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Legends of the Fall
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Sales Rank: 138661
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A box-office hit when released in 1994, this sprawling, frequently overwrought familial melodrama may get sillier as its plot progresses, but it's the kind of lusty, character-based epic that Hollywood should attempt more often. It's also an unabashedly flattering star vehicle for Brad Pitt as Tristan--the rebellious middle son of a fiercely independent Montana rancher and military veteran (Anthony Hopkins)--who is routinely at odds with his more responsible older brother, Alfred (Aidan Quinn), and younger brother, Samuel (Henry Thomas). From the battlefields of World War I to his adventures as an oceangoing sailor, Tristan's life is full of personal torment, especially when he returns to Montana and finds himself competing with Alfred over Samuel's beautiful widow (Julia Ormond), whose passion for Tristan disrupts the already turbulent Ludlow clan. Under the wide-open canopy of Big Sky country, this operatic tale unfolds with all the bloodlust, tragedy, and scenery-chewing performances you'd expect to find in a hokey bestselling novel (in fact, it's based on the acclaimed novella by Jim Harrison), but it's a potent mix that's highly entertaining. Not surprisingly, John Toll won an Academy Award for his breathtaking outdoor cinematography. <I>--Jeff Shannon</I>
Viewer Reviews
Usually, watching a film adaptation of a book or story is a letdown. But in the case of Legends Of The Fall I'd have to say it is advisable to read the story before watching the film as it is helpful in understanding the motivations of the characters, even though the film differs greatly from the novella.
The film didn't--couldn't--portray character motivation as the story by Jim Harrison does. Watching the film without the background of the novella will have you wondering why the hell Suzanne and Tristan react like they do. It's difficult to catch the guilt of Tristan who fails to "take care of Samuel" and the manic depression suffered by Suzanne. The film, on it's own, cannot convey the clash of tradition against the new of the industrial revolution and a changing West.
Read the wonderful novella by Jim Harrison, then watch the film.
As an aside, a couple of years ago I went to a book signing of Jim Harrison's and someone asked him about his impressions of the film Legends Of The Fall. His reply was that, apparently, there must have been a lot of nearby laundry facilities in turn of the century Montana; everyone had such clean clothes in the film.
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