Legends of the Fall (1994)

My Review

“Legends of the Fall” attempts to be an epic motion picture about an immigrant family in the American West of the early 1900’s. Instead, this beautifully photographed film disintegrates into cliche movie themes, hollow morality, and excessive melodrama. Credit goes to over-direction by Edward Zwick (“About Last Night…” 1986) and bad screenwriting by Susan Shilliday and William D. Wittliff, adapted from the 1979 novel by Jim Harrison.

The actors did their part by turning in good performances. Anthony Hopkins is fantastic as usual, playing Col. William Ludlow, the Cornish immigrant who moves to Montana with his three sons, portrayed by Brad Pitt, Aidan Quinn, and Henry Thomas. Co-stars include Julia Ormond as Susannah, Kenneth Walsh as the Sheriff, and Bart the Bear as The Bear.

“Legends of the Fall” was nominated for three Academy Awards, including Best Art Direction, Best Sound, and winning for Best Cinematography for John Toll. The breath-taking scenery of British Columbia and Alberta are indeed the outstanding feature of this two-hour plus motion picture, successful at the box office for TriStar Pictures, Bedford Falls Productions, and Sony Pictures Releasing.