The Legend of 1900 (1998)

A baby boy, discovered in 1900 on an ocean liner, grows into a musical prodigy, never setting foot on land.

Director:

Giuseppe Tornatore

Writers:

Alessandro Baricco (monologue Novecento), Giuseppe Tornatore

Stars:

Tim Roth, Pruitt Taylor Vince, Mélanie Thierry

Won 1 Golden Globe. Another 21 wins & 10 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Tim Roth	...	Novecento
Pruitt Taylor Vince	...	Max
Mélanie Thierry	...	La ragazza
Bill Nunn	...	Danny
Clarence Williams III	...	'Jelly Roll' Morton
Peter Vaughan	...	Negoziante
Niall O'Brien	...	Capo del porto
Alberto Vazquez	...	Machinista messicano (as Alberto Vázquez)
Gabriele Lavia	...	Contadino
John Armstead
Cory Buck	...	Lemon - age 8
Norman Chancer	...	Impresario
Sidney Cole	...	Musician
Katy Monique Cuomo	...	(as Katy Monique Cuom)
Luigi De Luca	...	Neapolitan Stoker

Storyline

1900. Danny Boodmann, a stoker on an American passenger liner, Virginian, finds a baby abandoned on the ship. He names the child Danny Boodmann T.D. Lemon Nineteen Hundred '1900' and raises the child as his own until his death in an accident on the ship. The child never leaves the ship and turns out to be a musical genius, especially when it comes to playing the piano. As an adult he befriends a trumpet player in the ship's band, Max Tooney. After several years on the ship Max leaves, and tells the story of 1900 to the owner of a music store.

---

Plot Keywords:

ship | piano | pianist | jazz | year 1900 | 

---

Taglines:

An epic story of a man who could do anything... except be ordinary.

---

Genres:

Drama | Music | Romance

---

Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for language

Did You Know?

Trivia

Composer Ennio Morricone also provided the score for Bernardo Bertolucci's similarly titled 1900 (1976).

---

Goofs

When the passengers first see the Statue of Liberty, it is shown reflected in the sea. However, the reflection appears to be an image of the statue laid flat on the surface of the water, whereas a real reflection should appear to extend straight down below the surface.

---

Quotes

[first lines]
Max: I still ask myself if I did the right thing when I abandoned his floating city. And I don't mean only for the work. The fact is, a friend like that, a real friend - you won't meet one again. If you just decide to hang up your sea legs, if you just want to feel something more solid beneath your feet - and it's then you no longer hear the music of the gods around you. But, like he used to say, you're never really done for, as long as you got a good story, and someone to tell it to. ...

---

Alternate Versions

Original version released in Italy is 2 hours and 45 minutes long. A 123-minutes version premiered at the Locarno film Festival in July 1999. This shorter version is the same released in the USA by Fine Line under the title "The Legend of 1900".

---

Connections

Referenced in Seven Pounds (2008)

---

Soundtracks

Peacherine Rag
Written by Scott Joplin

User Reviews

A wonderfully wistful mixture of melodrama and music.

"The Legend of 1900" wistfully tells its creative, capriciously unpredictable, and musical tall tale with excellence in all aspects of film from sets to sound, costume to casting, and script to screenplay. Roth and Vince work well together in this plaintive, simple story which will captivate those who can make the leap of faith required to "buy in". A good film for all but critics, "Legend" will likely resonate most with those who equate living with musical expression. La vita è musica.

Details

Country:

Italy

Language:

English French Italian

Release Date:

28 October 1998 (Italy)

Also Known As:

The Legend of 1900

Filming Locations:

Cinecittà Studios, Cinecittà, Rome, Lazio, Italy

Box Office

Budget:

$9,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$39,200, 31 October 1999

Gross USA:

$167,435

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$20,991,180

Company Credits

Production Co:

Sciarlò, Medusa Film

Technical Specs

Runtime:

169 min (extended cut) 125 min (theatrical cut)

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1