Legends of the Fall (1994)

User Rating:

7.1/10   

Director:

Edward Zwick

Writers (WGA):

Jim Harrison (novel)
Susan Shilliday (screenplay) ...
(more)

Release Date:

13 January 1995 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Romance | War | Western

Tagline:

He was a rock they broke themselves against however much he tried to protect them

Plot:

Epic tale of three brothers and their father living in the remote wilderness of 1900s USA and how their lives are affected by nature, history, war, and love.

Plot Keywords:

USA | Heart | Epic | Passion | Canadian Army

Awards:

Won Oscar. Another 1 win & 8 nominations

Cast

Brad Pitt	...	Tristan Ludlow
Anthony Hopkins	...	Col. William Ludlow
Aidan Quinn	...	Alfred Ludlow
Julia Ormond	...	Susannah Fincannon Ludlow
Henry Thomas	...	Samuel Ludlow
Karina Lombard	...	Isabel Two Decker Ludlow
Gordon Tootoosis	...	One Stab
Christina Pickles	...	Isabel Ludlow
Paul Desmond	...	Decker
Tantoo Cardinal	...	Pet
Robert Wisden	...	John T. O'Banion
John Novak	...	James O'Banion
Kenneth Welsh	...	Sheriff Tynert
Bill Dow	...	Longley
Sam Sarkar	...	Rodriguez
Nigel Bennett	...	Asgaard
Keegan MacIntosh	...	Boy Tristan
Eric Johnson	...	Teen Tristan
Randall Slavin	...	Teen Alfred
Doug Hughes	...	Teen Samuel
Sekwan Auger	...	Young 'Isabel Two' Decker
David Kaye	...	Samuel Decker Ludlow
Christine Harder	...	Isabel Three Decker Ludlow
Charles Andre	...	Federal Officer
Weston McMillan	...	Noel
Aaron Goettel	...	Corporal's Friend
Bill Croft	...	Bartender
Ray Godshall	...	Businessman
Marc Levy	...	Butler
Ken Kirzinger	...	O'Banion Thug
Winnie Hung	...	Chinese Woman
Simon Sherwood	...	Officer
Rob Hrdlicka	...	Canadian Soldier
Channing Knull	...	Canadian Soldier
John D. Cameron	...	Proprietor
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Bart the Bear	...	The Bear
Brian Stollery	...	The Captain
Matthew Robert Kelly	...	Infantry medic (uncredited)
Larry Lefebvre	...	(uncredited)

Directed by
Edward Zwick

Writing credits (WGA)
Jim Harrison		(novella)
Susan Shilliday		(screenplay) and
William D. Wittliff		(screenplay) (as Bill Wittliff)

Produced by
Jane Bartelme	....	co-producer
Sarah Caplan	....	co-producer
Patrick Crowley	....	executive producer
Marshall Herskovitz	....	producer
William D. Wittliff	....	producer
Edward Zwick	....	producer

Original Music by
James Horner

Cinematography by
John Toll

Film Editing by
Steven Rosenblum

Casting by
Mary Colquhoun

Production Design by
Lilly Kilvert

Art Direction by
Andrew Precht
Rick Roberts

Set Decoration by
Dorree Cooper

Costume Design by
Deborah Lynn Scott		(as Deborah Scott)

Makeup Department
Christine Beveridge	....	hair stylist: Anthony Hopkins
Christine Beveridge	....	makeup artist: Anthony Hopkins
Jean Ann Black	....	key makeup artist
Bryon Callaghan	....	makeup artist: second unit
Iloe Flewelling	....	hair stylist
Gail Kennedy	....	makeup artist
Echo Noyes	....	hair stylist: second unit
Gordon J. Smith	....	key special effects makeup
Suzanne Stokes-Munton	....	key hair stylist
Tom Czarnopys	....	sculptor (uncredited)

Production Management
Matthew Binns	....	production manager: Jamaica unit
John M. Eckert	....	unit production manager
Jane Raab	....	production supervisor: Jamaica unit
Chantal Feghali	....	post-production supervisor (uncredited)

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Ani Baravyan	....	second second assistant director
Bonnie Benwick	....	third assistant director: second unit
John Lind	....	third assistant director
Peter D. Marshall	....	first assistant director: second unit
Franz Marzouca	....	second assistant director: Jamaica
Nilo Otero	....	first assistant director
David Wagreich	....	second unit director
Lewin Webb	....	second assistant director
Andrew Price	....	second assistant director: reshoots (uncredited)

Art Department
Carl Aldana	....	production illustrator
Stuart Auld	....	scenic artist: Jamaica unit
Dave 'Grizz' Borley	....	construction foreman
James H. Chow	....	property master
Mark Francis	....	assistant property master
Dean Goodine	....	assistant property master
Jim Green	....	greensman
George Griffiths	....	stand-by painter
Sheila Haley	....	assistant art director: Vancouver
Paul Arthur Hartman	....	lead man
Susan Henzell	....	lead person: Jamaica
Peter J. Kelly	....	set designer
Jan Kobylka	....	construction coordinator
Catherine Leighton	....	assistant property master
Michael Love	....	props
Sigrid Mekkinosson	....	set designer: Vancouver
Paul Mulder	....	property master: second unit
Greg Papalia	....	set designer
Bryce Perrin	....	art director: Jamaica
Stephen Andrew Schwartz	....	lead man
Wendi Stewart	....	art department coordinator
Ron von Blomberg	....	set decorator: Jamaica
Maxine Walters	....	assistant art director: Jamaica
Ken Wills	....	lead man
Gina B. Cranham	....	set designer (uncredited)
Jann K. Engel	....	set designer (uncredited)
Matthew Lammerich	....	key scenic artist (uncredited)
Dale Menzies	....	lead carpenter (uncredited)
Ken Wells	....	paint coordinator: Vancouver (uncredited)

Sound Department
Willy Allen	....	foley editor
Christopher Assells	....	sound effects editor
Karen M. Baker	....	assistant sound editor
Lon Bender	....	supervising sound designer
Lon Bender	....	supervising sound editor
David E. Campbell	....	sound re-recording mixer
Harry Cheney	....	dialogue editor
John T. Cucci	....	foley artist
Chris David	....	sound re-recording mixer
Valerie Davidson	....	foley editor
Dino Dimuro	....	sound effects editor
Richard Dwan Jr.	....	sound effects editor (as Richard Dwan)
Patrick J. Foley	....	foley editor
Douglas Ganton	....	production sound mixer
Scott Martin Gershin	....	sound designer
Jeff Gomillion	....	adr mixer
Mark Gordon	....	foley supervisor
Mary Esther Griffith	....	utility sound
Per Hallberg	....	supervising sound editor
Gary A. Hecker	....	foley artist
Randy Kelley	....	sound effects editor (as Randy Kelly)
Mark R. La Pointe	....	dialogue editor
Chris Large	....	sound: second unit (as Christopher Large)
Mark Larry	....	sound effects editor
Catt LeBaigue	....	dialogue editor
Paul Massey	....	sound re-recording mixer
Joseph A. Mayer	....	adr supervisor
Chris Ott	....	sound effects editor
Fred Peck III	....	foley recordist
Jay B. Richardson	....	sound effects editor
Randy Singer	....	foley mixer (as Randall K. Singer)
Reynald Trudel	....	boom operator

Special Effects by
Bruno Van Zeebroeck	....	pyrotechnics supervisor
Bruno Van Zeebroeck	....	special effects coordinator
Mike Vézina	....	special effects coordinator
Reg Milne	....	special effects assistant (uncredited)
Terry Sonderhoff	....	special effects technician (uncredited)

Visual Effects by
Alan Munro	....	visual effects
Brian Jochum	....	visual effects (uncredited)

Stunts
Guy Bews	....	stunts
Gary Combs	....	stunt coordinator
Gilbert B. Combs	....	stunts
Joe Dodds	....	stunts
John Dodds	....	stunts
Jim Dunn	....	stunts
Tom Eirikson	....	stunts
Jim Finkbeiner	....	stunts
Jason Glass	....	stunts
Tom Glass	....	stunts
J.J. Makaro	....	stunts
Mike Mitchell	....	stunts
Tony Morelli	....	stunts
Fred Perron	....	stunts
Greg Schlosser	....	stunts
John Scott	....	stunts
Doug Seus	....	bear stunts
Melissa R. Stubbs	....	stunts
Brent Woolsey	....	stunt coordinator
Brent Woolsey	....	stunts

Camera and Electrical Department
Rob Brown	....	best boy electric
Kirk Chiswell	....	second assistant camera
John Clothier	....	camera operator
Ciaran Copelin	....	second assistant camera
Gavin B. Craig	....	best boy grip
Les Erskine	....	chief lighting technician: second unit
Tony Guerin	....	first assistant camera
Kerry Hayes	....	still photographer
Bobby Huber	....	key grip
Ciaran Kavanagh	....	first assistant camera: second unit
Mick Lipohar	....	camera intern
Richard G. Mason	....	camera operator: second unit
Armin Matter	....	camera operator: "b" camera
Andrew Mulkani	....	key grip: second unit
Marty Naucler	....	second assistant camera: second unit
Ron Orieux	....	director of photography: second unit
James Plannette	....	chief lighting technician
Gordon Schmidt	....	lamp operator
Carey Toner	....	dolly grip
Roger Vernon	....	camera operator: second unit
Thaddeus Wadleigh	....	key grip: second unit
David Wagreich	....	additional photographer: second unit
Allan Belyea	....	best boy grip: second unit (uncredited)
Jeffery Cools	....	grip (uncredited)
Chris Helcermanas-Benge	....	still photographer: Vancouver (uncredited)
Tyler Mandrusiak	....	grip (uncredited)

Animation Department
Jim Boulden	....	animatronics and puppets creator (uncredited)

Casting Department
Stuart Aikins	....	casting: Canada
Joseph Cerami	....	casting assistant: USA
Bette Chadwick	....	casting: Alberta
William Haines	....	casting assistant
Lorelei Kuchera	....	extras casting

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Carol Case	....	costumer: second unit
Ed Fincher	....	costumer
Joanne Hansen	....	wardrobe supervisor
Robert Jezsik	....	dresser: Anthony Hopkins
Robert Jezsik	....	personal costumer: Anthony Hopkins
Rose Johnson	....	costumer
David Le Vey	....	assistant costume designer
Dawn Y. Line	....	costumer
B.J. McClean	....	costumer
Kate Pierpoint	....	set costume supervisor
Gail L. Smith	....	costumer: preparation
James W. Tyson	....	wardrobe supervisor
Nancy Duggan	....	wardrobe assistant (uncredited)
Mari Grimaud	....	costume supervisor (uncredited)

Editorial Department
Donah Bassett	....	negative cutter
Robert Frazen	....	additional editor
Baylis Glascock	....	assistant editor
Caroline Hardon	....	assistant editor
David Holden	....	additional editor
Ariel Nachmann	....	assistant editor
Roberto Santucci	....	apprentice film editor
Cynthia E. Thornton	....	first assistant editor
David Orr	....	color timer (uncredited)
Laura Steiger	....	post-production assistant (uncredited)
Marcy Stoeven	....	assistant editor (uncredited)

Music Department
Bill Abbott	....	music editor: temp music
Brent Brooks	....	music editor: temp music
Don Davis	....	orchestrator
Jim Henrikson	....	music editor
Shawn Murphy	....	score mixer
Thomas Pasatieri	....	orchestrator
James Horner	....	conductor (uncredited)
Jay B. Richardson	....	music editor (uncredited)

Transportation Department
Brian Aebley	....	transportation captain
Harold Dubland	....	transportation captain
Frank Mejerski	....	transportation coordinator
Nigel Arscott	....	transportation coordinator: Jamaica (uncredited)
Robert J. Young	....	driver (uncredited)

Other crew
Monica Blades	....	wrangler
Jed Blaugrund	....	assistant: Edward Zwick
Toni Blay	....	production coordinator
Kathie Broyles	....	title designer
Doug Carnegie	....	lead man: Vancouver (as Douglas R. Carnegie)
John Charles	....	software engineer: Sony DAC
Harley Cohen	....	production assistant
Joe Dodds	....	wrangler
John Dodds	....	wrangler
Norman Edge	....	wrangler
Bruce Epke	....	marine coordinator: Jamaica unit
Jennifer Feurer	....	production assistant
Jim Finkbeiner	....	wrangler
Lara P. Fox	....	script supervisor
Carmen Franczyk	....	production coordinator: Jamaica unit
Anne Gordon	....	animal trainer
Lori Greenberg	....	assistant production coordinator
Layne Guise	....	assistant location manager
Wendi Laski	....	unit publicist
Lauren 'Fluff' Lindsay	....	craft service
Debra Lovatelli	....	assistant: Marshall Herskovitz
Sara MacDonald	....	production assistant
Tim McLean	....	wrangler
Neil McLeod	....	war weapons specialist
Brad Moerke	....	production assistant
Lillian Montalvo	....	assistant: Lilly Kilvert
Patrick O'Connor	....	location manager: second unit
Jeffrey A. Okun	....	title designer
Murray Ord	....	location manager
Rino Pace	....	location manager: Vancouver
Matt Palmer	....	production assistant
Alison Parraco	....	assistant accountant
Kathy Petty	....	production accountant
Denise Rackett	....	script supervisor: second unit
Gail Rose	....	assistant accountant
Craig Phang Sang	....	location manager: Jamaica unit
John Scott	....	head wrangler
Doug Seus	....	bear owner and trainer
Lynne Seus	....	assistant bear trainer
Simon Sherwood	....	military advisor
Geoffrey Smither	....	assistant location manager (as Geoff Smither)
Karen Anne Smith	....	production secretary
Scott J. Smith	....	assistant bear trainer
Cathy Sutherland	....	wrangler
Connie Todd	....	assistant: Bill Wittliff
Deborah Yates	....	assistant: Sarah Caplan
Clint Youngreen	....	assistant bear trainer
Mark Ambury	....	location production assistant (uncredited)
Tanis Darling	....	production assistant (uncredited)
Abraham Fraser	....	location production assistant (uncredited)
Matthew Kershaw	....	assistant location manager (uncredited)
John Mavrogeorge	....	location production assistant (uncredited)
Martin Pedersen	....	location production assistant (uncredited)
Trevor Seitz	....	production assistant (uncredited)
Jeff Smith	....	production assistant (uncredited)
Darryl Solly	....	location production assistant (uncredited)
Bruce Toy	....	chef (uncredited)
Ian Zweig	....	chef (uncredited)

Production Companies

• TriStar Pictures (presents)
• Bedford Falls Productions (as Bedford Falls)
• Pangaea

Distributors

• Sony Pictures Entertainment (SPE) (1994-) (worldwide) (all media)
• TriStar Pictures (1994) (USA) (theatrical)
• Columbia TriStar Film (1995) (Germany) (theatrical)
• Columbia TriStar Films (1995) (France) (theatrical)
• Columbia TriStar Films (1995) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• Columbia TriStar Films de Argentina (1995) (Argentina) (theatrical)
• Columbia TriStar Films de España (1995) (Spain) (theatrical)
• Falcon (1995) (Czech Republic) (theatrical)
• Sony Pictures Entertainment (1995) (Japan) (theatrical)
• Columbia TriStar Home Entertainment (2000) (Brazil) (DVD)
• Columbia TriStar Home Entertainment (2000) (Brazil) (VHS)
• Columbia TriStar Home Entertainment (1995) (Germany) (VHS)
• Columbia TriStar Home Entertainment (1998) (Germany) (DVD)
• Columbia TriStar Home Entertainment (1999) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• Columbia TriStar Home Entertainment (2000) (USA) (DVD)
• Columbia TriStar Home Entertainment (2003) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• Columbia TriStar Home Video (1996) (Netherlands) (VHS)
• Columbia TriStar Home Video (1997) (USA) (DVD)
• Columbia TriStar Home Video (1999) (USA) (DVD)
• Columbia TriStar Home Video (2000) (USA) (DVD) (special edition)
• Columbia TriStar Home Video (2000) (USA) (VHS)
• Columbia TriStar Home Video (2003) (USA) (DVD) (superbit)
• Columbia TriStar (1995) (USA) (video) (laserdisc)
• Columbia TriStar (1996) (USA) (VHS)
• LK-TEL Vídeo (Brazil) (VHS)
• LK-TEL (199?) (Argentina) (VHS)
• National Broadcasting Company (NBC) (1997) (USA) (TV)
• Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (2005) (USA) (DVD) (deluxe edition)

Special Effects

• Animal Makers

Other Companies

• Animal Makers  prosthetic animals
• D. Bassett & Associates  negative cutting
• Epic Soundtrax  soundtrack
• Filmworks Catering  catering
• Sony Classical  soundtrack
• Sony Pictures Studios  post-production sound
• Technicolor  color timing
• Visual Concept Engineering (VCE)  opticals

MPAA:

Rated R for violence, and for some sexuality and language.

Runtime:

133 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

SDDS (8 channels) | Dolby SR

Certification:

Iceland:16 | Canada:14+ (Ontario) | Philippines:R-18 | Argentina:13 | Australia:M | Canada:AA (Ontario) | Chile:14 | Finland:K-16 | Germany:12 (w) | Netherlands:12 | Peru:14 | Singapore:M18 | South Korea:18 | Spain:13 | Sweden:15 | UK:15 | USA:R

Filming Locations:

43 Powell Street, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

Company:

TriStar Pictures

Trivia:

This movie was originally to be filmed in Winnipeg, Manitoba (Canada), but the city officials refused to remove several trees (which would have been replaced after the end of filming).

Goofs:

Continuity: During the night of the war, Samuel's cheek was scratched. The next morning him and Tristan were pulled down to a trench, still bearing the scratch on his cheek. Later on that day, he looks at Susanna's picture, without a wound on his cheek. Back at the camp, his scratch appears again.

Quotes:

[First lines]
One Stab: Some people hear their own inner voices with great clearness and they live by what they hear. Such people become crazy, or they become legends.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "The O.C.: The Dearly Beloved (#2.24)" (2005)

Soundtrack:

Twilight and Mist

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.