, Hjortsberg discussed the project with Robert Redford and wrote two drafts. Hjortsberg, however, felt that no film studio was willing to produce his script. He reflected, "Even with [Redford] behind the script, studio executives weren't interested. 'Why can't it have
13216-471: Was particularly the case for the noir-inflected Reservoir Dogs , which was instrumental in establishing Tarantino in October 1992. Gumbo Gumbo ( Louisiana Creole : Gum-bo ) is a stew that is popular among Gulf Coast of the United States with the New Orleans stew variation the most popular and is the official state cuisine of the U.S. state of Louisiana . Gumbo consists primarily of
13334-407: Was rarely used in Creole gumbo. When Catholics were expected to abstain from eating meat during Lent , a meatless variety of gumbo, known as gumbo z'herbes (from gumbo aux herbes , or "gumbo of greens"), was often served. This variety combined varied greens – typically including turnips , mustard greens , and spinach . The greens were cooked to mush and strained through a sieve to produce
13452-409: Was really to let go of all my inhibitions. It was really necessary for me to be able to let go of Lisa and let Epiphany take over." Parker had difficulty finding an actress for the role of Margaret Krusemark. "Although it's a small part in the film, the character is omnipresent in the dialogue and [the actress] had to have the right balance of class and eccentricity", he said. "I read many actresses for
13570-404: Was released by the recording labels Antilles Records and Island Records . In North America, Angel Heart opened in wide release on March 6, 1987, distributed by Tri-Star Pictures. The film debuted at number four at the weekend box office , garnering ticket sales of $ 3,688,721 from 815 screens, with an average of $ 4,526 per theatre. The film's overall domestic gross was $ 17.2 million, against
13688-536: Was the electronic stuff from the Synclavier that [Parker] wanted, and the real jazz musicians. The two work very well together in view of the film's intent." During post-production , Jones mixed the music tracks at Angel Recording Studios, a recording studio built in an abandoned church in Islington , North London , with final mixing taking place at Warner Hollywood Studios in Los Angeles. Parker said, "One of
13806-416: Was the studio's "firm policy not to release an X-rated film." With only a few weeks before the film's release, the studio was desperate for the less-restrictive R rating, but Parker was reluctant to alter the film. He filed another appeal, on which the board voted 8 to 6 in favor of the X rating. Parker then removed ten seconds of sexual content from the scene. "That scene was very complex, very intricate, and
13924-538: Was transferred from French to Spanish control in 1762. The Spanish government actively recruited settlers for Spanish Louisiana . About 2,000 people from the Canary Islands moved to the area south of New Orleans. These settlers were primarily fishermen who soon began supplying large amounts of shrimp, crab, and oysters to the food markets in New Orleans. The Canary Islanders also brought "a love for well-seasoned food", including use of ground cayenne pepper ,
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