When producer Alan Marshall first approached 'Robert de Niro' by phone about taking a part in the film, de Niro asked him "Are you the guy who produced Birdy (1984)?" When Marshall replied that he was, de Niro promptly hung up.
Fangoria article about the movie from the time when it was released had a pictures of deleted death scene of Herman Winesap. On one picture director Alan Parker is shown sitting next to the headless corpse with blood all over the room. Same article also shows picture of partially burned body of the journalist woman who slept with Harry earlier in the movie laying next to the burned house.
One of seven movie collaborations of "The Two Alans" - producer Alan Marshall and director Alan Parker. The films include Birdy (1984), Fame (1980), Angel Heart (1987), Bugsy Malone (1976), Midnight Express (1978), Shoot the Moon (1982) and Pink Floyd The Wall (1982).
The following FAQ entries may contain spoilers. Only the biggest ones (if any) will be covered with spoiler tags. Spoiler tags are used sparingly in order to make the page more readable.
Q
What is the significance of the 'Hand of Glory?'
A
The Hand of Glory is a legendary item from European folklore: a hand cut from a hanged corpse turned into a wax candle that was capable of giving invisibility and opening any lock. The Hand of Glory was an item supposedly wielded by magicians and thieves, lighting the fingers like candles to put people to sleep.Margaret Krusemark has a Hand of Glory in her possession, which Harold Angel notices when he's searching in her apartment.
Q
Who is Johnny Favorite?
A
Detective Harold Angel, played by Mickey Rourke, is actually Johnny Favorite, the missing person that he was hired to track down in the first place.Johnny Favorite put his soul up for collateral in a deal with Satan in return for stardom in the music industry, but Favorite wanted to escape his fate of giving Satan his soul upon his death, so he stole Harold Angel's soul and memories and implanted them in himself in an attempt to hide his true self.Eventually he would get amnesia from an injury suffered in World War II as Johnny Favorite. The injury would allow Harold Angel's memory and soul to take over Johnny Favorite's body, fooling Johnny into believing he was Harold Angel his entire life, having no memories of who he really was and whose body he was really in.