If ever a film demonstrated the importance of a soundtrack that intertwines itself into the very fabric of the cinematography it was the 1987, Alan Parker film, Angel Heart.
I'm not going into a long winded and in depth synopsis because that's not the point of the contest so if you haven't seen the movie, you can continue onwards knowing there are absolutely no spoilers in this post! I do however recommend this to everyone to watch as it's a classic!
Based on a novel, Fallen Angel, Angel Heart is a dark, supernatural drama that jumps between 1950s New York and the deep South of the USA and starred Mickey Rourke as shady private investigator, Harry Angel and Robert de Niro as a mysterious businessman, Louis Cyphere, who both turned in what I consider to be Oscar winning performances although the film was scandalously completely overlooked in all the categories at the following year's Oscars. The chemistry between old hand and almost 'godlike' De Niro and the younger head boy of the 'Bratpack', Rourke is electrifying, and in my opinion surpassed De Niro's performance.
I have seen the movie described as a 'horror' film but it most definitely is not despite their being some occasional disturbing quick shots of the aftermath of extreme violence, the violence itself is not mostly depicted, the film lies firmly in the psychological thriller and supernatural genre which for me, is infinitely more, lastingly scary than any straight horror / slasher flick which usually only have the most basic and boring of plots.
This movie is deep, dark and the plot twists and turns confusing the viewer with visual clues that often don't make sense until the end. Even all these years later and having first seen the movie at the Harrogate Odean upon its release, could watch it again tomorrow and still find new hints and clues!
It's also one of my all-time favourite movies as every single facet of the film's construction combined to make what I consider to be a cinematic masterpiece.
We are of course, here to talk about the music and one track in particular but first a little about the soundtrack in its entirety.
The original Soundtrack LP cover. Although the film wasn't shot in black and white, it was filmed with very muted colours.
The theme is a score written by Trevor Jones and performed by a young and upcoming British Jazz saxophonist, Courtney Pine. The sound track runs as a theme throughout the film and is a haunting and very disturbing masterpiece that evokes a sense of evil whilst emphasizing the action on screen without actually becoming over-bearing, but damn, does it get into your head!
The other interesting thing was that it's an entire score, it's not a collection of tracks stitched together interspersed with a little mood music and to reinforce this, the score wasn't performed in front of a screen as the movie played in parallel. The soundtrack was the mixed in an old church in London as if to suck in a little more of the dark and religious colours and flavours that give it such an unnerving edge.
I am absolutely not a jazz fan, but on the strength of the movie, and after buying for the only time ever, the soundtrack LP, booked tickets and went to see Courtney Pine in concert hoping to hear the soundtrack theme play live. There wasn't even a nod to the movie and I sat through the whole two hours of gig bored to tears! It was dreadful.
Interspersed into this are placed a number of traditional Blues numbers which again, perfectly fit into the cinematic sequences including this very eerie choice, a song written in 1937 by Glen Gray & The Casa Loma Orchestra, ' Girl of My Dreams' enhancing the feeling even more that you've been transported, via the film into a dark, evil place controlled by voodoo and fear.
As you watch the film, you feel your levels of suspense change with the music as you anticipate what's coming next from the musical cues as much as, if not more that the visual clues.
So, one song...
Well it has to be this track called 'Rainy, Rainy Day' by American blues singer and guitarist Brownie McGhee who actually played the part of 'Toots Sweet' in the film who the Mickey Rourke character, 'Harry Angel' goes to meet in club in New Orleans where the song is being performed. McGhee actually wrote the track himself but I'm struggling to find out whether it was specifically for the movie or was part of his back catalogue. He had been releasing music since the early 1940s and was 70 years of age when the movie was released in 1987.
Brownie McGhee (This image is a work of the National Endowment for the Arts, taken or made as part of that person's official duties. As a work of the U.S. federal government, the image is in the public domain in the United States.)
The song itself is a simple Blues melody and generically talks about the usual 'blues' themes of his wife leaving, dog dying, etcetera but despite its genre, provides an almost light moment in the film, contrary to the songs Blues foundations, even the normally pent-up Harry Angel seems to get respite as he appears to be enjoying watching Toots and his band perform whilst waiting to chat to him.
Gratuitous opening clip of Lisa Bonet (the most stunningly beautiful woman who ever graced this planet!) who is also in the movie but if you watch, it jumps straight into the 'Rainy, rainy day' scene that transports you right into a New Orleans Jazz Bar in the 1950s.
I don't really have a lot more to add to this as the song itself is just a bigger part of the perfect soundtrack but the theme of the competition said "one song"!
Music and movies are like strawberries and cream but unlike many other film soundtracks that are just a collection of songs, the soundtrack to Angel Heart is the equivalent to the Strawberries and cream mashed together. Both divine and inseparable!
Thanks to the @stickupboys and @cinetv for a great contest and collaboration.