Legends of the Fall

Everything About Fiction You Never Wanted to Know.

A 1994 film based on the 1979 novel by Jim Harrison. Directed by Edward Zwick. Starring Anthony Hopkins, Brad Pitt, Aidan Quinn and Julia Ormond. Is a Generational Saga about the lives and loves of the Ludlow clan. John Toll won the award for Best Cinematographer at that year's Oscars.

The film was both a critical and box office hit. It earned $160,638,883 in the worldwide market. With almost 67 million in the United States market, it was its 17th most successful film that year. The creators hoped that it would receive several awards, but it ended up overshadowed by more prominent productions.

Tropes used in Legends of the Fall include:

Alfred: "Damn you, Tristan. You will marry her."
Tristan: "And make an honest woman out of her?"
Alfred: "YESSS!!!"

  • Bishonen: Brad at his prettiest.
  • Break the Cutie: Tristan and Susannah
  • Canucks With Chinooks: The Canadian Expeditionary Force and some of its battles are rather prominently featured.
  • Crapsack World: None of the characters lead particularly happy lives, even when not considering the one who committed suicide out of despair.
  • Death Is Dramatic: Tristan's final encounter with the bear at the end of the film. Also most of the other deaths scattered throughout.
  • Deadly Distant Finale: Tristan is killed by a bear in 1963, after outliving the rest of his loved ones.
  • Disposable Woman: Isabel II doesn't get much screentime until her death. And even the sole purpose of that appears to be to send Tristan off the deep end again
  • Driven to Suicide: Tristan was apparently a bit too harsh when dismissing Susannah.
  • Everything's Worse with Bears: Two battles with bears, one lethal to the sole surviving protagonist.
  • Impaled with Extreme Prejudice: This is how the younger O'Banion brother met his end.
  • Important Haircut: Susannah hacks off her hair prior to committing suicide.
  • The Irish Mob: The O'Banions, the only group of bootleggers prominently depicted, are Irish.
  • Karmic Death: Tristan is killed by the bear he maimed.
  • Love Confession: Alfred confessed his love for Susannah in a rather awkward situation.
  • May-December Romance: Isabel II and Tristan, although it's more May-September. She's young enough to be his little sister rather than his daughter
  • The Mourning After
  • Please Don't Leave Me: As Tristan was leaving the Ludlow Ranch to find himself, Susannah begged him to stay. Despite her best efforts, Tristan was adamant. She responded, "I Will Wait for You. Even if it takes forever."
  • Precocious Crush: Isabel II to Tristan.
  • Removed From the Picture: After Tristan went away for many years without any communication, Alfred managed to marry Susannah after years of unrequited love. When Tristan came back, that was the beginning of Susannah's emotional descent which ended with her being Driven to Suicide.
  • The Roaring Twenties: Part of the Prohibition-related chapters.
  • Sanity Slippage:
    • Tristan pulling a knife on Susannah when he woke up.
    • When Tristan beat the racist bartender with his own billy club after he refused to serve One Stab.
  • Scenery Gorn: Trenches littered with decaying fallen soldiers during World War I.
  • Scenery Porn: From the Ludlow ranch to the African Safari.
  • The Sixties: The final scene takes place in 1963, though you'd never know it.
  • Snow Means Death: They buried Samuel's heart during the winter.
  • Spurned Into Suicide: Susannah.
  • Tragedy: Most of Tristan's loved ones died tragically while he outlived them.
  • Tragic Dream: Susannah wanted to bear Tristan's children when they were still together. Unfortunately for her, Isabel II filled that role. Despite what her letter says regarding her fond wishes for the birth of Tristan's children, she was in reality utterly devastated.
  • Victorious Childhood Friend: Isabel II marries one of the three guys that grew up with her.
  • World War I
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