City of Angels (1998)

User Rating:

6.3/10   

Director:

Brad Silberling

Writers (WGA):

Wim Wenders (screenplay) &
Peter Handke (screenplay) ...
(more)

Release Date:

10 April 1998 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Fantasy | Romance | Thriller

Tagline:

She didn't believe in angels until she fell in love with one.

Plot:

Inspired by the modern classic, Wings of Desire, City involves an angel (Cage) who is spotted by a doctor in an operating room. Franz plays Cage's buddy who somehow knows a lot about angels.

Plot Keywords:

Depressing | Remake | Guilt | Heaven | Hospital

Awards:

Nominated for Golden Globe. Another 8 wins & 11 nominations

Cast

Nicolas Cage	...	Seth
Meg Ryan	...	Dr. Maggie Rice
Andre Braugher	...	Cassiel
Dennis Franz	...	Nathaniel Messinger
Colm Feore	...	Jordan Ferris
Robin Bartlett	...	Anne
Joanna Merlin	...	Teresa Messinger
Sarah Dampf	...	Susan
Rhonda Dotson	...	Susan's Mother
Nigel Gibbs	...	Doctor
John Putch	...	Man in Car
Lauri Johnson	...	Woman in Car
Christian Aubert	...	Foreign Visitor in Car
Jay Patterson	...	Air Traffic Controller
Shishir Kurup	...	Jimmy, Anesthesiologist
Brian Markinson	...	Tom, Surgical Fellow
Hector Velasquez	...	Scrub Nurse
Marlene Kanter	...	Circulating Nurse #1
Bernard White	...	Circulating Nurse #2
Dan Desmond	...	Mr. Balford
Deirdre O'Connell	...	Mrs. Balford
Kim Murphy	...	Balford's Daughter
Chad Lindberg	...	Balford's Son
Alexander Folk	...	Convenience Store Clerk
Rainbow Borden	...	Holdup Man
Harper Roisman	...	Old Man in Library
Sid Hillman	...	Librarian
Wanda-Lee Evans	...	Nurse in Messinger's Room
Wanda Christine	...	Station Nurse
E.J. Callahan	...	Waiter at Johnnie's
Tudi Roche	...	Messinger's Daughter
David Moreland	...	Frank, Messinger's Son-in-Law
Kristina Malota	...	Hannah, Messinger's Granddaughter
William Stanford Davis	...	Construction Foreman (as Stan Davis)
Mik Scriba	...	Construction Worker
Nick Offerman	...	Construction Worker
Kieu Chinh	...	Asian Woman (as Kieu-Chinh)
Geoffrey Thorne	...	Big Orderly (as Geoffrey A. Thorne)
Peter Spellos	...	Mack Truck Driver
Jim Kline	...	Store Clerk
Cherene Snow	...	Sewing Woman
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Keaton Tyndall	...	Hannah's Friend
Kylie Tyndall	...	Hannah's Friend
Amy Brenneman	...	Angel in library at computers (uncredited)
Andrew Frankel	...	Medic (uncredited)
Alexander Gould	...	Little Boy (uncredited)
Elisabeth Shue	...	Pregnant Woman (uncredited)

Directed by
Brad Silberling

Writing credits (WGA)
Wim Wenders		(screenplay "Der Himmel über Berlin") &
Peter Handke		(screenplay "Der Himmel über Berlin") &
Richard Reitinger		(screenplay "Der Himmel über Berlin")
Dana Stevens		(screenplay)

Produced by
Robert Cavallo	....	executive producer
Alan Glazer	....	associate producer (as Alan G. Glazer)
Jeff Levine	....	associate producer
Arnon Milchan	....	executive producer
Charles Newirth	....	executive producer
Charles Roven	....	producer
Douglas Segal	....	co-producer
Kelley Smith-Wait	....	co-producer
Dawn Steel	....	producer

Original Music by
Gabriel Yared

Cinematography by
John Seale

Film Editing by
Lynzee Klingman

Casting by
David Rubin

Production Design by
Lilly Kilvert

Art Direction by
John Warnke		(as John O. Warnke)

Set Decoration by
Gretchen Rau

Costume Design by
Shay Cunliffe

Makeup Department
Anthony Allen Barlow	....	special makeup effects artist (as Allen Barlow)
Thomas R. Burman	....	makeup effects
Colleen Callaghan	....	key hair stylist
Joseph Coscia	....	hair stylist: Mr. Cage
Hallie D'Amore	....	key makeup artist
Bari Dreiband-Burman	....	makeup effects
Sally Hershberger	....	hair stylist: Ms. Ryan
Peter Maroti	....	makeup effects
Allen Weisinger	....	makeup artist: Mr. Cage
Lutz Wesemann	....	makeup artist: Ms. Ryan
Kenneth Paul Schoenfeld	....	makeup artist (uncredited)
Erik von Wodtke	....	makeup effects assistant: Burman Studios (uncredited)

Production Management
Allegra Clegg	....	unit production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
José Clemente Hernandez	....	dga trainee (as Jose Clemente Hernandez)
Michele Panelli-Venetis	....	first assistant director
Matt Rebenkoff	....	second assistant director
Eric Tignini	....	second second assistant director
Rusty Mahmood	....	second second assistant director (uncredited)

Art Department
Thomas E. Brown	....	paint foreman
Chris Buchinsky	....	illustrator
Patrick Cassidy	....	lead
Peter C. Clarke	....	assistant property master (as Peter Clarke)
David Elton	....	on-set dresser
Chuck Eskridge	....	stand-by painter (as Chuck W. Eskridge Jr.)
Elizabeth Flaherty	....	art department researcher
Mark Gantt	....	assistant property master (as Marc W. Gantt IV)
Bobby Joe Garren	....	greensman
John P. Goldsmith	....	set designer
Jess Gonchor	....	construction foreman
David Gulick	....	property master (as David W. Gulick)
Darryl Henley	....	illustrator
Martha Johnston	....	set designer
Anthony D. Parrillo	....	set designer
Dianne Wager	....	assistant art director
Butch West	....	construction coordinator
Sarah Jackson Burt	....	set dressing buyer (uncredited)
Louis Farah	....	construction medic (uncredited)
Mark David Kersey	....	greensman (uncredited)
John Wong	....	storyboard artist (uncredited)

Sound Department
Michael J. Broomberg	....	foley artist (as Michael Bloomberg)
Perry Dodgson	....	cable person
Ezra Dweck	....	foley editor
Julia Evershade	....	adr editor
Julia Evershade	....	dialogue editor
Christopher Flick	....	foley editor
Marilyn Graf	....	foley mixer (as Marilyn Graf Hubbard)
Michael Herbick	....	sound re-recording mixer
Ellen Heuer	....	foley artist
Robert J. Litt	....	sound re-recording mixer
David MacMillan	....	sound
Mark A. Mangini	....	supervising sound editor (as Mark Mangini)
Harrison D. Marsh	....	boom operator
Thomas J. O'Connell	....	adr mixer
Sonny Pettijohn	....	assistant sound editor
John Pospisil	....	sound designer
Geoffrey G. Rubay	....	sound effects editor (as Geoff Rubay)
Elijah Schkeiban	....	assistant sound editor
David E. Stone	....	sound effects editor
Elliot Tyson	....	sound re-recording mixer

Special Effects by
Chad Baalbergen	....	special effects
David Blitstein	....	special effects coordinator
Gary Schaedler	....	special effects foreman
Bryan J. Dillard	....	special effects lab technician (uncredited)
Dennis King	....	special effects assistant (uncredited)

Visual Effects by
Colin Campbell	....	compositing lead
Marguerite Cargill	....	high speed compositing artist
Julia Frey	....	visual effects producer
Joshua Geisler-Amhowitz	....	digital matte painter: SPI
Robin Griffin	....	visual effects producer
Rob House	....	effects TD
John McGee	....	digital artist
John McLaughlin	....	computer graphics supervisor
John Nelson	....	visual effects supervisor
Michael S. Pryor	....	digital production manager
Jamie Stevenson	....	visual effects coordinator
Kristen D. Trattner	....	high speed compositing artist (as Kristen Trattner)
Guy Wiedmann	....	assistant visual effects editor
Christopher Arreola	....	digital film recordist (uncredited)
Alfredo R. Barcia	....	film scanning and recording technician: SPI (uncredited)
Les Bernstien	....	visual effects director of photography (uncredited)
John Berri	....	assistant visual effects editor (uncredited)
Allen Blaisdell	....	visual effects photographer (uncredited)
David Cornelius	....	motion control programmer (uncredited)
Greg Derochie	....	senior compositor: SPI (uncredited)
Jeff Deyoe	....	motion control technician: SPI (uncredited)
Thomas F. Ford IV	....	high speed compositing associate production manager (uncredited)
Anthony Harris	....	timing coordinator (uncredited)
Geoffrey Harvey	....	3D effects designer: SPI (uncredited)
Adrian Iler	....	color and lighting (uncredited)
Chris Juen	....	technical assistant (uncredited)
Joanie Karnowski	....	digital rotoscoping artist: SPI (uncredited)
Paul McGhee	....	film scanning and recording (uncredited)
Hal Miles	....	digital artist (uncredited)
Jim Rider	....	motion control cameraman (uncredited)
Aaron Smith	....	digital artist (uncredited)
Barry Weiss	....	senior staff: SPI (uncredited)

Stunts
John Alden	....	stunts
Daniel W. Barringer	....	stunt coordinator
Steve Blalock	....	stunts
Brad Bovee	....	stunts
Eddie Braun	....	stunts
Joe Bucaro III	....	stunts (as Joey Bucaro)
Keith Campbell	....	stunts
Mark Chadwick	....	stunts
Eric Chambers	....	stunts
Doug Coleman	....	stunt coordinator
Eliza Coleman	....	stunts
Scott Alan Cook	....	stunts (as Scott Allan Cook)
Max Daniels	....	stunts
Vince Deadrick Jr.	....	stunts
J. Mark Donaldson	....	stunts (as Mark Donaldson)
Robert Elmore	....	stunts (as Bob Elmore)
Christina Fetters	....	stunts
Ray Gabriel	....	stunts
Alex Gaona	....	stunts
Mickey Giacomazzi	....	stunts
Tanner Gill	....	stunts
Ramiro Gonzalez III	....	stunts
Ramiro González	....	stunts
Larry Holt	....	stunts
Kathy Jarvis	....	stunt double: Meg Ryan
Kim Kahana Jr.	....	stunts
Julius LeFlore	....	stunts
Rashaé Minor	....	stunts
Royce L. Minor	....	stunts (as Royce Minor)
Jason Rodriguez	....	stunts
Gilbert Rosales	....	stunts
Thomas Rosales Jr.	....	stunts
Kerry Rossall	....	stunts
George Marshall Ruge	....	stunts
Rick Sawaya	....	stunts
Rick Seaman	....	stunts
Jim Stephan	....	stunts
James Turner	....	stunts (as Jim Turner)
Brian J. Williams	....	stunts
Eddie Yansick	....	stunt double: Mr. Cage
Eddie Yansick	....	stunts
Birgit K. Schier	....	stunts (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Bryan Ashford	....	dolly grip
John Carney	....	assistant chief lighting technician
Murray Close	....	still photographer
Edward Filian	....	grip
Morris Flam	....	chief lighting technician
Heather Green	....	camera loader
Coleman L. Hart	....	key rigging grip
Scott Hillman	....	best boy grip
Ian Kelly	....	video assist operator
Don King	....	underwater photographer
Trevor Loomis	....	second assistant camera
Dennis J. Lootens	....	rigging gaffer
Jeff Pelton	....	camera loader
John Rhode	....	camera operator
Calmar Roberts	....	first assistant camera (as Cal Roberts)
Kurt E. Soderling	....	aerial camera operator
Kenneth D. Zunder	....	additional unit photographer (as Kenneth Zunder)
Wayne Baker	....	surf camera (uncredited)
Curtis Failor	....	electrician (uncredited)
Raymond Gonzales	....	electrician (uncredited)
Bob Gorelick	....	Steadicam operator (uncredited)
Dylan Goss	....	aerial assistant camera: aerial unit (uncredited)
Steve Graves	....	grip (uncredited)
Alex Klabukov	....	grip (uncredited)
Gregory Lundsgaard	....	Steadicam operator (uncredited)
Jesse Mather	....	lighting technician (uncredited)
David Musselman	....	electrician (uncredited)
Randy Shanofsky	....	assistant camera (uncredited)

Animation Department
Kelvin Lee	....	animator

Casting Department
Beau Bonneau	....	extras casting
Scott French	....	casting assistant
Ronna Kress	....	casting associate
Susan Maas	....	casting assistant (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Donna D. Casey	....	assistant costume designer
Carol Hybi	....	costume supervisor
Gail Just	....	costumer: Ms. Ryan
Alan Martin	....	costumer
Taryn Walsh	....	costumer (as Taryn Walsh-Weaver)
Barbara Marko Friedman	....	costumer (uncredited)
Karen Hare	....	costumes: additional scene unit (uncredited)

Editorial Department
Adam Boome	....	associate editor
Terry Claborn	....	color timer
Mo Henry	....	negative cutter
Michael Hofacre	....	associate editor
Danya Joseph	....	assistant editor
Jeff Consiglio	....	editor: main titles, Imaginary Forces (uncredited)
Bill Daly	....	post-production executive (uncredited)

Music Department
George Acogny	....	music consultant
John Bell	....	orchestrator
Danny Bramson	....	music supervisor
Ben Georgiades	....	score mixer
Paul Hulme	....	score mixer
Allan Jenkins	....	synthesizer programmer
Carlton Kaller	....	music editor
Ling Ling Li	....	music score coordinator
Katherine Quittner	....	music editor
Harry Rabinowitz	....	conductor
Robert Randles	....	music editor
Gabriel Yared	....	orchestrator
Isobel Griffiths	....	orchestra contractor (uncredited)
Marvin R. Morris	....	assistant music editor (uncredited)

Transportation Department
Randy Cantor	....	transportation captain
Beau Holden	....	driver: Meg Ryan
Joel Marrow	....	transportation coordinator
David Diaz	....	transportation dispatcher (uncredited)

Other crew
Rachelle Anthony	....	staff assistant
Lori A. Balton	....	location scout
Shauna Beal	....	assistant: Mr. Milchan
Steve Berens	....	animal trainer
Ann Billingsley	....	medical advisor (as Dr. Ann Billingsley)
Toby Blue	....	assistant to director
Tom Brennan	....	staff assistant
Judith M. Brown	....	studio teacher
Carlos E. Chairez Jr.	....	set staff assistant
Robbin Cohen	....	medical advisor (as Dr. Robbie Cohen)
Steve Dayan	....	location manager
Pina De Rosa	....	set staff assistant
Dianne Dreyer	....	script supervisor
Donna M. Duffy	....	medical advisor (as Donna Duffy)
Kimberly Franklin	....	assistant: Mr. Roven and Ms. Steel
Jan Garner	....	production accountant
Erica Goldstein	....	staff assistant
Ken Haber	....	location manager (as Kenneth Haber)
Jennifer Herguth	....	staff assistant
Beau Holden	....	assistant: Meg Ryan
Louis 'Lonny' Holmes	....	medical advisor
Theresa Holmquist	....	medical advisor
Debra James	....	production coordinator
Linden Johnson	....	assistant production accountant (as Linden Wineland Johnson)
Mark Benton Johnson	....	assistant location manager (as Mark B. Johnson)
Harry L. Julian Sr.	....	marine coordinator
Katie R. Kelly	....	staff assistant
Shelley Kirkwood	....	unit publicist
Jennifer Koenig	....	staff assistant
Adria Later	....	studio teacher
David Lawson	....	synthesizer programmer
Karen Lin	....	assistant: Mr. Cage
E. Cedar McClure	....	staff assistant
Nadia Paine	....	assistant: Mr. Newirth
Willie Radcliff	....	craft service
Rozzana Ramos	....	assistant: Mr. Milchan (as Rozzana I. Ramos)
Georges Rodi	....	synthesizer programmer
Lauren Ross	....	location manager
Todd Rowland	....	assistant: Mr. Cage
Douglas V.R. Shellow	....	assistant production coordinator
Nick Spetsiotis	....	assistant marine coordinator
Sunday Stevens	....	set staff assistant
Mark Trapenberg	....	set staff assistant
Kirsty Whalley	....	synthesizer programmer
Jason Wilson	....	staff assistant
Laurie Arnow-Epstein	....	construction accountant (uncredited)
Adam Bluming	....	title designer: main titles, Imaginary Forces (uncredited)
John Catron	....	payroll accountant (uncredited)
Tamela D'Amico	....	production assistant (uncredited)
Brent Davis	....	production assistant (uncredited)
Anthony Genovese	....	stand-in: Dennis Franz (uncredited)
David R. Lawson	....	medic (uncredited)
Peter J. Novak	....	location manager (uncredited)
Christopher Sean Quinn	....	medic: Lake Tahoe (uncredited)
Chuck Speed	....	production legal (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Atlas Entertainment
• Monarchy Enterprises B.V.
• Regency Enterprises
• Taurus Film
• Warner Bros. Pictures

Distributors

• Warner Bros. Pictures (1998) (USA) (theatrical)
• CBS Television (2000) (USA) (TV) (broadcast premiere)
• Argentina Video Home (Argentina) (video)
• Warner Bros. (Argentina)
• Warner Bros. (Germany)
• Warner Bros. (France)
• Warner Bros.
• Warner Home Video (USA) (DVD)
• Warner Home Video (USA) (VHS)

Special Effects

• Sony Pictures Imageworks (SPI)

Other Companies

• Air Lyndhurst Studios  score recorded at
• Beau Bonneau Casting  extras casting
• Bill Young's Precision Driving Team  stunts
• Burman's Studio  make-up effects design & creation (as the burman studios, inc.)
• FedEx  special thanks (use of aircraft)
• For Stars Catering  catering
• Imaginary Forces  main titles design
• J.L. Fisher  camera dollies
• Pacific Title/Mirage  titles and opticals
• Reprise Records  soundtrack published by
• Warner Sunset Records  soundtrack

Also Known As:

Stadt der Engel (Germany)

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for sexuality including language, and some nudity.

Runtime:

114 min

Country:

Germany | USA

Language:

English

Colour:

Colour (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby Digital | SDDS

Certification:

USA:PG-13 (certificate #35791) | Iceland:L | Brazil:12 | Canada:14A (Ontario - 2006) | Philippines:PG-13 | Argentina:13 | Australia:M | Belgium:KT | Canada:14 (Nova Scotia) | Canada:AA (Ontario) | Canada:G (Quebec) | Canada:PG (Alberta/British Columbia/Manitoba) | Chile:14 | Finland:K-12 | France:U | Germany:12 | Hong Kong:IIA | Hungary:14 | Netherlands:12 | Norway:11 | Peru:14 | Portugal:M/12 | Singapore:PG | South Korea:15 | Sweden:11 | UK:12

Filming Locations:

Big Bear Lake, California, USA

Company:

Atlas Entertainment

Trivia:

During the "falling" sequence near the end of the film, Seth's memories are shown. One of them is of a pregnant woman. This woman was portrayed by Elisabeth Shue, though you only see her stomach.

Goofs:

Errors made by characters (possibly deliberate errors by the filmmakers): When Meg Ryan listens to Dennis Franz's heart with her stethoscope, she places the stethoscope in her ears backwards. (Ear canals angle forward and stethoscopes do likewise--putting them in backwards is painful and can also prevent them from working) Ouch!

Quotes:

Seth: I always asked the dying what they liked best about living. Wrote it down in my book. This is it. This is what I like best.

Movie Connections:

Featured in The 56th Annual Golden Globe Awards (1999) (TV)

Soundtrack:

Iris

Are You in Despair?

A very different look at the world of angels and their interaction with human beings. If this were a story about the devil, IMDB would have plenty of comments so I am not surprised to read so many negative ones.

I don't believe that angels wear black, but I do believe in the premise of this movie: "sometimes things are true whether you believe in them or not."

Meg Ryan, a very unlikely choice, was thoroughly believable as an obsessive-compulsive doctor who never sleeps. When she loses a patient for the first time, she cries bitterly and cannot understand how it could have happened--all witnessed by Nicolas Cage as Seth, an angel who was sent to escort her patient to heaven. Cage allows himself to be seen by Ryan in a hospital corridor and sweetly asks, "Are you in despair?" This entire conversation sweeps the women in the audience into their evolving relationship. Yes, I guess this is definitely a woman's movie.

Others in lesser roles were quite good. Dennis Franz nails the part of a former angel who has "fallen to earth." (I do not watch his television show so this was the first time I have seen him act--I was impressed.) Andre Braugher, formerly of Homicide (a show I did watch), was terrific as Seth's closest angel friend, although he had very few lines, as usual Braugher was effective. His smile at the end of the movie stays with you.