Common Sense Media Review
Tween girls will swoon over this tear-jerker.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 15+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Legends of the Fall
What's the Story?
Set during the early 1900s, LEGENDS OF THE FALL is the epic tale of the three Ludlow brothers, Tristan (Brad Pitt), Alfred (Aidan Quinn), and Samuel (Henry Thomas). Tristan is the wild brother, as opposed to the cultured-but-innocent brother (Samuel) and the savvy-and-ambitious brother Alfred. Growing up, the three were tight, led by their headstrong father, Col. William Ludlow (Anthony Hopkins). But when Samuel returns home from college with his bride-to-be, Susannah, things get complicated, even more so after Samuel is killed in the war. Tristan and Alfred fight over Susannah and later Susannah fights with Tristan's wife, Isabel (Karina Lombard), over Tristan.
Is It Any Good?
Legends of the Fall goes a long way to preserve as many stereotypes about settlers in the Wild West as it can, including Native Americans, and the treatment of women in that era. While Hopkins does a good turn as the firm yet emotionally vulnerable father, the rest of the cast is less than stellar. This goes double for Pitt, though the gratuitous shots of his upper torso that appear throughout the film are what made it a major box office hit.
Best viewed on a big screen TV for its breathtaking Academy-Award winning cinematography (we're not talking about Brad's personal landscape), Legends of the Fall is undoubtedly a chick flick. Though unfortunately, women in this film do not fare very well.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about chick flicks. Who do you think this film was made for? Do you think there is something offensive about the term chick flicks -- or in targeting women with predictable, sentimental movies?
Movie Details
- In theaters : December 16, 1994
- On DVD or streaming : May 15, 1998
- Cast : Aidan Quinn , Anthony Hopkins , Brad Pitt
- Director : Edward Zwick
- Studio : Columbia Tristar
- Genre : Drama
- Run time : 133 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- MPAA explanation : violence, and for some sexuality and language
- Last updated : September 21, 2019
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