Legend (1985)

User Rating:

6.1/10   

Director:

Ridley Scott

Writer:

William Hjortsberg (written by)

Release Date:

18 April 1986 (USA)

Genre:

Fantasy | Adventure | Romance

Tagline:

This is such stuff as dreams are made of. This is Legend.

Plot:

A young man must stop the Lord of Darkness from both destroying daylight and marrying the woman he loves.

Plot Keywords:

Demon | Princess | Unicorn | Monster | Black Magic

Awards:

Nominated for Oscar. Another 1 win & 9 nominations

Cast

Tom Cruise	...	Jack
Mia Sara	...	Lili
Tim Curry	...	Darkness
David Bennent	...	Gump
Alice Playten	...	Blix
Billy Barty	...	Screwball
Cork Hubbert	...	Brown Tom
Peter O'Farrell	...	Pox
Kiran Shah	...	Blunder
Annabelle Lanyon	...	Oona
Robert Picardo	...	Meg Mucklebones
Tina Martin	...	Nell
Ian Longmur	...	Demon Cook
Mike Crane	...	Demon Cook
Liz Gilbert	...	Dancing Black Dress

Also Known As:

Legend of Darkness (UK) (working title)
Legend: Ultimate Edition (USA) (reissue title (video title))

Runtime:

94 min | USA:114 min (director's cut) | USA:89 min

Country:

USA | UK

Language:

English | Italian

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

70 mm 6-Track (70 mm prints) | Dolby (35 mm prints)

Certification:

Canada:A (Nova Scotia) | Canada:PG (Manitoba/Ontario) | Iceland:12 | Brazil:Livre | USA:Unrated (director's cut) | Argentina:Atp | Australia:PG | Canada:G (Quebec) | Chile:TE | Finland:K-12 | France:U | Ireland:G | Peru:PT | Singapore:PG | Sweden:11 | UK:PG | USA:PG | West Germany:12 | Netherlands:AL

Filming Locations:

Agnes Scott College - 141 E. College Avenue, Decatur, Georgia, USA

Company:

Embassy International Pictures

Trivia:

The face of goblin Blix (played by Alice Playten) was designed after that of Keith Richards of The Rolling Stones. According to Playten, she thought up the idea, which was supported by director Ridley Scott. He then had Rob Bottin (special make-up effects) implement the concept.

Goofs:

Continuity: In the US version Jack's shield jumps from being in his hands to hanging from a tree as he decapitates the swamp monster before entering the giant tree. (In the Director's cut, the removed scene explaining why the shield was moved is restored).

Quotes:

Princess Lily: Are you afraid to kiss me, Jack?
Jack: I'm afraid you'll break my heart.
Princess Lily: Then still your heart, for you are dear to me.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Danger Zone: The Making of 'Top Gun' (2004) (V)

Soundtrack:

Is Your Love Strong Enough

Like most other European things, great in Europe, horrible in the United States

Ridley Scott's "Legend" is a terrific bit of fantasy, a stunningly surreal look into a mythical world of wonders.

Unfortunately, I don't believe what we got here in America *was* Ridley Scott's "Legend." It was an impostor. It was a goofy, clunky nightmare full of plot holes and ridiculousness, armed with a wacky Tangerine Dream score that ruined the whole thing. That movie was cut down from a perfectly entertaining 114-minute movie with a story that *made sense* and a purely beautiful Jerry Goldsmith score.

Does something not seem right to you, too? I have no idea why, for Sagan's sake, Universal Studios mangled this movie for its transatlantic journey. They chopped nearly 25 minutes. They did unspeakable things to the soundscape, and not just by changing the musical score. And tragically, they still kept the scene where you can see the Lord of Darkness' horns flopping up and down.

The American version is hideous (even though I still like to watch it). So if that's the only version you have seen, no wonder you don't like it! I suggest you go out and rent the "Director's Edition" before it's too late! Because the "American Version" really only goes to prove that some things (including "The Office") should stay on the proper side of the pond.