Legends of the Fall


2h 13m 1994

Brief Synopsis

An all-male family struggles to survive nature and romantic rivalry in the remote West.

Film Details

Also Known As
Höstlegender, Leyendas de pasión, Légendes d'automne
MPAA Rating
Genre
Drama
Adaptation
Adventure
Historical
Period
Romance
War
Western
Release Date
1994
Distribution Company
TriStar Pictures
Location
Jamaica; Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada; Calgary, Alberta, Canada

Technical Specs

Duration
2h 13m

Synopsis

Tiring of the brutality of cavalry life, Colonel William Ludlow starts a new life with his family in the majestic mountains of Montana. While growing up, his three sons are inseparable, but as young men, passion, the butchery of WWI and personal tragedy intervene in their lives and shake the foundations of their family.

Crew

Brian Aebly

Transportation Captain

Stuart Aikins

Casting

Stuart Aikins

Location Casting

Carl Aldana

Production

Willy Allen

Foley Editor

Christopher Assells

Sound Effects Editor

Stuart Auld

Scenic Artist

Karen M. Baker

Assistant Sound Editor

Ani Baravyan

Assistant Director

Jane Bartelme

Coproducer

Lon Bender

Sound Editor

Bonnie Benwick

Assistant Director

Chrissie Beveridge

Makeup

Guy Bews

Stunts

Matthew Binns

Production Manager

Jean Black

Makeup Artist

Monica Blades

Wrangler

Jed Blaugrund

Assistant

Toni Blay

Production Coordinator

Dave Borley

Foreman

Robert Brown

Best Boy

Kathie Broyles

Titles

Bryon Callaghan

Makeup Artist

David E Campbell

Rerecording

Sarah Caplan

Coproducer

Carol Case

Costumes

Joseph Cerami

Location Casting

Bette Chadwick

Location Casting

Harry Cheney

Dialogue Editor

Kirk Chiswell

Assistant Camera Operator

Jimmy Chow

Property Master

John Clothier

Camera Operator

Harley Cohen

Production Assistant

Mary Colquhoun

Casting

Gary Combs

Stunt Coordinator

Gil Combs

Stunts

Dorree Cooper

Set Decorator

Ciaran Copelin

Assistant Camera Operator

Gavin B Craig

Best Boy Grip

Patrick Crowley

Executive Producer

John Cucci

Foley Artist

Chris David

Rerecording

Valerie Davidson

Foley Editor

Dino Dimuro

Sound Effects Editor

Joe A Dodds

Stunts

Joe A Dodds

Wrangler

John Dodds

Wrangler

John Dodds

Stunts

Harold Dubland

Transportation Captain

Jim R Dunn

Stunts

Richard Dwan

Sound Effects Editor

John Eckert

Unit Production Manager

Norman Edge

Wrangler

Tom Eirikson

Stunts

Bruce Epke

Other

Les Erskine

Lighting Technician

Jennifer Feurer

Production Assistant

Ed Fincher

Costumes

Jim Finkbeiner

Wrangler

Jim Finkbeiner

Stunts

Iloe Flewelling

Hair Stylist

Patrick J. Foley

Foley Editor

Lara Fox

Script Supervisor

Mark Francis

Assistant Property Master

Carmen Franczyk

Production Coordinator

Robert Frazen

Editing

Douglas Ganton

Sound Mixer

Baylis Glascock

Assistant Editor

Jason Glass

Stunts

Tom Glass

Stunts

Jeff Gomillion

Adr Mixer

Dean Goodine

Assistant Property Master

Mark S Gordon

Foley

Jim Green

Other

Lori Greenberg

Assistant Production Coordinator

Mary Esther Griffith

Sound

George Griffiths

Other

Tony Guerin

Assistant Camera Operator

Layne Guise

Assistant Location Manager

Sheila Haley

Assistant Art Director

Per Hallberg

Sound Editor

Joanne Hansen

Wardrobe Supervisor

Caroline Hardon

Assistant Editor

Jim Harrison

Source Material (From Novel)

Kerry Hayes

Photography

Gary Hecker

Foley Artist

Jim Henrikson

Music Editor

Marshall Herskovitz

Producer

David Holden

Editing

James Horner

Music Composer

Bobby Huber

Key Grip

Robert Jezsik

Dresser

Rose Johnson

Costumes

Ciaran Kavanagh

Assistant Camera Operator

Peter J Kelly

Set Designer

Randy Kelly

Sound Effects Editor

Gail Kennedy

Makeup Artist

Lilly Kilvert

Production Designer

Jan Kobylka

Construction Coordinator

Lorelei Kuchera

Extras Agent/Coordinator

Matthew Lammerich

Scenic Artist

Mark Lapointe

Dialogue Editor

Christopher Large

Sound

Mark Larry

Sound Effects Editor

Catt Lebaigue

Dialogue Editor

Catherine Leighton

Assistant Property Master

David Levey

Assistant Costume Designer

John Lind

Assistant Director

Lauren Lindsay

Craft Service

Dawn Line

Costumes

Mick Lipohar

Camera Assistant

Sara Macdonald

Production Assistant

J.j. Makaro

Stunts

Peter D Marshall

Assistant Director

Franz Marzouca

Assistant Director

Rick Mason

Camera Operator

Paul Massey

Rerecording

Armin Matter

Camera Operator

Joe Mayer

Adr Supervisor

B J Mcclean

Costumes

Tim Mclean

Wrangler

Neil Mcleod

Other

Frank Mejerski

Transportation Coordinator

Sigrid Mekkinosson

Set Designer

Mike Mitchell

Stunts

Brad Moerke

Production Assistant

Lillian Montalvo

Assistant

Tony Morelli

Stunts

Andy Mulcany

Key Grip

Paul Mulder

Property Master

Alan Munro

Visual Effects

Shawn Murphy

Music

Ariel Nachman

Assistant Editor

Marty Naucler

Assistant Camera Operator

Echo Noyes

Hair Stylist

Pat O'connor

Location Manager

Jeffrey A. Okun

Titles

Murray Ord

Location Manager

Ron Orieux

Director Of Photography

Ron Orieux

Dp/Cinematographer

Nilo Otero

Assistant Director

Chris Ott

Sound Effects Editor

Rino Pace

Location Manager

Matt Palmer

Production Assistant

Greg Papalia

Set Designer

Alison Parraco

Accounting Assistant

Fred W Peck

Foley Recordist

Bryce Perrin

Art Director

Fred Perron

Stunts

Michael Debra Petro

Assistant

Kathy Petty

Production Accountant

Craig Phang Sang

Production Assistant

Kate Pierpoint

Costume Supervisor

James Plannette

Lighting Technician

Andrew Precht

Art Director

Jane Raab

Production Supervisor

Denise Rackett

Script Supervisor

Jay B Richardson

Sound Effects Editor

Rick Roberts

Art Director

Gail Foreman Rose

Accounting Assistant

Steven Rosenblum

Editor

Roberto Santucci

Apprentice

Greg Schlosser

Stunts

Deborah Scott

Costume Designer

John D Scott

Animal Wrangler

John Scott

Stunts

Doug Seus

Stunts

Lynne Seus

Animal Trainer

Simon Sherwood

Advisor

Susan Shilliday

Screenplay

Randy Singer

Foley Mixer

Gordon J Smith

Makeup

Karen Ann Smith

Other

Scott J Smith

Animal Trainer

Geoffrey Smither

Assistant Location Manager

Wendi Stewart

Art Department Coordinator

Suzanne Stokes-munton

Hair Stylist

Catherine Sutherland

Wrangler

Cynthia Thornton

Assistant Editor

Connie Todd

Assistant

John Toll

Director Of Photography

John Toll

Dp/Cinematographer

Carey Toner

Dolly Grip

Reynald Trudel

Boom Operator

James W. Tyson

Wardrobe Supervisor

Bruno Vanzeebroeck

Pyrotechnics

Roger J. Vernon

Camera Operator

Michael Vezina

Special Effects Coordinator

Ron Von Blomberg

Set Decorator

Thaddeus Wadleigh

Key Grip

David Wagreich

Photography

Maxine Walters

Assistant Art Director

Lewin Webb

Assistant Director

William D Wittliff

Producer

William D Wittliff

Screenplay

Brent Woolsey

Stunt Coordinator

Brent Woolsey

Stunts

Deborah Yates

Assistant

Clint Youngreen

Animal Trainer

Edward Zwick

Producer

Film Details

Also Known As
Höstlegender, Leyendas de pasión, Légendes d'automne
MPAA Rating
Genre
Drama
Adaptation
Adventure
Historical
Period
Romance
War
Western
Release Date
1994
Distribution Company
TriStar Pictures
Location
Jamaica; Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada; Calgary, Alberta, Canada

Technical Specs

Duration
2h 13m

Award Wins

Best Cinematography

1994

Award Nominations

Best Art Direction

1994
Lilly Kilvert

Best Sound

1994

Articles

Legends Of The Fall


Though writer-director Ed Zwick gained his fame as the creative force behind the enormously popular TV series, thirtysomething (1987-1991), his theatrical films are usually epic in nature. He scored a critical and commercial bull's-eye with his first picture, the Oscar-winning Civil War drama, Glory (1989). But, five years later, he expanded on that film's broad historical canvas with Legends of the Fall, a sprawling romantic melodrama based on the acclaimed Jim Harrison novel. This is the sort of big-budget movie that studios used to produce in the 1940's and '50s, with a major dose of Brad Pitt's modern-day sexual charisma thrown in for good measure.

In Legends of the Fall, Anthony Hopkins plays Colonel Ludlow, an ex-Cavalry officer living with his three handsome sons in the wilds of Montana. Alfred (Aidan Quinn), the oldest one, is a level-headed businessman with political leanings, and the youngest, Samuel (Henry Thomas), has a hot temper that is sometimes ignited by his political interests. Colonel Ludlow loves Alfred and Samuel, but he keeps a special place in his heart for Tristan (Pitt), his sleek, long-haired middle son. Like his father, Tristan, who was schooled by a Cree Indian named One Stab (Gordon Tootoosis), shows deep respect for Indian culture.

When Samuel returns from college, he is accompanied by his girlfriend, Susannah (Julia Ormond, in one of her first films). Her presence begins to create tension between the three brothers, all of whom fall in love with her. Then World War I is declared. Samuel enlists in the Army and is soon followed by Tristan and Alfred. Before leaving for the front, Tristan and Susannah share a romantic exchange that Samuel secretly watches, further complicating the relationship between the brothers.

[Spoiler Alert] After witnessing Samuel's death on the battlefield, Tristan clings to Indian spirituality as a sort of psychic salve. But, like his brother Alfred, he eventually returns to his Montana home where they both proclaim their love for Susannah. The film culminates in a political showdown involving the annihilation of the Indian nation, as well as Tristan making his way to Africa to hunt for ivory, a stroke for the Colonel, and one son's late-blooming career as a bootlegger.

Critics weren't particularly kind to Legends of the Fall when it opened and noted its unwieldy narrative and bombastic direction. Even a world-class actor like Anthony Hopkins wasn't able to resist some scenery chewing antics in the course of the film. Nevertheless, Legends of the Fall was a box office hit, mainly due to Brad Pitt, who was at the peak of his fame. Critic Tom Charity of TimeOut said it best when he wrote, "...the entire film plays like a commercial for Brad Pitt. You can imagine half the audience wondering, "Where can I get one of those?" Every young male star should have a role like this: cowboy, soldier, adventurer, bootlegger, vigilante."

As for Academy Award recognition, John Toll won an Oscar for his gorgeous cinematography and he would also win the following year for shooting Mel Gibson's Braveheart (1995), making him the first cinematographer in movie history to manage such a coup. He would later photograph Terrence Malick's strange, dreamlike World War II drama, The Thin Red Line (1998), making him one of the indisputable masters of the art.

Director Zwick has gone on to even greater success as a producer, having been responsible (along with several other people) for Best Picture winner Shakespeare in Love (1998) and Steven Soderbergh's hard-hitting drug expose, Traffic (2000).

Director/Producer: Edward Zwick
Screenplay: Susan Shilliday and Bill Wittliff
Based on the novella by Jim Harrison Art Designer: Rick Roberts and Andrew Precht
Editing: Steven Rosenblum
Cinematography: John Toll
Costume Design: Deborah Scott
Principal Cast: Brad Pitt (Tristan Ludlow), Anthony Hopkins (Colonel William Ludlow), Aidan Quinn (Alfred Ludlow), Julia Ormond (Susannah Finncannon), Henry Thomas (Samuel Ludlow), Gordon Tootoosis (One Stab).
C-133m. Letterboxed.

By Paul Tatara
Legends Of The Fall

Legends Of The Fall

Though writer-director Ed Zwick gained his fame as the creative force behind the enormously popular TV series, thirtysomething (1987-1991), his theatrical films are usually epic in nature. He scored a critical and commercial bull's-eye with his first picture, the Oscar-winning Civil War drama, Glory (1989). But, five years later, he expanded on that film's broad historical canvas with Legends of the Fall, a sprawling romantic melodrama based on the acclaimed Jim Harrison novel. This is the sort of big-budget movie that studios used to produce in the 1940's and '50s, with a major dose of Brad Pitt's modern-day sexual charisma thrown in for good measure. In Legends of the Fall, Anthony Hopkins plays Colonel Ludlow, an ex-Cavalry officer living with his three handsome sons in the wilds of Montana. Alfred (Aidan Quinn), the oldest one, is a level-headed businessman with political leanings, and the youngest, Samuel (Henry Thomas), has a hot temper that is sometimes ignited by his political interests. Colonel Ludlow loves Alfred and Samuel, but he keeps a special place in his heart for Tristan (Pitt), his sleek, long-haired middle son. Like his father, Tristan, who was schooled by a Cree Indian named One Stab (Gordon Tootoosis), shows deep respect for Indian culture. When Samuel returns from college, he is accompanied by his girlfriend, Susannah (Julia Ormond, in one of her first films). Her presence begins to create tension between the three brothers, all of whom fall in love with her. Then World War I is declared. Samuel enlists in the Army and is soon followed by Tristan and Alfred. Before leaving for the front, Tristan and Susannah share a romantic exchange that Samuel secretly watches, further complicating the relationship between the brothers. [Spoiler Alert] After witnessing Samuel's death on the battlefield, Tristan clings to Indian spirituality as a sort of psychic salve. But, like his brother Alfred, he eventually returns to his Montana home where they both proclaim their love for Susannah. The film culminates in a political showdown involving the annihilation of the Indian nation, as well as Tristan making his way to Africa to hunt for ivory, a stroke for the Colonel, and one son's late-blooming career as a bootlegger. Critics weren't particularly kind to Legends of the Fall when it opened and noted its unwieldy narrative and bombastic direction. Even a world-class actor like Anthony Hopkins wasn't able to resist some scenery chewing antics in the course of the film. Nevertheless, Legends of the Fall was a box office hit, mainly due to Brad Pitt, who was at the peak of his fame. Critic Tom Charity of TimeOut said it best when he wrote, "...the entire film plays like a commercial for Brad Pitt. You can imagine half the audience wondering, "Where can I get one of those?" Every young male star should have a role like this: cowboy, soldier, adventurer, bootlegger, vigilante." As for Academy Award recognition, John Toll won an Oscar for his gorgeous cinematography and he would also win the following year for shooting Mel Gibson's Braveheart (1995), making him the first cinematographer in movie history to manage such a coup. He would later photograph Terrence Malick's strange, dreamlike World War II drama, The Thin Red Line (1998), making him one of the indisputable masters of the art. Director Zwick has gone on to even greater success as a producer, having been responsible (along with several other people) for Best Picture winner Shakespeare in Love (1998) and Steven Soderbergh's hard-hitting drug expose, Traffic (2000). Director/Producer: Edward Zwick Screenplay: Susan Shilliday and Bill Wittliff Based on the novella by Jim Harrison Art Designer: Rick Roberts and Andrew Precht Editing: Steven Rosenblum Cinematography: John Toll Costume Design: Deborah Scott Principal Cast: Brad Pitt (Tristan Ludlow), Anthony Hopkins (Colonel William Ludlow), Aidan Quinn (Alfred Ludlow), Julia Ormond (Susannah Finncannon), Henry Thomas (Samuel Ludlow), Gordon Tootoosis (One Stab). C-133m. Letterboxed. By Paul Tatara

Quotes

Trivia

Miscellaneous Notes

John Toll was nominated in the feature film category of the Outstanding Achievement Awards (1994) sponsored by the American Society of Cinematographers.

Released in United States Winter December 25, 1994

Wide Release in United States January 13, 1995

Released in United States on Video May 31, 1995

Completed shooting September 23, 1993.

Began shooting June 14, 1993.

The fourth feature for Edward Zwick, whose previous credits include "About Last Night" (USA/1986), "Glory" (USA/1989) and "Leaving Normal" (USA/1992).

Released in United States Winter December 25, 1994

Wide Release in United States January 13, 1995

Released in United States on Video May 31, 1995