- There are at least four different versions of this picture: the original European release (94 min.), the American theatrical release (89 min.), a network TV version (94 min.) and a director's cut (113 min.)
- The "Theatrical Version" on the US Blu-ray contains a couple of slight audio differences near the beginning compared to previous versions of this cut.
- Just after Darkness's line "Something troubles me..." the opening motif of Tangerine Dream's Unicorn Theme is missing.
- The transition between the scene of Darkness and Blix into the scene of Lili in the forest is much rougher than before. There is a sudden change in ambiance, while in previous versions, the ambiance of Darkness's lair more subtly gives way to the sounds of the forest.
- Ridley Scott's first cut ran 150 minutes and had a music score by composer Jerry Goldsmith; after an unsuccessful test, the film was re-edited twice and shortened to 113 minutes and finally to 94-minutes. This version removed part of Goldsmith's score, substituting new music by composer Tim Souster and a few cues from Jerry Goldsmith's score for "Psycho II". Much of the footage has since been lost.
- Before the American release, the film was re-edited once more because Universal president Sid Sheinberg felt the European version was unappealing to young American audiences, and the score was replaced with new compositions by the band Tangerine Dream, plus a song by Jon Anderson and a Brian Ferry song was added over the end credits). The US version runs 89 minutes.
- The USA network TV version is roughly the same as the American theatrical release but features a voice over of the opening crawl text and some extra footage taken from the European version (recognizable because it features cues from Goldsmith's score).
- Here are the differences between the European and American versions (taken from the Legend FAQ by Tony Anderson, Sean Murphy & Geoff Wright. Used with permission):
- Early in the American version we see someone being tortured by demons before an open view of the star filled Void. Darkness is shown in blue with yellow glowing fingernails and he delivers a different opening soliloquy. In the European version we do not get the torture scene nor to we see more than the arm of Darkness.
- When Lili enters Nell's cabin there is a shot of Nell's sleeping husband in the European version.
- Lili is a princess in the European version, but called merely a Lady in the American version.
- In the American version, Lili has a vision of the future when she sees the revolving figures of the clock (death chasing a maiden) become encased in ice for a moment. No ice in the European version of this shot.
- The cutting of the scenes with Jack, Lily, and the stalking goblins is arranged differently between the two versions.
- Lili asks Jack to teach her rabbit in the European version, whereas she asks him to "tell me our future" in the American version.
- There is more footage of Jack swimming underwater to find the ring in the European version.
- Lightning strikes a tree just before the unicorn falls in the American version. We also see the cutting of the alicorn in this version.
- In the American version we see Jack struggling through the dark forest snow calling Lily before he succumbs. We also see an extra shot of the goblins riding in the snow. In the European we cut from Lili in the cottage to the shot of Jack sleeping in the snow.
- When Gump queries Jack in the American version, Jack immediately admits that he took Lily to see the unicorns. In the European version, Jack first denies that he did anything and then admits his transgression. Gump becomes bug-eyed and threatening in the European version and makes Jack solve a riddle before all will be forgiven. The American version does not contain the riddle and is much shorter and simpler.
- The scene of Blix and the goblins intoxicated with the power of the alicorn is split into two segments in the European version separated by the scene with Jack and Oona in the cave. In the American version, the cave scene is followed by the goblin scene in its entirety.
- The scene with Meg is very short in the American version, whereas in the longer sequence from the European version, Jack uses flattery to distract her before killing her.
- When we see Lili in the dungeon for the first time, there is a shot of Darkness that appears to be taken from the goblins fire sequence in the European version. In the American version, the camera explores the walls of the dungeon where we see to "eyes" light up.
- After Lili enters Darkness' hall, the American version cuts to a scene not in the European version of an attack on Gump and Jack by what the script refers to as Pygmies.
- The Dress Waltz scene is shorter in the American version and contains a flash cut to Lili suddenly wearing the dress. No flash in the European version.
- The American version contains some added footage showing wine filling up a cup magically and is missing a scene where Darkness attempts to get Lili to sit on his throne (he does this twice in the European version vs. once in the American).
- There are some added lines to the American version just before Darkness falls into the abyss having been defeated by Jack: "You think you have won. What is light without dark? I am a part of you all. You can never defeat me. We are brothers eternal."
- When Darkness falls into the abyss it causes five shooting stars to be generated in the American version.
- The scene of Jack diving into the pond for Lili's ring is intercut with the unicorn's horn being restored and his subsequent revival in the American version. These shots are missing in the European version.
- One last shot of Darkness laughing can be seen in the American version.
- The American version does not contain any of the songs sung by Lili in the European version, or the Goldsmith score.
- American print has Brown Tom and Screwball finding the unicorn in Darkness's lair. In the European print, this is not shown.
- Some TV prints have the full Meg scene, which runs even longer than in the European edition. (Jack has trouble getting his sword out.)
- American edit has re-sequenced footage from the kiss at the end, used near the beginning to imply a sexual relationship between Jack and Lili.
- The shortened American version also includes temp-track library music from Jerry Goldsmith's score for Planet Of The Apes, The (q.v.) and James Horner's Humanoids From The Deep (q.v.).
- There is another version of this film, shown on UK terrestrial TV. It has the Tangerine Dream soundtrack, and most of the footage detailed above. However, the scene with Meg is shorter, and Lily is merely a Lady, not a Princess. She asks Jack to tell her the future, not teach here rabbit, and there is no shot of Nell's sleeping husband. Watching this version, it pleased me to see that the Unicorn's horn is replaced at the end, and Darkness delivers his final speech, before plummeting into the void. In the scene where Lily dazzles Jack with her charm, most versions have her saying "Let me dazzle you..." but this is omitted in this version.
- Also in the UK TV version (which is basically the same as the US version as seen on the NTSC Laserdisc) the scene at the beginning when we see the Chef hacking up a man on his chopping board, has been omitted.
- Ridley Scott's preferred 113-minute "director's cut" was finally released to the U.S. on DVD in 2002 with the following additions/extensions:
- Darkness' introduction is a bit longer (while still retaining his voiceover-only from the UK release;
- Lily sings the full version of "My True Love's Eyes";
- The clock-freezing vision from the U.S. version;
- An extension of Lily visiting Nell;
- Lily being called a Princess as it was in the UK version;
- Jack's introduction is longer as Lily brings him biscuits which she stole from Nell's kitchen;
- The Unicorn introduction is longer;
- A unicorn trots circles around Lily just before she sings "Living River";
- The Goblins invade the cottage, now frozen as the result of Lily's misadventure;
- The Fairie sequence is longer (it is essentially the version of the scene as it played in the U.S. syndicated TV version);
- The toast to Jack is longer;
- Oona's introduction in the cave is longer;
- Jack's encounter with Meg Mucklebones is longer;
- An alternate version of the scene midway through the film where we first see Lily and the unicorn in the Tree of Darkness (an effigy of Darkness, not included in any previous version, can be seen);
- The sequence where Jack, Gump and the fairies being held prisoner is longer;
- A scene where Oona almost leaves Jack in prison but is freed by the other fairies;
- An extension of the Demon Cooks scene (parts of the section where the cooks chop up a dead body can be seen in the opening sequence of the U.S. version);
- An alternate version of "The Dress Waltz" (alternate shots of Darkness' effigy can be seen, and the sound mix of the sequence is different than in the UK version);
- The voice of Darkness' Father is different than in previous versions;
- Lily's confrontation with Darkness is extended;
- Oona's thought line "you should see your Princess now" (heard in the UK version) is cut out;
- The scene where Jack and the fairies splitting up in teams is longer (and thus explaining Gump's crystal ball in the "Darkness Fails" sequence);
- An alternate scene where Lily sits down to dine with Darkness;
- An extension of the "Darkness Fails" scene (Jack and the fairies running down the alley towards Darkness' cave and additional lines not used in any previous version);
- Darkness falling into the abyss is seen (this was seen in U.S. theatres but not in the UK);
- Jack picking up the alicorn and Gump explaining Jack's significance in his mission;
- Jack finding the ring in the lake is extended slightly;
- An alternate ending that suggests the entire film was a dream. This scene is where Jack finds Lily still asleep, giving her the ring, and the spell being broken, but when Lily wakes up she gives the ring right back to Jack and declares he belongs in the forest, and Lily promises to "come back tomorrow". Lily then sings "Reunited" (a reprise of "My True Love's Eyes"), and Jack and Lily go their separate ways. The film ends with Jack going off into the sunset alone, with the fairies looking on as the credits roll (previous versions have had both Jack and Lily going into the sunset); Jerry Goldsmith's original score is reinstated.
- The DVD also includes an alternate "Four Goblins" opening where the villains find a strand of hair from a unicorn, then confront Darkness with the news and then being sent to find Lily (this alternate opening is presented in rough cut form as taken from a VHS UK workprint), and the edited "Fairie Dance" scene (which would have taken place before Jack answers Gump's riddle); this is presented in an audio-only format playing against publicity photos and storyboards, as the original footage was destroyed.
- Tic, the fourth goblin in the "Four Goblins" alternate opening sequence included on the DVD, has an interesting story. He was set to get killed right from the getgo, for starters. In William Hjortsberg's original script, Tic dies when he falls into the swamp and is eaten by the water hag Meg Mucklebones while the goblins are on their way to Darkness' castle. The manner of his demise was changed once filming actually began, however. In the scene that was eventually filmed - and later cut - Tic dies when Blix causes him to fall down into a bottomless pit. What's more interesting is that in storyboards for the movie, the character of Blunder - the 'goblin' who is really a disguised elf - is referred to as 'Tic,' which suggests either that at some point the writers reversed the roles of Tic and Blunder, or they just decided briefly not to include the Blunder character. As to who played Tic in the sequence that actually got filmed, versatile dwarf actor Mike Edmonds is credited with the role of the doomed goblin in at least one press kit for the film.
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