``Angel Heart'' Mickey Rourke's sadness, steeped in Alan Parker's worldview

From Jack Nicholson to Mickey Rourke

What was important in making the film into a movie was the male actor who played the leading role. In making this project a reality, Parker had four potential performers.

First up is Jack Nicholson. He was a candidate for the role of an angel. If you think about it, one of Nicholson's masterpieces from the 1970s, `` Chinatown '' (1974), is a work that was conscious of the Chandler-like worldview. If you follow that trend, it's no wonder you think of Nicholson. I went to meet him, but something went awry, and Parker decided to consider a different cast.

The next candidate is Marlon Brando. I thought about playing the role of Louis Cypher, but the story didn't go well either.

The third candidate is Robert De Niro. Although he didn't get a good answer right away, he ended up playing the role of Cypher, who asked Harry Angel for a job.

And the fourth candidate is Mickey Rourke. Mickey was one of the most promising young actors in the 1980s, but there were rumors at the time that he was difficult to work with. ``That's why Alan Parker had to meet me first and talk to me a little bit before making a decision,'' Mickey himself said in an interview with Roger Evert.

"Angel Heart" (C) 1987 StudioCanal. All Rights Reserved.

When Mickey Rourke met Parker, he said, ``I'm the only one who can play this role.'' At the time, he was on the rise, appearing in films such as ` `Rumble Fish '' (1983), ` `Year of the Dragon '' (1985), and `` Nine Half '' (1986). It is also featured on the cover of the British magazine ``THE FACE'' published in the 1980s, and the words ``80s brand: Mickey Rourke'' (May 1985 issue) are printed on the cover. . Like Brando, Rourke had an Outsider image and was a graduate of the prestigious acting school The Actors Studio.

Brando became a Hollywood rebel in the 1950s, appearing in `` Rogue '' (1953) and `` On the Dock '' (1954). Outsider of the 1970s were De Niro (also from the Actors Studio) in Mean Streets (1973) , Taxi Driver (1976), Five Easy Pieces (1970) and The One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest. It was Nicholson from `` On the Top '' (75).

The main character, Harry Angel, is a character who turns his back on society's morals and falls into a world of darkness. Meanwhile, Cypher's role is to guide him into a mysterious world. The director must have thought that a story of "ultimate evil" would only be possible if there were rebels who represented the era (neither role could be played by an actor with a clean personality).

Before filming, Rourke bought an expensive suit, and De Niro created the role, focusing on sticky nails.

Parker reflected on his impressions of casting Rourke and De Niro on the aforementioned movie site as follows: "I can't forget their scenes together, because I've never experienced anything like that before. There's a tingling feeling when they're together, and there's a spark. They always start improvising. The work takes a different direction. When we go there, it can be the best or the worst. Before we know it, the scenario turns out to be different from the one I wrote, and I was always trying to pull them back towards the scenario. It was a truly amazing experience. ”

Music, the driving force behind Parker's films