Legends of the Fall (1994)
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62% of critics liked it
(42 reviews) -
87% of users liked it
(162,126 ratings)
The sweeping, melodramatic saga of three brothers, their powerful father, and a beautiful woman, the popular period drama Legends of the Fall presents a romanticized view of rugged masculinity against lush Montana scenery. Based on a novel by Jim Harrison, the film covers decades in the lives of… More The sweeping, melodramatic saga of three brothers, their powerful father, and a beautiful woman, the popular period drama Legends of the Fall presents a romanticized view of rugged masculinity against lush Montana scenery. Based on a novel by Jim Harrison, the film covers decades in the lives of Alfred (Aidan Quinn), Tristan (Brad Pitt), and Samuel (Henry Thomas) Ludlow, the sons of retired military man William Ludlow (Anthony Hopkins). Raised by the unorthodox Ludlow after the departure of their mother, the boys grow up close, sharing an appreciation of the land and a pioneering spirit. The family becomes divided, however, when young Sam enlists in World War I over his father's objections, and his brothers follow suit to protect him. Despite these efforts, Sam dies in battle, leaving Alfred and Tristan to return home and deal with the lingering torment. Further complicating matters is the presence of Sam's beautiful fiancée, Susannah (Julia Ormond). After Sam's death, she attracts the romantic attention of both the responsible Alfred and the brooding Tristan, a conflict that threatens to drive the brothers apart. Aspiring to epic status, the film utilizes period detail and attractive landscapes as a backdrop for tragic, doomed romance. While some critics complained that the film resembled a romance novel writ, veering at times into the overwrought, audiences embraced the combination of emotion and grand historical scale, making the film a box-office success. ~ Judd Blaise, Rovi
- Directed By
- Edward Zwick
- Written By
- Susan Shilliday, William D. Wittliff
- Genres
- Western, Drama, Romance
- In Theaters
- Dec 23, 1994 Wide
- Studio
- Sony Pictures Home Entertainment
Critic Reviews
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Richard Schickel, TIME Magazine
Edward Zwick, the director, and Susan Shilliday and Bill Wittliff, the screenwriters, are under the impression that they are bringing forth a tragic epic, not a silly melodrama...
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Variety Staff, Variety
As densely plotted as Legends of the Fall is, it's to the credit of the performers and craftsmen that the film escapes the abyss of melodrama and sentimentality.
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Geoff Andrew, Time Out
The entire film plays like a commercial for Brad Pitt. You can imagine half the audience wondering, 'Where can I get one of those?'
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Janet Maslin, New York Times
Mr. Pitt's diffident mix of acting and attitude works to such heartthrob perfection it's a shame the film's superficiality gets in his way.
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Peter Stack, San Francisco Chronicle
Big and beautiful as it looks, the film doesn't deliver much emotional punch.
See more critic ratings and reviews on Rotten Tomatoes
Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)
Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)
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Cast
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Brad Pitt
as Tristan Ludlow
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Anthony Hopkins
as Col. William Ludlow
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Aidan Quinn
as Alfred Ludlow
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Henry Thomas
as Samuel Ludlow
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Karina Lombard
as Isabel Two
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Julia Ormond
as Susannah Finncannon
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Gordon Tootoosis
as One Stab
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Tantoo Cardinal
as Pet
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Paul Desmond
as Decker
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Bart the Bear
as the bear
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Nigel Bennett
as Asgaard
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Marc Levy
as Butler
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Weston McMillan
as Noel
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Christina Pickles
as Isabel
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Kenneth Welsh
as Sheriff Tynert
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Robert Wisden
as John T. O'Banion
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Bill Croft
as Bartender
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Ray Godshall Jr.
as Businessman
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John Novak
as James O'Banion
- Stuart Aikins
- Mary Colquhoun
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Bill Dow
as Longley
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David Kaye
as Samuel Decker
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Charles Andre
as Federal Officer



