Legend [1985] dir Ridley Scott (director's cut 2pts)

Legend (1985)


http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0089469/

Legend is a 1985 fantasy film released by 20th Century Fox (in Europe) and Universal Pictures (in the U.S. and Canada), directed by Ridley Scott and starring Tom Cruise, Mia Sara, Tim Curry, Alice Playten, David Bennent and Billy Barty. Though not a very notable success when first released, it has since gained a cult following.

Tom Cruise ... Jack
Mia Sara ... Lili
Tim Curry ... Darkness
David Bennent ... Gump
Alice Playten ... Blix
Billy Barty ... Screwball
Cork Hubbert ... Brown Tom
Peter O'Farrell ... Pox
Kiran Shah ... Blunder
Annabelle Lanyon ... Oona
Robert Picardo ... Meg Mucklebones
Tina Martin ... Nell
Ian Longmur ... Demon Cook
Mike Crane ... Demon Cook
Liz Gilbert ... Dancing Black Dress

The film was written by William Hjortsberg and produced by Arnon Milchan, but the behind-the-scenes story of the making of the film is in itself a legend. The film was shot at Pinewood Studios using the 007 Stage, named after, and used for many James Bond films. Part-way through the filming the stage burned completely to the ground forcing the producers to finish the movie on hastily completed sets. The film then failed in test screenings: test audiences complained about Jerry Goldsmith's score and of how teenage audiences might accept the film.

The film was first released in Europe, cut down to 94 minutes. Both Universal and Scott decided to cut the film drastically for domestic release, from nearly two hours in length to 89 minutes. They also replaced Goldsmith's score with music by Tangerine Dream, Yes leader Jon Anderson, and Bryan Ferry. Scott allowed Goldsmith's score, which he thought was "good", to remain on European prints.

Also, an alternate ending (as eventually used in the 1986 U.S. version) was made in which Gump puts the horn back on the dead unicorn and it came back to life and finally, Jack and Lily run off into the sunset together, with Gump, the Unicorns, and the others waving at them. The final scene shows the Dark Lord laughing in his new domain and he will come again when darkness covers the world.

In 2002, Universal released a 113-minute "director's cut" on DVD restoring previously cut scenes, and the original Goldsmith Score. In creating the director's cut edition, producer Charles de Lauzirika turned to Legend fan and unofficial historian Sean Murphy, who runs the Legend FAQ and Terry Rawlings, the editor of Legend, for help in finding the footage for the Ultimate DVD creation.

Academy Awards, USA
1987 Nominated Oscar Best Makeup Rob Bottin Peter Robb-King

Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror Films, USA
1987 Nominated Saturn Award Best Make-Up Rob Bottin

BAFTA Awards
1986 Nominated BAFTA Film Award Best Costume Design Charles Knode
1986 Nominated BAFTA Film Award Best Make Up Artist Peter Robb-King Rob Bottin
1986 Nominated BAFTA Film Award Best Special Visual Effects Nick Allder Peter Voysey

British Society of Cinematographers
1985 Won Best Cinematography Award Alex Thomson

Young Artist Awards
1987 Nominated Young Artist Award Exceptional Feature Film - Family Entertainment - Fantasy or Comedy
1987 Nominated Young Artist Award Exceptional Performance by a Young Actor, Supporting Role, Feature Film - Comedy, Fantasy or Drama David Bennent