I am unapologetically a fan of Legends of the Fall. For all the rest of you who love this film and find yourselves caught up in the in the extreme melodrama of the Ludlows of Montana - - this is for you! Also, yes, yes, I know Tristan's hair is not historically accurate - - - -but who cares it's iconic 90s Brad Pitt (h ealso sports that glorious mane in INTERVIEW WITH A VAMPIRE).
I've seen a couple comments about the hair not being historically accurate, but did everyone just forget that Tristan is heavily influenced by the Native American culture he grew up with? They wear their hair long.
I watch this movie every year and have slowly turned my skeptical husband on to it. I was obsessed with Tristan when I was young & this first came out. Now that I'm older, I feel sorry for Alfred. Tristan was incredibly self-centered & got a pass for it because he was "wild". The only sin Alfred committed was being uncool.
Tristan isn't selfish, he's suffering from a mixture of PTSD, guilt, and regret. He leaves to stop himself damaging things further. That's not to say he, or any of these characters, are perfect...far from it. But there in lies the beauty of the film... it's a tragic, honest, realistic portrayal of how fate can intervene and the ripples it causes having the potential to destroy a family dynamic. Truly an exceptional film and criminally underrated.
When I first rewatched it earlier this year (I couldn't sleep and I put it on at 3am) I'd forgotten how much I loved it and as the end credits rolled I was in tears. It's just such a satisfying old fashioned style film and it in that way it's perfection.
One of my favourites. I love Julia Ormond and so does everyone who has ever watched this film. Totally agree that it would've been improved if we heard more from Susannah, her ideas and solutions. Even the old man falls in love with her and takes her as his own beloved daughter while the boys are away. I have watched this many times over the years. Most recently last week, coincidentally! Delighted to see you cover it. Another hit CC vid, with ace new graphics, the usual plethora and wealth of film history and political economy. The best! 👌🎬
I wish I could give this comment a million hearts! What a wonderful Christmas gift to know you love this one as much I do! Like I said I've watched LOTF 5+ times since September and I've not gotten tired of it, I just grow to love it more and more. Sidenote, I was feeling inspired to try new stuff with the editing and I'm glad you liked it.
I accidentally watched it late night on TV with my mum about 15 years ago. As in it came on and we didn't change the channel and we both got more and more invested as it went along. I remember feeling like it was the first time I saw Brad Pitt act, rather than just be a heart-throb. There were many tears.
I agree! I envy you getting to experience this for the first time! Although, I did go many, many years between viewings and once I watched it again, I was blown away. I'd forgotten how beautiful it was.
I watched this movie totally by accident when i was bored with no wifi over spring break once. I fell in love with it immediately cried like a baby by the end. Watched it half a dozen times by now still one of if not my favorite movie of all time.
This movie hits me hard each time I view it. I think it's a special type of film that really evokes an old fashioned style of filmmaking and story telling. Its beautiful and I love it.
I saw it in the theater, and really enjoyed it. John Toll's photography is just plain beautiful, as is James Horner's score--I think it's one of his very best, much better than his Titantic or Braveheart scores. It has a special place in my heart because it is one of the very, very few adaptations of a book that uses every line of dialog from the novel--I think there are fewer than ten lines of dialogue IN the book. Jim Harrison's books are very connected to the outdoors, and that was my way into the movie. Excellent video. People shouldn't worry about liking something other people don't.
Horner's score is so beautiful. The song "The Ludlows" is on a mix I have and it's just so evocative of a time, place, the past, the west. It is true, we should all just like what we like and not worry about what anyone else thinks.
I ADORE this movie. My whole family love this movie, I can't recall how many times we have seen it but the whole epic family saga is amazing. Also the cinematography, the photography, the performances, the music, the landscapes, everything is beautiful. 🥰
I usually group A River Runs Through It with Legends when I recommend it to someone. Great film as well, but River pales in comparison to Legends. I feel like Brad Pitt's character and his parents were the most interesting, and after he dies, the movie gets a little meh. The older brother's story with the girlfiend/fiance never drew me in.
The score is absolutely stunning. I have only watched it once, in the theaters, years ago. It broke my heart. I do listen to the score frequently and I think I may finally rewatch it. There was a real beauty in this film xx
I was just listening to the score as I was tidying up the kitchen! For some reason last fall this film really struck a nerve and I watched it at least 3 times ,after not seeing it for many years , and I never got tired of it. It's just so beautiful.
Yes, love melodramas. I once sat down in front of the TV and saw Sirk's Magnificent Obsession cold, that was an experience! In reply to your question, action movies are probably "Male-odramas"!
I know I'm late to post this lol but I'm curious to know what are your top ten melodrama movies of all time? Great description of Legends of the Fall btw!@CinemaCities1978
I don't really keep a top ten type ranking bc I'm always discovering new things, but some melodramas that are consistent favorites are Legends (obviously), Camille (w/Garbo), The English Patient, Indochine, The Color Purple, Random Harvest, Kings Row., Peyton Place . .
I love this movie, too, but it’s so dang painful that I find it hard to rewatch. I always have to fast forward through a few gut-wrenching scenes: Samuel being killed, Isabel being killed, the calf trapped in the fencing. I strongly disagree with Ebert’s dismissal of it not being a “serious” film. Maybe Mr. Ebert’s family was drama-free but my own and those of other families I know were fraught with enough drama to keep any audience riveted. Tragic deaths, unhappy marriages, suicides, addiction, betrayal, sibling rivalry, loss of fortune. To me, this movie is a masterpiece on every level - script, acting, directing, cinematography, music. Yes, it’s operatic in scope but so is life. We watch movies to be entertained and to escape, but also to be moved and ponder our own existence. Larger-than-life characters enable us to project our own lives onto the screen so that we might view and analyze them from a more comfortable distance.
One of my top missions in life is to make sure everyone has watched this masterpiece at least once. They are never disappointed when they do. Amazing film.🔥
I so agree with Elaine..I HATED The English Patient. And action films are not melodrama. But I love epics and miss them in film, but NOT The English Patient🙃😖🫢🤢
Whenever I stumble across this movie playing on TV, I cannot not watch it. So many scenes are well crafted and resonate emotionally. My only criticism when I first saw it in theaters back in 1994 was that individually all the scenes may have been better than the movie as a whole. But over the years, that criticism has faded, and I just enjoy the hell out of it when I see it from the beginning to "it was a good death". By the way, I found your channel today because Rick Beato posted a video about John Williams and I had commented that the Star Wars theme was similar to Dvorak's New World Symphony and someone else mentioned that it was very similar to Korngold's score for Kings Row. As a film fan, I was surprised that I was not familiar with Kings Row, which led me to find your Kings Row video on this channel and now I am enjoying many of your videos. Thanks for doing these!
Off the topic but have you watched Smila's Sense of Snow with Julia? Or Siberian Barber? The latter is totally melodramatic and larger than life. One of my favourites.
Yes! I’ve seen Smila’s Sense of Snow. Now that’s a film you don’t here talked about at all. Julia Ormond is magnificent in it. I think it was pretty overlooked when it came out and that’s too bad because it is a very good film and a good mystery. Now I want to go rewatch it! Thanks for reminding me that it’s out there.
This movie is wonderfully shot. I really like most of the actors in this movie. Adian Quinn is way too boring in this role. Brad Pitt is also miscast. I really enjoy Pitt as an actor. He is constantly doing different roles that set him apart for other A-listers who keep doing the same roles. I have seen the movie 3 or 4 times and I am still some what on the fence about this movie. I thought it could of been much more than what it does.
The most frequent problem with melodrama - for me - is that if it goes too over-the-top it can break the suspension of disbelief and then the whole thing just looks silly. It's a fine line and depends as much on setting context as it does on skillful acting and directing. Are action movies melodrama? That's a very interesting point - you're onto something. Melodrama for boys?
