In 1987 a movie was created, Wings of Desire by Wim Wenders. This movie was later remade into City of Angels in 1998; which any Nick Cage fan will know was one of his most moving and emotional movies. His performance, the words he spoke and the love that he showed for Meg Ryan’s character will touch us all forever. Not many of us knew that many of the words that Nick Cage spoke were already spoken by Bruno Ganz in Wings of Desire. This may come as quite a shock, but almost the entire movie of City of Angels is a copy of Wings of Desire.
The movie Wings of Desire by Wim Wenders was originally a German film. City of Angels did change the story line a bit; however some lines are copied word for word. One would need to watch both movies to decide which one does this wonderful and magical story the most justice. In Wings of Desire by Wim Wenders, the story takes place in Berlin after the war. City of Angels takes place in the United States. In both movies, the skies are filled with gentle angels who wear trench coats and quietly and sympathetically listen to the thoughts of humans in an attempt to understand them, comfort them and understand them. Nick Cage and his best friend angel sat atop a billboard sign, high above the city. In Wings of Desire, Bruno Ganz and his team of angels sit and look down on a city that was ravages by war.
Wings of Desire will show you the story of Bruno Ganz’s character, Damiel, falling in love with a beautiful trapeze artist. In City of Angels, Nick Cage’s character, Seth, falls in love with a beautiful surgeon. Wanting to become a mortal human, the character of Damiel in Wings of Desire is helped by Peter Falk who plays himself. City of Angels keeps this idea, as Seth is helped along the way by both his best friend angel and Nathaniel, played by Dennis Franz, a man that he meets in the hospital where Meg Ryan’s character works. In both movies, the angels are shown just how wonderful being a human can be. They are shown how great it is to taste food and enjoy all of the things that humans can experience. Many of these elements are things that most humans take for granted. Both movies can bring the viewer to think a bit harder about the small things in life and how lucky we are to be able to experience them. For example, in City of Angels, Nick Cage learns just how magical a swim in the ocean can be; to feel the cool water against his body and to let the currents allow his body to ride the waves. In Wings of Desire, Peter Falk explains how wonderful cigarettes are; this of course was changed a bit for City of Angels, as more and more people understand the negative and dangerous effects of nicotine and smoking.
One difference in the movies is that in Wings of Desire, the film is shot in black and white for a while. It is shown with out color, from the angel’s point of view and is only changed to color once he becomes human. City of Angels is shot in color the entire time.
Some of the lines are moved over from Wings of Desire to City of Angels without a flaw. “I can’t see you, but I know you are here” and “You've been hanging around since I got here. I wish I could see your face.” Wings of Desire was a tremendously acclaimed and multi-award winning movie, which included Best Director for Wenders in Cannes in the year 1987. City of Angels was nominated for a Golden Globe award.