Legends of the Fall (1994)

In the early 1900s, three brothers and their father living in the remote wilderness of Montana are affected by betrayal, history, love, nature, and war.

Director:

Edward Zwick

Writers:

Susan Shilliday (screenplay), William D. Wittliff (screenplay) (as Bill Wittliff)

Stars:

Brad Pitt, Anthony Hopkins, Aidan Quinn

Won 1 Oscar. Another 2 wins & 10 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Brad Pitt	...	Tristan Ludlow
Anthony Hopkins	...	Col. William Ludlow
Aidan Quinn	...	Alfred Ludlow
Julia Ormond	...	Susannah Fincannon
Henry Thomas	...	Samuel Ludlow
Karina Lombard	...	Isabel Two
Tantoo Cardinal	...	Pet
Gordon Tootoosis	...	One Stab
Paul Desmond	...	Decker
Christina Pickles	...	Isabel Ludlow
Robert Wisden	...	John T. O'Banion
John Novak	...	James O'Banion (as John Novack)
Kenneth Welsh	...	Sheriff Tynert
Bill Dow	...	Longley
Sam Sarkar	...	Rodriguez

Storyline

In early twentieth century Montana, Colonel William Ludlow (Sir Anthony Hopkins) lives in the wilderness with his sons, Tristan (Brad Pitt), Alfred (Aidan Quinn), and Samuel (Henry Thomas). Eventually, the unconventional, but close-knit, family encounters tragedy when Samuel is killed in World War I. Tristan and Alfred survive their tours of duty, but, soon after they return home, both men fall for Samuel's gorgeous fiancée, Susannah (Julia Ormond), and their intense rivalry begins to destroy the family.

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Plot Keywords:

f word | no opening credits | violence | sex scene | sexual positions | 

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Taglines:

The men of the Ludlow family. A woman's grace brought them together. Then her passion tore them apart.

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Genres:

Drama | Romance | War | Western

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for violence, and for some sexuality and language

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English Cornish

Release Date:

13 January 1995 (USA)

Also Known As:

Leyendas de pasión

Filming Locations:

43 Powell Street, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

Box Office

Budget:

$30,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$101,670, 23 December 1994, Limited Release

Gross USA:

$66,638,883

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$160,638,883

Company Credits

Production Co:

TriStar Pictures, The Bedford Falls Company, Pangaea

Technical Specs

Runtime:

133 min

Sound Mix:

SDDS (8 channels) Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

This movie and book contain occasional Cornish language terms, the Ludlows are a Cornish emigrant family.

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Goofs

As the boys get ready to head for war, William Ludlow reads a letter sent to his wife. The letter notes the boys departed in October. Yet, the small deciduous trees visible still have leaves that are green. By mid-October in Montana, those leaves would have changed color and likely fallen off.

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Quotes

[Regarding Tristan's departure]
Susannah: Will he come back?
Colonel Ludlow: I don't know.
Colonel Ludlow: [One Stab speaks Cree] Stab says yes.

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Alternate Versions

The new special edition contains 3 new scenes.

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Connections

Referenced in Brooklyn Nine-Nine: Casecation (2019)

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Soundtracks

Twilight and Mist
Written by James Horner and Brock Walsh

User Reviews

A wonderful, emotional melodrama

A really good film. Basically a melodrama. Repeat, MELOdrama. Hollywood used to churn out this sort of film all the time with no apologies. OK, many of them seem corny now, but why do people think that every movie made has to be stark realism?

I was tremendously impressed with Brad Pitt's performance. (I'm a guy, so I mean that, and am not swooning over his looks). I had never seen him in anything before, and had barely heard of him. Anthony Hopkins was, as always, fantastic. In fact every single actor hit every single note with the possible exception of Henry Thomas. One of Aidan Quinn's best films, also. The photography of Alberta is magnificent, and I think no one can begrudge LOTF its cinematography Oscar.

The film makers have an excuse for the occasional credibility lapse, in that there is a story frame, the recollections of One Stab, the old Cree. This covers things like Susannah falling for Samuel, who seemed to be an empty suit, Tristan keeping his long hair while in the British Army, etc. Excellent performance by Gordon Tootoosis, by the way, although his manner of speaking is very reminiscent of Chief Dan George.

I highly recommend this film, if you can watch it without trying to dislike it.