Legend (1985)

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:

Unicorn | Princess | Demon | Love | Monster

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 (as Ian Longmuir)
Mike Crane	...	Demon Cook
Liz Gilbert	...	Dancing Black Dress
Eddie Powell	...	Mummified Guard
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Mike Edmonds	...	Tic (uncredited)

Directed by
Ridley Scott

Writing credits
William Hjortsberg		(written by)

Produced by
Joseph P. Grace	....	executive producer
Tim Hampton	....	co-producer
Arnon Milchan	....	producer

Original Music by
Eric Allaman
Jerry Goldsmith		(European version)
Tangerine Dream

Cinematography by
Alex Thomson		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Terry Rawlings

Casting by
Noel Davis
Jane Feinberg
Mike Fenton
Donna Isaacson
Marci Liroff
Jeremy Zimmermann		(as Jeremy Zimmerman)

Production Design by
Leslie Dilley
Assheton Gorton

Art Direction by
Norman Dorme		(supervising art director)

Set Decoration by
Ann Mollo

Costume Design by
Charles Knode

Makeup Department
Rob Bottin	....	special makeup effects creator
Lois Burwell	....	makeup artist
Linda DeVetta	....	makeup artist
Nick Dudman	....	prosthetic makeup artist
Eithne Fennel	....	hair stylist (as Eithne Fennell)
Betty Glasow	....	hair stylist
Pauline Heys	....	makeup artist
Robert Lobetta	....	hair stylist: Mia Sara
Vincent Prentice	....	lead special makeup artist
Barbara Ritchie	....	key hair stylist
Peter Robb-King	....	makeup artist
Jane Royle	....	makeup artist
Joan White	....	hair stylist
Jean Ann Black	....	makeup artist (uncredited)

Production Management
David Barron	....	unit manager
Joel Chernoff	....	executive in charge of production
Hugh Harlow	....	production supervisor

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Richard Coleman	....	third assistant director
Michael Murray	....	first assistant director
Ken Shane	....	third assistant director
Garth Thomas	....	first assistant director
Paul Tivers	....	second assistant director
Gerry Toomey	....	second assistant director
Bill Westley	....	first assistant director
Kevin Westley	....	assistant director: acrobatic sequences

Art Department
Yarek Alfer	....	sculptor
Henry Alvarez	....	sculptor
John Alvin	....	poster artist
Martin Asbury	....	storyboard artist
John Blakeley	....	sculptor/modeller
Michael Boone	....	draftsman
Tom Brown	....	draughtsman
Joe Cassar	....	carpenter
Alan Cheevers	....	plasterer
Paul Duff	....	carpenter
John Fenner	....	assistant art director
Ian Gill	....	production buyer
Barnaby Gorton	....	art department trainee
Bill Hargreaves	....	supervising propmaker (as William Hargreaves)
Emma Harrison	....	scenic artist
Andrew Holder	....	sculptor/modeller
Robert Jackson	....	carpenter
Jack Johnson	....	illustrator
Dave Jordan	....	property master (as David Jordan)
Martin A. Kline	....	production illustrator
Nick Kubicki	....	modeller
Sherman Labby	....	production illustrator
Alan Lee	....	conceptual designer
Peter Melrose	....	scenic supervisor
Jim Morahan	....	assistant art director (as James Morahan)
Allan Moss	....	sculptor/modeller
Grahame Ménage	....	scenic artist
Ken Pattenden	....	construction manager
Wesley Peppiatt	....	stand-by props
John Ralph	....	draftsman
Michael Redding	....	construction manager
Martin Smeaton	....	modeller
Jacqueline Stears	....	scenic artist
Miles Teves	....	concept illustrator: Rob Bottin Productions
Peter Voysey	....	supervising sculptor
Barry Gibbs	....	props (uncredited)
Steve Payne	....	dressing props (uncredited)

Sound Department
Michael A. Carter	....	dubbing mixer
Roy Charman	....	sound mixer
Martin Crane	....	footsteps editor
Ken Dufva	....	foley artist
Glenn Freemantle	....	assistant dubbing editor
Chris Greenham	....	supervising dialogue editor
Graham V. Hartstone	....	sound re-recording mixer
Nicolas Le Messurier	....	sound re-recording mixer
Chris Reed	....	assistant dialogue editor
George Rice	....	sound maintenance
Jim Shields	....	dubbing editor
John Stevenson	....	boom operator
Lionel Strutt	....	adr mixer
Kevin Phelan	....	dubbing theatre projectionist: De Lane Lea London (uncredited)

Special Effects by
Nick Allder	....	special effects supervisor
Henry Alvarez	....	effects sculpturial designer: Rob Bottin Crew
Max Alvarez	....	effects crew: Rob Bottin Crew
Bobby Belnap	....	effects crew: Rob Bottin Crew
Ed Branson	....	effects crew: Rob Bottin Crew
Patricia Brewer	....	effects crew: Rob Bottin Crew
Pat Cardamone	....	effects crew: Rob Bottin Crew
Ron Castro	....	effects crew: Rob Bottin Crew
Jerry Chin	....	effects crew: Rob Bottin Crew
Mike Cobos	....	effects crew: Rob Bottin Crew
Ralph Cobos	....	craft shop supervisor: Rob Bottin Crew
Guy Deel	....	effects crew: Rob Bottin Crew
Ken Diaz	....	effects crew: Rob Bottin Crew
Katalin Elek	....	effects crew: Rob Bottin Crew
Fernando Favila	....	effects production assistant: Rob Bottin Crew
Gunnar Ferdinandsen	....	effects crew: Rob Bottin Crew
Laura Filip	....	effects crew: Rob Bottin Crew
Tamara Fites	....	effects crew: Rob Bottin Crew
Art Flores	....	effects crew: Rob Bottin Crew
Camille Forcy	....	effects crew: Rob Bottin Crew
Susan Forrest	....	effects crew: Rob Bottin Crew
Eddie Garcia	....	effects crew: Rob Bottin Crew
Richard Glass	....	contact lens consultant
John Goodwin	....	lab technician supervisor: Rob Bottin Crew
Joe Griffith	....	effects crew: Rob Bottin Crew
Matthew Harlow	....	special effects technician
Mike Hill	....	effects crew: Rob Bottin Crew
Garth Inns	....	special effects
Jack Johnson	....	effects crew: Rob Bottin Crew
Clive R. Kay	....	contact lens consultant (as Clive Kay)
Martin A. Kline	....	effects crew: Rob Bottin Crew
Phil Knowles	....	special effects
Iva Labianka	....	effects production coordinator: Rob Bottin Crew
Ralph M. Leo	....	effects production auditor: Rob Bottin Crew
Phil Mantione	....	effects crew: Rob Bottin Crew
Lauren Marems	....	effects crew: Rob Bottin Crew (as Laurie Marems)
John Markwell	....	special effects
Richard Medina	....	effects crew: Rob Bottin Crew
Chuck Montova	....	effects production coordinator: Rob Bottin Crew
Robert Newman	....	effects crew: Rob Bottin Crew
Becky Ochoa	....	cosmetic paint supervisor: Rob Bottin Crew
Roberto Olivas	....	effects crew: Rob Bottin Crew
Dennis Pawlik	....	effects crew: Rob Bottin Crew
Melvyn Pearson	....	special effects
Patrick Philben	....	effects crew: Rob Bottin Crew
Art Pimentel	....	effects crew: Rob Bottin Crew
Alan Poole	....	special effects technician
Margaret Prentice	....	cosmetic paint supervisor: Rob Bottin Crew (as Margaret Beserra)
Vincent Prentice	....	lead special makeup artist: Rob Bottin Crew
John Rizzo	....	effects crew: Rob Bottin Crew
Sheri Roskie	....	effects crew: Rob Bottin Crew
Richard Ruiz	....	effects crew: Rob Bottin Crew
Terry Schubert	....	special effects
Ernie Shelton	....	effects crew: Rob Bottin Crew
Dwight Shundo	....	effects crew: Rob Bottin Crew
Tom Small	....	effects crew: Rob Bottin Crew
Mike Sorrentino	....	effects production coordinator: Rob Bottin Crew
Wayne Strong	....	effects crew: Rob Bottin Crew
Jackie Tichenor	....	effects crew: Rob Bottin Crew
Josephine Turner	....	effects crew: Rob Bottin Crew
Richard White	....	effects production manager: Rob Bottin Crew

Visual Effects by
Andrew Eio	....	visual effects technician
Kent Houston	....	visual effects

Stunts
Vic Armstrong	....	stunts & doubles
Terry Cade	....	stunts & doubles
Perry Davey	....	stunts & doubles
Anthony Georghiou	....	stunts & doubles
Nick Gillard	....	stunts & doubles
Paul Grant	....	stunts & doubles
Kevin Hudson	....	stunts & doubles
Wendy Leech	....	stunts & doubles
Danny Potts	....	stunts & doubles
Jordan Scott	....	stunts & doubles
Dean Shackelford	....	stunts & doubles (as Dean Shackleford)
Nick Gillard	....	stunt double: Mr. Cruise (uncredited)
Eddie Powell	....	stunts (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
George Beavis	....	grip
David Cadwallader	....	grip
Raymond Flindall	....	rigger
Martin Foley	....	clapper loader
Kenny Groom	....	clapper loader
Mark Hanlon	....	electrician
Martin Hume	....	assistant camera
Malcolm Huse	....	grip
Jordan Klein Jr.	....	underwater camera operator
Peter MacDonald	....	camera operator (as Peter McDonald)
Andy Matthews	....	electrician
Max Mowdray	....	additional photographer
Shaun O'Dell	....	camera operator
Harry Oakes	....	additional photographer
Andrew Shields	....	video playback operator
Stefan Stankowski	....	focus puller
Robert Toft	....	video operator
John Tythe	....	gaffer
Peter Versey	....	assistant camera
George Whitear	....	still photographer
Harry Woodley	....	gaffer
Carlos Melville	....	electrician (uncredited)
Chyna Thomson	....	camera trainee (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Betty Adamson	....	wardrobe supervisor
Christopher Alderson	....	costume supervisor
Lola Boomer	....	costume maker
Sue Cable	....	costume maker
Zena Carter	....	costume maker
Elizabeth Charlesworth	....	assistant costume designer
Graham Churchyard	....	assistant costume designer
Karen Elton	....	costume maker
Helen Gill	....	wardrobe assistant
Barbara Gillett	....	wardrobe assistant
John Hilling	....	wardrobe assistant
Janet Lucas	....	wardrobe assistant
Karen McLean	....	costume maker
Penny McVitie	....	costume supervisor
Day Murch	....	costume maker
Patty Pope	....	costume supervisor
Barbara Rutter	....	assistant costume designer
Patrick Sharkey	....	wardrobe assistant
Ro Sylvester-Fisher	....	costume maker (as Rosemary Sylvester Fisher)
John Cowell	....	costume painter (uncredited)

Editorial Department
Pamela Power	....	additional editor
Gordon Stainforth	....	assistant editor

Music Department
Michael Clifford	....	music editor
Alexander Courage	....	orchestrator
Ernie Locket	....	music copyist
Michael Redfern	....	assistant music editor
Mike Ross-Trevor	....	music mixer (as Mike Ross)
Jerry Goldsmith	....	conductor (uncredited)

Transportation Department
Mark White	....	transportation

Other crew
Yarek Alfer	....	technician
Vic Armstrong	....	unicorn master
Tony Coroon	....	production accountant
Gordon Davis	....	assistant accountant
Kay Fenton	....	script supervisor
Bryan Ferry	....	appears courtesy of E G Records, Ltd/Warner Bros. Records, Inc
Andrea Fontaine	....	assistant to director
Geoff Freeman	....	unit publicist
Peter Govey	....	title designer: main titles
Danny Graber	....	animal trainer
Jordan Klein Sr.	....	underwater team (as Jordan Klein)
Sandy Langdale	....	assistant accountant (as Sandra Langdale)
Tim Lewis	....	production runner
John McCloughlin	....	underwater team
Gavin McKinney	....	underwater team
Arnon Milchan	....	presenter
Arlene Phillips	....	choreographer
Jean Simmons	....	accounting assistant
Joyce Turner	....	production assistant
Wayne Docksey	....	animal master (uncredited)
Marsha Bentley Hale	....	researcher (uncredited)

Thanks
Scott Milne	....	the producers gratefully acknowledge the assistance and co-operation of
Bette Smith	....	the producers gratefully acknowledge the assistance and co-operation of

Production Companies

• Embassy International Pictures
• Legend Production Company (made by)
• Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation
• Universal Pictures

Distributors

• Universal Pictures (1985) (UK) (theatrical)
• Transeuropa Video Entertainment (TVE) (1986) (Argentina) (VHS)
• MCA/Universal Home Video (1987) (USA) (video) (laserdisc)
• MCA/Universal Home Video (1988) (USA) (VHS)
• Warner/Weintraub (1990) (Japan) (video) (laserdisc)
• Universal Home Entertainment (2002) (USA) (DVD)
• 20th Century Fox (1987) (Japan) (theatrical)
• Fox Films - Europa Vision (1985) (Finland) (theatrical)
• Spentzos Films (1986) (Greece) (theatrical)
• Universal Pictures (1985) (USA) (theatrical)
• FS Film Oy (2002) (Finland) (DVD)
• King Video (1988) (Japan) (VHS)
• Mainostelevisio (MTV3) (2002) (Finland) (TV)
• Nelonen (2009) (Finland) (TV)
• Odeon (2010) (Greece) (DVD)
• Showtime (1980s) (Finland) (VHS)
• Tohokushinsha Home Video (1988) (Japan) (VHS)
• Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation (Europe)
• Universal Studios Home Entertainment (2011) (USA) (DVD) (Blu-Ray) (ultimate edition)
• Warner Home Video (198?) (Netherlands) (VHS)
• Yleisradio (YLE) (1993) (1999) (Finland) (TV)

Special Effects

• Fotherley Ltd. (matte photography)
• Peerless Camera Company (matte photography)
• Peter Govey Film Opticals (matte photography)

Other Companies

• Albert G. Ruben and Company  the producers gratefully acknowledge the assistance and co-operation of (as Albert G. Ruben & Co., Inc.)
• Completion Bond Company  the producers gratefully acknowledge the assistance and co-operation of (as The Completion Bond Company, Inc.)
• De Lane Lea Sound Centre  sound re-recorded by (as De Lane Lea Sound Centre, London)
• Fireman's Fund Insurance Co.  the producers gratefully acknowledge the assistance and co-operation of (as Firemans Fund Insurance Company)
• Fujifilm  film stock by
• Graham Miller & Co.  the producers gratefully acknowledge the assistance and co-operation of
• Joe Dunton & Company  camera equipment provided by (uncredited)
• Joe Dunton & Company  cameras and lenses (uncredited)
• Joe Dunton Cameras  cameras and lenses supplied by
• Lee Electric Lighting  lighting equipment supplied by (as Lee Electric {Lighting}, Ltd.)
• Lee Lighting  grip and lighting equipment (uncredited)
• MCA Records  original motion picture soundtrack album on
• National Philharmonic Chorus  choir (uncredited)
• National Philharmonic Orchestra  orchestra (uncredited)
• Peter Govey Film Opticals  main titles
• Pinewood Studios  sound re-recorded by
• Regency Films  the producers gratefully acknowledge the assistance and co-operation of
• Ruben Sedgwick Ltd.  the producers gratefully acknowledge the assistance and co-operation of (as Ruben Sedgwick Insurance Services)
• Walford Nursery  the producers gratefully acknowledge the assistance and co-operation of

Also Known As:

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:

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 | Canada:A (Nova Scotia) | Canada:PG (Manitoba/Ontario) | Iceland:12 | Brazil:Livre | USA:Unrated (director's cut) | UK:PG (video rating) (1986) (2002) | Portugal:M/12 | South Korea:15 (DVD rating) (2001)

Filming Locations:

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

Company:

Embassy International Pictures

Trivia:

Widely rumored to have been a source of inspiration for Shigeru Miyamoto's classic game series The Legend of Zelda.

Goofs:

Continuity: In the first half of the movie, Lily's dress gets increasingly torn up with each scene, yet at the end when Jack tries to bring her out of the spell, she wears the same dress completely intact.

Quotes:

Blix:This shot be just as sweet as pie.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "NYPD Blue: Burnin' Love (#3.11)" (1996)

Soundtrack:

Faeries Dance

LEGEND: Gothic, Grim, Beautiful, Enchanting, Magical, Dreamy, Fantastic, and ultimately Constant.

Ridley Scotts' fallen masterpiece "Legend" has, in it's own rite, become one of the most infamous, if not fascinating, legacies in Hollywood. In 1984, Ridley Scott, director of the famed sci-fi "Alien", set out to tell a defining fairy tale. Once he was joined by writer William Hjortsberg, the duo started off on a creative journey to conjure what would become the beloved film "Legend". The film was further more given the appropriate elements for the general fairy tale. The Princess, the Hero, the Villain, the Goblins, the Fairies, and the other magical characters and creatures such as the Unicorns and Honeythorn Gump. Seeing as the film is intended to be a definitive fairy tale, this would also mean tracing the modern genre back to its' roots, Grim style. Indeed, the completed product was pure in it's woven fables. Just as it is tender, and bright, is it also dark, surreal, nightmarish, and ultimately entrancing. More of the film deals with the overshadow of darkness in the magical land. A proper way to show the sudden switch from light and happy, to dark and fearsome indeed.

In the story, we have the world, happy, beautiful, completely compelling in its' own nature. The dark truth lies within its' own reality. Darkness once ruled the world, but has since retreated into the lower levels of the earth, to groan and complain of times in a better existence. The world is happy, because the Unicorn, a very dear, and sacred animal, rules the land. These gorgeous creatures know only love and laughter, and thusly, protect the world from evil. They are attracted to one element in man kind, innocence. Princes Lily is pure at heart, as well as mind and spirit. Her soul friend, Jack, leads her to the creatures, as a gesture of love and affection. Quite unfortunately, however, the Lord Darkness has sent his own army after the creatures too. Once both sides are at the right place, and the wrong time, the Unicorns are harmed, and the earth, in danger. Thus begins a journey full of action, adventure, and suspense.

Tom Cruise has only performed well in this one film, for me anyway. He is actually quite affective, and believable as the hero Jack. He shows both strength and bravery, to contrast with confusion and fear of the unknown. Very plausible indeed. Mia Sara is so gorgeous, naive, and pure as the Princess. Her characteristics consist of a blind ambition, love stricken playfulness, and of course, Innocence. Never, has this genre seen such a perfect portrayal. Now, Tim Curry turns in one hell of a performance. Thanks to modern film-making, Curry is a frightening, disgusting, and yet sexual portrayal of ultimate Darkness. The three stars are all mixed together in a real Fairy Tale, with a message at the end. (note, this message is only seen in the 2002 restored Directors Cut).

I do not feel the need to bring up the controversy that ensued the principal photography, as it is well known by fans and film buffs of all kind. What I can say, is that Ridley Scott was certainly determined to give us the product of his imagination. That said, he gave us a real fantasy. he has given us a real story of magic,, love, hate,adventure, and all kinds of elements that create what a film like this should be. One thing to truly be mentioned, however, is the late Jerry Goldsmith. This master at film composition of the musical persuasion, gave us his ultimate best, and that was being generous and forgetting about getting stabbed in the back during the processing of "Alien". Again, the great musician was tricked, and his beautiful score was thrown out the window from US versions, leaving the film to sugary and sappy. Even worse, important scenes were cut, leaving much of the film uneven and seemingly rushed. Sad enough, this kind of treatment happened a year earlier with 1984's "Supergirl". Fortunately, however, we were given the true version of the film in mid 2002, and rightly so. The film has since then, been seen, and loved by fans as myself, who loved it way back when....as well as now.

The best I can say, is that this movie has a full blown mastermind to it, and the producers and creators etc finally gave the film justice. Same happened with "Supergirl" in 2000. Bottom line, this film is brilliant, and touching, and an ever- glorious masterpiece!