IMDb > Legend (1985)
Legend
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Videos (see all 6)
Legend (1985) -- A young man must stop the Lord of Darkness from both destroying daylight and marrying the woman he loves.
Legend (1985) -- MattTrailer.com - Trailer (Flash)

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Overview

User Rating:
6.1/10   19,172 votes
MOVIEmeter: ?
Down 5% in popularity this week. See why on IMDbPro.
Director:
Writer:
William Hjortsberg (written by)
Contact:
View company contact information for Legend on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
18 April 1986 (USA) more
Tagline:
This is such stuff as dreams are made of. This is Legend. more
Plot:
A young man must stop the Lord of Darkness from both destroying daylight and marrying the woman he loves. full summary | full synopsis
Plot Keywords:
Awards:
Nominated for Oscar. Another 1 win & 9 nominations more
NewsDesk:
(21 articles)
Voicing Celebrity Concerns
 (From IFC. 20 November 2009, 10:41 AM, PST)

John Cooper of Skillet Shares His Top Ten Monsters
 (From Dread Central. 16 November 2009, 4:19 PM, PST)

User Comments:
How Americanization ruins... more (249 total)

Cast

  (Cast overview, first billed only)

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
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Additional Details

Also Known As:
Legend of Darkness (UK) (working title)
Legend: Ultimate Edition (USA) (reissue title (video title))
more
Runtime:
94 min | USA:114 min (director's cut) | USA:89 min
Country:
Language:
Color:
Color (Technicolor)
Aspect Ratio:
2.35 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
70 mm 6-Track (70 mm prints) | Dolby (35 mm prints)

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
The production was filmed on the Pinewood Studio sound stage that had been originally created for The Spy Who Loved Me (1977). more
Goofs:
Continuity: As Lily's sword cuts the unicorn's chain freeing it, Jack shoots his arrow at the Devil and you can see the arrow strike his neck on the left side. However in the next shot you see that Jack has not yet released his arrow. more
Quotes:
Honeythorn Gump: Love you say? Well love is another matter. more
Movie Connections:
Soundtrack:
Is Your Love Strong Enough more

FAQ

This FAQ is empty. Add the first question.
42 out of 72 people found the following comment useful.
How Americanization ruins..., 2 December 1999
10/10
Author: Mr Ghostface from London, England

Legend...

I can only say that this film, at least the European version, succeeds into the creation of a fantasy world that very very few other films have. And NEVER has a fairytale forest been realised so vividly and fantastically as here. The production design at Pinewood Studios is truly outstanding.

Of course, this film was a considerable flop. And looking at it, it isn't too hard to see why. A film that retains some semblance of morality - in this case the most basic, good versus evil - will not play to young audiences of the late 20th century. The tone of the film is perhaps too dark for young children, the overall theme of the film perhaps too juvenile for most adults. And so Legend finds itself in a cinematic limbo, a place without a core audience.

Of course, a cult audience has evolved around this film as it does around anything that misses its major target, and so Legend is a film that is either loved or loathed. Either way, Ridley Scott's stunning visual imaginings are realised with undeniable skill.

In addition to Scott's and his team's visual successes, this film - at least for European viewers - is embellished with one of the most beautiful scores ever written. Jerry Goldsmith has, during his transition from traditional to synthesied orchestra, created one of the richest scores ever bestowed on a film.

Quite what Warner Bros thought they were doing when they removed this score and cut chunks out of the film (and re-edited what was left) I will never understand. The film would and did flop in both versions, but that doesn't necessarily mean it shouldn't have been made.

If you are knew to this film, do yourself a favour and never watch the American version, unless it is the revamped widescreen version with the Goldsmith score back in place.

A visual dream, a beautiful score, a moral tale. Is there any wonder it flopped?

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