Director Alan Parker on working with Robert DeNiro, Mickey Rourke and Lisa Bonet in Angel Heart.

Controversial director Alan Parker’s movie hits have ranged from the musicals Fame and Evita to the powerful Mississippi Burning and the devilishly dark Angel Heart, with Robert DeNiro and Mickey Rourke.
Alan had a single-minded view of movie-making, rarely wishing to repeat himself but always choosing powerful stories..
The British born director was, originally, an advertising copywriter in London, but it didn’t take him long to transfer his creative talents to the big screen.
His first feature film, a musical parody of gangster films called, Bugsy Malone, had an all kids cast, including a 13 year old Jodie Foster.
While the movie was not a smash hit worldwide, it certainly got Alan plenty of attention.
And his next two films, the Oscar winning Midnight Express and Fame, shot him into the top tier of Hollywood directors.
They were followed by Shoot The Moon, Pink Floyd: The Wall and Birdy.
But then, in 1986, he tackled the darkly complex voodoo thriller called Angel Heart, with Robert DeNiro and Mickey Rourke.
I was lucky enough to go onto the set of the film, down in New Orleans, and spoke to Alan about the origins of the story…and his experience working with DeNiro and Rourke as well as Lisa Bonet.
Alan went on to mix writing and directing feature films with producing and directing music videos, several times working with Madonna, his star in Evita.
His later films included Angela’s Ashes and The Commitments.
He became a major force in the British movie industry but also presented lectures to young film-makers all over the world.
Alan died in July 2020 at the age of 76.
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[@vrod2144]

Thank you for uploading this. I might be the biggest fan of a movie and everything about it. I love listening Parker about all the details from shooting. The movie is perfection in every sense, even with a cringy glowing eyes ending. :D

[@tommetcalfe2069]

Such a great interview, I wonder if Mickey is aware how highly Sir Alan thought of him! In every interview Iv heard he just mentions how he would shout at him for no reason.

Alan Parker was an amazing director. Funny thing is that I was listening to him and visualizing another great British director, Ridley Scott. They both came from advertising films and had a great sense of style (Scott still does).

[@johnhanrahansmoviestarintervie]

Yes, very true about both directors.

[@TTM9691]

Another great interview!

[@johnhanrahansmoviestarintervie]

Thank you. i was lucky enough to interview Alan 3 times over the years. Getting on to the set in New Orleans was a bonus.

[@Hammy5641]

Parker's a fucking genius: the way he downplays the 'saturation' aesthetic - which they went on to be 'cloned' in mainstream movies, for the next 30 odd years. The only Hollywood player that could honour such intelligent material, these days, would be QT.