Legends of the Fall

Plot synopsis:
Sick of betrayals the United States government perpetrated on the Native Americans, Colonel William Ludlow leaves the army and moves to a remote part of Montana. Along with One Stab, a Cree friend, he builds a ranch and raises his family. Accompanying them are hired hand and outlaw Decker, Decker's wife, and daughter Isabel Two. Ludlow has three sons: Alfred, the eldest, is responsible and cautious; Tristan, the Colonel's favorite son, is wild and well-versed in American Indian traditions; Samuel, the youngest, is educated but naive and constantly watched over by his brothers.
Ludlow's wife Isabel does not adapt to the harsh Montana winters and moves to the East Coast; Tristan vows never to speak of her again. At age 12, Tristan touches a sleeping grizzly bear. The bear awakens and injures him, but he stabs at the bear's paw and cuts off a claw.
Years later, Samuel returns from Harvard University with his fiancée, Susannah. Susannah talks with Isabel Two and learns of her fondness for Tristan. Susannah finds Tristan captivating but loves Samuel. Before they can marry, Samuel announces his intention to join the Canadian Expeditionary Force and aid Britain in the fight against Germany. Much to their father's displeasure, Alfred also joins. Although Tristan does not want to join, he does so to protect his brothers.
During World War I, the brothers find themselves in the 10th Battalion, CEF. Alfred, commissioned as an officer, leads a charge into no man's land. The attack results in heavy casualties, and Alfred is wounded. While visiting Alfred in the field hospital, Tristan learns that Samuel has volunteered for a dangerous reconnaissance mission. He rushes off to protect his brother but arrives too late. A devastated Tristan holds Samuel until he dies, then cuts out his brother's heart and sends it home to be buried at the ranch. Tristan single-handedly raids the German lines. He returns to camp with the scalps of German soldiers hanging around his neck, horrifying his fellow soldiers. He is discharged but does not go home. Alfred returns to Montana and proposes to Susannah, but she declines.
Tristan returns home, where Susannah finds him weeping over Samuel's grave. She comforts him, and they become lovers. A jealous Alfred confronts Tristan and leaves to make his name in Helena. Tristan is plagued with guilt over Samuel's death and feels responsible for driving Alfred away; he leaves Montana for several years. Susannah waits for him, only to receive a letter telling her to marry someone else. Alfred comforts Susannah. Ludlow finds them together, which leads to a falling out between him and Alfred. Ludlow later suffers a stroke. He does not speak for years and the ranch deteriorates. Susannah marries Alfred, now a congressman. Alfred's business and politics cause him to get involved with the O'Banion brothers, bootleggers and gangsters.
Tristan returns during Prohibition, bringing life back to the ranch and his father. He falls in love with Isabel Two and they marry. They have two children, the elder being a boy named Samuel. Tristan becomes involved in small-scale rum-running, finding himself at odds with the O'Banion brothers. Isabel is accidentally killed by a police officer working for the O'Banions. In a fit of grief, Tristan beats the officer nearly to death and is jailed. Susannah visits Tristan, still having feelings for him, but he refuses her advances. After his release, Tristan and Decker kill those responsible for Isabel's death, including one of the O'Banion brothers.
Realizing she cannot live without Tristan, Susannah commits suicide. The remaining O'Banion brother, along with the corrupt sheriff, comes after Tristan for revenge. At the ranch, Ludlow and Alfred kill the attackers. Alfred reconciles with his father and brother. The family realizes that Tristan is likely to be blamed for the deaths, which prompts Tristan to ask Alfred to take care of his children. However, One Stab's narration explains that during the night they bury the bodies and dump the car in the Missouri River. One narrates that he always believed Tristan would die as a young man, but he instead he lives to watch his children and grandchildren grow. One Stab narrates that it was the people he loved and wanted to protect most that died young. The last scene takes place in 1963. Tristan, now an old man living in the North Country investigates an animal carcass as he is confronted by a grizzly bear. He draws his knife and fights it. As they struggle, the image freeze-frames as One Stab narrates; "It was a good death".

Tags: murder, dramatic, romantic, melodrama, tragedy, revenge, sentimental

Review:
I watch a lot of movies & I can't remember the last time a film held me so spellbound.
Star billing or even an Oscar should also have been awarded to the spectacularly beautiful scenery of Montana for the vast majesty it bestowed.This complex saga of love, grief & loyalty is narrated with stark simplicity by old Stab, long-time friend to retired Colonel Ludlow & his 3 sons: staid Alfred, the eldest ("old even for his years"); idealistic Samuel, the youngest ("There was nothing these brothers would not do for him."); & wild Tristan ("Such people become crazy or they become legends.").
The conflict between Ludlow's fiercely anti-government anti-war stance & his sons' determination to do what they see as their duty is but a small part of the story; the heart of the tale is the rift that threatens the mutual devotion of these 3 loyal brothers as they all come to love the same woman.
I understand that some people think it's corny and too romantic but if you like epic dramas this is the movie for you.Reasons to see the movie: - Great acting.
Aidan Quinn makes another great performance, and Julia Ormond is very good as the (tragic) woman they all long for.
This film a true epic with history, talent, superior cinematography,  and most of all(and what many movies of today lack)..
Everything from the acting to the directing was brilliant and the scenery was breathtaking.Anthony Hopkins gave another knockout performance as Colonel Ludlow and Brad Pitt was brilliant as Tristan.Aidan Quinn, Henry Thomas and Julia Ormond were perfectly cast as Alfred, Samuel and Susanna.The one thing I liked most about this movie was the ending - which I won't spoil.
I absolutely loved the movie, it's the second time I'm seeing it and I'm glad I did, because I love epic dramas...and this one well, not only did it have a great and an original storyline, it had a great cast also.
But my favorite had to be Brad Pitt, his performance was engaging and I couldn't take my eyes off the screen, because I simply was fascinated by the way the story was constructed.
It has so many twists and turns that it just keeps you wondering until the end...where you feel like you've watched the film to its fullest and there's no more stories left untold, that's what I look for in a good film.
He would raise 3 sons Alfred (Aidan Quinn), Samuel (Henry Thomas), and Tristan (Brad Pitt) in an idyllic life.
Legends of the Fall (1994)This movie looks and feels good, and it goes far.
But the story is another matter--a sprawling, epic kind of familial tale of the struggle for a father's affection, the love of two brothers for the same woman, etc., with all of the characters swept up in tumultuous emotional states without preparing the viewer for the reasons.
And yet, despite poor motivation, all of the actors do outstanding jobs--from Brad Pitt to Henry Thomas to Aidan Quinn to Anthony Hopkins--hats off for some fine acting.
The main highlight of this film is the young Brad Pitt and the makers of this movie knows this as well, and not because his character stood out or anything.
`Legends of the Fall,' directed by Edward Zwick, is the story of Tristan (Brad Pitt) and his brothers, Alfred (Aidan Quinn) and Samuel (Henry Thomas); a tragic story of the life they shared and the wounds they suffered, many of which were never to heal.
Director Edward Zwick delivers a sweeping saga of life and love with this film that is every bit as big and grand as the country in which it is set.
And Pitt gives one of the best performances of his career as Tristan; watching him, you feel that restlessness and conflict raging within his soul, and you can sense his passion as he seeks his direction in life.
Quinn is also extremely effective as Alfred, the older brother, delivering an emotional and convincing performance, as does Julia Ormond, as Susannah, a young woman conflicted inside as she tries to sort out her feelings for the Ludlow brothers.
A visually stunning film that will touch you emotionally and stay with you long after the screen has gone dark, `Legends of the Fall,' perpetuates the tradition of classics like `The Big Country' and `Giant.'  Engaging and memorable, it's a transporting experience, courtesy of the magic of the movies.
The whole movie seems to gravitate towards beautiful poses of Brad Pitt with the sunshine through his hair and the wonderful Montana woods in the background, like in a bad shampoo commercial.
From the way they talk, to their apparel, to the tools they use, to every other detail, the movie as bad as "Titanic" as far as historical accuracy is concerned.To illustrate with an example, at a point in the movie Susannah -Julia Ormond-  pulls a portable photo reflex-camera on a tripod and takes idyllic pictures of the brothers in the Montana landscape...
There's no other explanation for this awful flick.Please avoid this movie at all costs if you don't like 3 hour- long shampoo commercials with very, very bad plots.
While watching the film, couldn't stop wandering if the people responsible for it, were thinking that the public is stupid, that we take anything that comes to us, as long as actors like A.H, B.Pitt, et al, appear in the credits.
I loved it in 1994 and I loved it more last weekend when I caught it on cable.I am someone who thinks most 120 minute movies are too long, but Legends of the Fall could easily add another hour to the 133 minute running time and I would watch it again and again.
I feel there is still so much more to be written about these characters.Mostly love story, a little bit Western, a little bit War, Legends of the Fall is an epic in the truest sense of the word.
Whether the camera is aimed at the glorious mountains, a sun dappled landscape, Brad Pitt in clothes or out, or the gentle beauty of the lovely Julia Ormand, your eyes drink eagerly from scene after scene.The romantic, the adventurer, the historian, and the sentimental viewer will walk away from this film craving for at least a second to live one of the lives so beautifully crafted on film here..
One redeeming quality is it's one of those movies that is so bad you can have a good time making fun of it as you watch..
Julia Ormond and Aidan Quinn also deliver outstanding performances.The story is best bit of this film coming from a novel by Jim Harrison.Movie starts off in the early 1900s based in the Rocky Mountains of Montana.
Not only Brad Pitt, but also Anthony Hopkins, Aidan Quinn, and Henry Thomas, which played their parts excellently.
Watching this movie I feel my heart and soul are fully occupied by the love, hatred, revenge, beautifulness, sadness of it.
I cried over this movie, I am so touched by the story and so sad about Tristan, it's his wildness and characteristics that lead him doing those things, and that's why he became legend.
It's a perfect movie, with excellent acting by Brad, Hopkins, unforgettable music and settings, profound meanings and strong wills go along with, and every time I hear the music I feel the power of this movie inside me.
Brad Pitt has portrayed many great characters but I feel that none compare to Tristan Ludlow, the different emotions that Tristan goes through in the film seem very real.
Jim Harrison's lush, flawed characters are turned into primitive movie archetypes and the complexity of the story dumbed-down so heavily that it may as well have been a made-for- television film.
I'm like "Gee, thank you for reminding me that life sucks and then you die." I can figure that out on my own just fine, than you very much, and that realization didn't cost me $6.75 for a movie ticket.Yes, the scenery was attractive, but it didn't save this dog of a film..
Legends of the fall is now probably known for bringing Brad Pitt into the mainstream but it is a grand sweeping epic with great performances, a touching story and some stunning natural visuals.
I am born in 85, so all the great movies, all the big old names, all amazing and spectacular and Titanic which was my best film ever and remained for so many years, just dropped to second place because of the Legends of the Fall.
Julia Ormond, Brad Pitt, Aidan Quinn, all so good in this movie.
For all the great cinematography and dramatic score it does not add up to a great film if you don't get the characters right, and i was disappointed in the performances of Pitt and Hopkins, being a fan of the latter I rather wish I had'nt seen this film as he clearly drops ricketts here; for example speaking with a welsh accent when his character isn't welsh, and at one point in another scene when he loses his temper for a moment there I thought he would break out in German.
I watched this movie on TV many years ago.I found it more of a bad comedy than a serious film.The plot, writing, acting and everything else was ridiculous.Anthony Hopkins was awful.Pitt and the others were close to that.My daughter and I fell on the floor laughing.There are a lot of bad movies out there, but this was one of the worst.A lot of people liked it - not sure why?
And Tristan¡ª despite his strong, wild, handsome appearance, despite the fact that he was adored by those around him¡ª was the most suffering soul of the all: A man whose feelings had been torn between his beloved brothers and his lover, a man who had to sort out, but failed, what was wrong with him, and why was it that everything he touched caused disasters.A wonderful film is Legends of the Fall.
I've seen this movie for 5 times so far and everytime I discover something new and everytime it will touch your heart again because its a story of life, in its full joy and its sadness.
With only one idyllic backdrop and 5 main characters: 3 brothers, a father, and a woman; the film manages to tell a great epic story.
It failed to wrap up things in any pertinent way and seemed just to be a "make the audience feel better" device.Brad Pitt gave a typically wooden, blank faced performance.Anthony Hopkins looked like he had fun, lucky old him..
Life is like that in many cases, and I, for one, thoroughly enjoyed the fact this film wasn't a lame, saccharin, feel good excuse of a movie.
Brad Pitts stars in this movie, and does a great job.
The end credits music really helps the movie set in and makes you think about the bond of family.The acting is very good.
Aidan Quinn, Julia Ormond, Henry Thomas, Karina Lombard, Tantoo Cardinal, and Gordon Tootoosis all perform very well.The pacing is very slow and the runtime is overly long.Pros: Emotional and sorrowful story, great ending, good acting, amazing performances by Anthony Hopkins and Brad Pitt, good cinematography, and a good use of musicCons: Very slow pacing, an overly long runtime, and the film could have been edited down by a lotOverall Rating: 8.1.
The three sons in Legends Of The Fall are Aidan Quinn, Brad Pitt, and Henry
The story focuses on Colonel William Ludlow (Anthony Hopkins, gnarled nobility incarnate), living with his three sons in the desolation of an old world making way for a new, as the four of them deal with love, loss, war, nature and interpersonal conflict in a story that plumbs the chasms of human nature and spits out characters that bleed raw feeling, reach out to one another in the clamour of a nation only just being formed (like the land itself), and clash in tragic harmony, spanning years in their lives and showing us desperation, grief and brotherhood.
When their younger brother Samuel (Henry Thomas), arrives home with his beautiful fiancé Susannah (Julia Ormond) sparks fly between her and Tristan, and an immediate rift is formed in the family that Ormond sees all too well, but cannot deny her love for Pitt.
One problem I had with this movie is that Julia Ormands character is in love with him while married to his brother.
Brad Pitt plays as if he was starring in a Levi's advertisement, Julia Ormond is as forgettable as ever, and Anthony Hopkins is so ridiculous that I doubt he mentions that movie on his career resumes.
This film seems to peter out around halfway, turning into a long slog of such beloved TV-styled epic melodrama with all the messy ingredients heaped on as if to fill out wherever the tale might be meandering to, and finally amounting to a heavy-handed overlay of froth and spume.The cast is right: `cute boy' Brad Pitt carries out a decent interpretive role for the first half and degenerates into churning his way through the second half; Anthony Hopkins plays the landed gentleman with British aplomb and conviction, but barely survives the second half, in which, anyway, his part dwindles somewhat; Henry Thomas and Aidan Quinn are both really good, as well as the children who played the parts of the three brothers, though in the second half Aidan Quinn gets lost somewhere along the road to big business and politics but lacking panache and conviction; Julia Ormond is magnificent and reminds us that her birth town is not now only famous for its horse racing.
Both Julia Ormond and Brad Pitt performed excellently in this movie and every other major performers are good because after watching it, you still want still savor and contemplate story.
Legends of the All. For viewers who want their melodramas extra sudsy, with pretty scenery and prettier actors (Aiden Quinn, Julia Ormond, and Henry Thomas), lots of deep looks and angry tears to indicate emotional intensity, and Brad Pitt (long of hair and bulgy of muscle), then Edward Zwick's Legends of the Fall is just your pioneering, family-strifing, soap-operatic, cholesterol-laden period meller!
Suffice it to say that, by the ending credits, you're going to have seen some seriously intense Montana history, watched the principals age better than mere mortals could ever hope to (except ol' Colonel Anthony Hopkins who has a stroke and winds up looking as if he got a shot of Novocaine in his face every morning in the makeup trailer), listened to some major mastication of all that pretty scenery, and probably wondered why your US History class in high school couldn't have been this melodramatic--and R-rated for seriousness, with the occasional foul word, spilled gut, and breast or butt showing.The gals might want to stock up on Kleenex.
Roles of Brad Pitt, Anthony Hopkins and the rest of the cast are very very stupid, the plot is very simple and...
I will watch it every time its on TV, It's a showcase for the greatness of Anthony Hopkins, the sultry appeal of a fresh Brad Pitt, the unusual beauty of Julia Ormond and the often overlooked performances Aidan Quinn.
Even great movies like Gone with the wind, pail in its presence.Saying this movie is corny or story is a cliché' is just like looking at the full moon in a perfect clear summer night sky and not like it just because moon is too old and you've seen too much moon before.!!!!Along with Fight club this is Brad Pitt at his absolute best.
It makes me laugh to think about it, Legends of the fall is a film I've watched more times than I'd care to admit, and still I never mention it as one of the best films I've seen.
I fell a little in love with beautiful Julia Ormond, who sadly has all but vanished from the American movie scene.
There's plenty more than just a H'wood love story, Brad Pitt and emotions.
"Legends of the Fall" harks back to old-time movie-making; we're not asked to analyze or otherwise participate, only to sit back, eat our popcorn and thoroughly enjoy.Brad Pitt, Anthony Hopkins, Julia Ormond and the rest of the cast carry their roles well alongside the Old West backdrop.
A cliched sweeping drama starring Anthony Hopkins and Brad Pitt, Legends of the Fall is a middling affair dampened by its length and disposition to playing with your emotions.
I have never been so much of a Brad Pitt fan then I was in this movie.
I must even mention the quality work developed by Anthony Hopkins (a veteran who shines in the role of the old colonel, as expected) and Brad Pitt, who performs regularly in the role of Tristan, the rebellious son, even if the latter actor cannot survive the wave of sentimentality and have his character transformed into a out-of-time romantic hero, eternally in conflict with the world around him.
At various points over the next several years, Colonel Ludlow's three sons all fall for the same woman, adding friction to a relationship that is tested by war in Europe and subsequent challenges at home.The acting is generally well done with Brad Pitt and Anthony Hopkins in place as the film's main stars.
The majestic score by James Horner was also a key contributor to the film's epic feel.While the movie's grandiose nature may be unappealing to some, I find "Legends of the Fall" to be a welcome throwback to a time when sweeping stories like this were much more prevalent on movie screens.
Similarly, Brad Pitt's performance becomes more convincing.Would have been a pretty good movie if the first 45-60 minutes had been slimmed down and the plot tightened up..
The rest of the cast, while I'm not as familiar with them, were excellent in bringing the story to life.I liked Legends of the Fall, and will undoubtedly watch it again.