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tom cruise and legend

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1985, Fantasy, 1h 29m

What to know

Critics Consensus

Not even Ridley Scott's gorgeously realized set pieces can save Legend from its own tawdry tale -- though it may be serviceable for those simply looking for fantasy eye candy. Read critic reviews

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Legend videos, legend   photos.

Darkness (Tim Curry) seeks to create eternal night by destroying the last of the unicorns. Jack (Tom Cruise) and his friends do everything possible to save the world and Princess Lili (Mia Sara) from the hands of Darkness. Enter a world of unicorns, magic swamps, dwarfs and rainbows.

Genre: Fantasy

Original Language: English

Director: Ridley Scott

Producer: Arnon Milchan

Writer: William Hjortsberg

Release Date (Theaters): Jan 16, 1985  wide

Release Date (Streaming): Dec 3, 2015

Box Office (Gross USA): $12.3M

Runtime: 1h 29m

Distributor: Universal Pictures

Production Co: Universal Pictures, Embassy International Pictures

Sound Mix: Magnetic Stereo 6 Track, Dolby Stereo, Surround

Aspect Ratio: Scope (2.35:1)

Cast & Crew

Princess Lily

David Bennent

Alice Playten

Billy Barty

Ridley Scott

William Hjortsberg

Tim Hampton

Co-Producer

Arnon Milchan

Alex Thomson

Cinematographer

Terry Rawlings

Film Editing

Leslie Dilley

Production Design

Assheton Gorton

Set Decoration

Charles Knode

Costume Design

Special Makeup Effects

Lois Burwell

Makeup Artist

Peter Robb-King

Jane Feinberg

Mike Fenton

Hugh Harlow

Production Supervisor

News & Interviews for Legend

Doug Jones’ Five Favorite Movie Monsters

Critic Reviews for Legend

Audience reviews for legend.

Legend seems to be one of those movies where if you enjoyed it as a kid, you can enjoy it again years later. Even if it is not as good as you remembered, it can still evoke nostalgia and be enjoyable for that reason. For myself, I never saw Legend when growing up but with the name Ridley Scott attached I was hoping for great effects and an adventurous ride. Unfortunately, Legend really is a movie for kids. I got about halfway in and, while I didn't hate it, I realized there was no need to watch the rest. If I had seen it as a kid, I probably would have enjoyed it. It does have imagination and adventure but is also rather silly/campy.

tom cruise and legend

[Director's Cut] More visually interesting than anything else. Befuddling but not boring.

Fantastic sets, costumes and relatively good acting do not make up for the silliness of the plot in this 1980s teen-boy fantasy flick. It's fun to see Cruise breaking into the major Hollywood ranks, be fore the embarrassing couch-jumping incident, but in the end, it's still Cruise and his skin-deep acting. Marginal fun, but this is one Legend that deserves to be forgotten.

I really wanted to like Legend, I really did, & given that I'm such a sucker for fairy tales I had high hopes for this. But what Legend has boasting in beautiful costumes & a phenomenal performance from Tim Curry in quite possibly the most badass looking demon costume ever doesn't make up for its generic fantasy plot & thinly written story. Now, if Scott would have made the movie focus more on Darkness, change the story to something less cliche, & a more interesting set of characters then Legend could have been fantastic. Sadly the storyline drags to a bore, & its characters other than Darkness are completely uninteresting. The story isn't very captivating nor engaging, & is wasted on being generic while also focusing on a horribly executed love interest between two actors with no chemistry. The whole "darkness taking over light" plotline isn't very original at all. Much praise goes to it's costumes & effects, as can be expected from Scott. But Darkness is one amazing costume, character & design overall, & Tim Curry once again proves his genius acting skills by dominating the role. It's very unfortunate that a character like this had very small screen time. I WISH the movie focused a lot more on him than anyone else. It's not a bad movie overall, but it has a lot of noticeable flaws that could have been fixed. If anything I'd LOVE to see Ridley Scott remake this movie with a better story, bring back Tim Curry as Darkness (I really can't think of any other actor that could possibly do better), & more interesting ideas. In fact, it should be darker.

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Tom Cruise in Talks to Star in Alejandro G. Iñárritu’s Film at Warner Bros. and Legendary

By Katcy Stephan

Katcy Stephan

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Tom Cruise, Alejandro Iñárritu

Warner Bros. and Legendary Entertainment are in negotiations for a new film from Alejandro González Iñárritu , with Tom Cruise attached to star. The untitled project would be Iñárritu’s first English-language film since “The Revenant.”

The film will be produced and directed by Iñárritu, with a script he co-wrote in 2023 with “Birdman” co-writers Nicolas Giacobone and Alexander Dinelaris, along with Sabina Berman. Plot details are still under wraps.

This will be Cruise’s first film since signing a deal to develop and produce theatrical films with Warner Bros. Discovery in January. His last project with the studio was “Edge of Tomorrow” a decade ago.

Iñárritu won back-to-back Academy Awards for his direction of “Birdman” in 2015 and “The Revenant” in 2016. He followed up those projects with 2017’s “Flesh and Sand” (“Carne y Arena”), a virtual-reality short giving viewers the perspective of migrants crossing the U.S.-Mexico border with a coyote. The project debuted at the Cannes Film Festival in 2017 and earned a special achievement Oscar in 2018. In 2022, he co-wrote, co-scored, edited, produced and directed “Bardo,” which earned an Oscar nomination for best cinematography.

Cruise and Iñárritu are both represented by CAA.

Deadline was first to report the news.

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Tom Cruise To Star In Alejandro G. Iñárritu’s Next Film At Warner Bros. And Legendary

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Tom Cruise, Alejandro González Iñárritu

EXCLUSIVE: Sources tell Deadline that Warner Bros. and Legendary Entertainment are in negotiations for an untitled Alejandro G. Iñárritu film starring Tom Cruise . The project would mark Iñárritu’s first English-language pic since his 2015 smash The Revenant .

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This project is being treated as top secret, with no plot details available other than it being a new original story written by Iñárritu. What is known is that the Oscar-winning director has been taking meetings with a select few actors in recent weeks, with Cruise being one of the first. The A-list star has been hungry to find that next project and moved quickly to get a meeting with Iñárritu once he was made aware the director was moving forward with his next big studio film. As soon as the meeting finished, Cruise was on board.

The project fits in with what Cruise, Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav and WB studio chiefs Michael De Luca and Pam Abdy had in mind when the movie star signed his strategic partnership last month, specifically something that is both original and meant to be seen on the biggest screens around the world.

The film would mark Inarritu’s first major studio film since directing The Revenant, which not only went on to gross more then $500 million at the worldwide box office but also led to his second straight Best Director Oscar win (and Leonardo DiCaprio’s first win for acting). Iñárritu took a break after an exhausting stretch that also included directing his Best Picture winner Birdman . He had been toying with some ideas in 2019 but ultimately turned his attentions to his passion project Bardo at Netflix and tabled his next big studio pic till now.

Cruise and Iñárritu are repped by CAA.

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Screen Rant

20 crazy details behind the making of legend.

Legend is the 1985 dark, twisted fantasy from the director of Blade Runner, Gladiator, and Alien. It's not your run-of-the-mill fairy tale.

Ridley Scott may have been known for his cult hits back in the '80s, but  Legend   is one film that never reached the heights of  Blade Runner  or  Alien . Despite having its own share of "Director's Cuts" and "Ultimate Editions" like Scott's previous work, the film's fan group was even smaller in number. Much of this came from the movie's undeniable problems and the struggles - from its first draft to its fifteenth.

An ambitious new story taken from Celtic mythology,  Legend  involved a familiar fairy tale story with a young hero, played by Tom Cruise, going to save a princess from the Lord of Darkness, played by the legendary Tim Curry. While the production design and creativity were awe-inspiring, the characters and story felt underdeveloped. The intent may have been there, but it seemed to lack the depth necessary for it to last long after its time.

With that said, it's a small miracle the film actually got made. Plagued by innumerable production problems and creative changes, the final product couldn't help but illustrate that. However, it's an undoubtedly interesting project to investigate.

So many production ideas and instances of studio interference took it away from the original vision. Yet, many of these concepts will never be seen by fans. A mix of test screening reactions and executive decision-making took the project in a different direction that many behind the camera weren’t prepared for. Perhaps they could learn a thing or two from our list.

Here are  20 Crazy Details Behind The Making Of Legend.

Bad test screenings chopped the movie up

tom cruise and legend

Test screenings can be the defining moment for big movies. It'll determine whether a studio has a surefire hit on their hands or if there's something to worry about. As revealed on Legend 's DVD special features, in the case of  Legend 's initial preview screening, things really didn't go as everyone hoped.

Viewers were divided on the film, to say the least.

This test screening ended up being  Legend 's defining moment as the film went through dramatic changes following it. Most prominent among them were the cuts to the runtime, eventually reduced to 89 minutes.

Credited for this decision were a couple of audience members supposedly smelling of illegal substances that expressed their displeasure during the screening. While most may not have minded, Ridley Scott seemed to see their comments as constructive.

There are four different versions of the movie

tom cruise and legend

As previously noted, Legend went through a massive series of edits that resulted in a sharp difference from the project's original form. This led to multiple different versions being created that varied across multiple platforms. In total, there ended up being up to four different versions.

There is the original 94-minute European release, 89-minute theatrical release in America, a 94-minute release on network television, and an eventual Director's Cut that ended up with a 113-minute runtime.

The American version was ultimately the most edited-down. Network TV incorporated an opening title crawl narration and some scenes from the European version.

Besides the Director's Cut (which didn't come out until 2002), the European cut got the most authentic version.

It went through 15 rewrites

tom cruise and legend

Writing a ready-for-filming screenplay is no easy task. Add in a large budget and dueling creative preferences with the studio, and you've got an idea of screenwriter William Hjortsberg's struggle.

Whether it was the lacking amount of source material provided to him or the constant retooling of the film's plot and design, his adaptability was essential.

There were constant reworkings necessary for the script. Decisions made to fix tonal issues, mass marketability, and figuring out how to remove 60 minutes from the runtime without breaking the film were just a few of his tasks.

It was no walk in the park for the writer, but it's clear that he remained hopeful and interested throughout.

Many elements may have been changed, but in his eyes,  Legend 's foundation remained.

Dark deleted scene between Lord of the Darkness and the Princess

tom cruise and legend

A film like  Legend  proved to be somewhat difficult to market, but it could've been much more of a challenge had they stuck with certain creative choices.

When writing the first screenplay draft, there was a scene in which the Lord of Darkness torments the Princess until she loves him. The scene wouldn't have ended there either, as the two would've supposedly had violent relations immediately after.

Although Hjortsberg undoubtedly had reasoning behind this idea, the concept was one of the first things scrapped in the editing bay. He voiced his heavy amount of disappointment, but remained agreeable when some rewrites were requested.

It was originally way darker, and inappropriate for kids

tom cruise and legend

If that entry discussing the initial film's extended torment scene didn't make it clear,  Legend  was planned as a very dark fairy tale. From its chosen screenwriter to the mythology that served as points of inspiration, this did not start as a standard fantasy.

However, 1985 was not the most forgiving time for ambitious creators who needed big budgets to bring their projects to life. You needed some sort of guarantee for the studio that your movie was marketable, and Scott had to make compromises.

He ended up making the compromises because he knew it'd be impossible to make the film without them (especially with the $30 million budget). This meant that grittier tone got toned down rather significantly.

A fourth goblin, Tic, was deleted from all versions

tom cruise and legend

Some may feel that fantasy worlds can never have too many characters. Unfortunately, if a screenwriter can't find a place to put someone, the character ends up either removed or forgotten. This is the treatment that the character of Tic received.

Initially the fourth goblin, Tic was present in the film's script throughout much of production. Yet, when it came time to prep the film for theaters, Tic found himself cut from the movie.

The script had nothing for him to do, leading to this choice.

However, once the Director's Cut was released, Tic got some time in the spotlight. He can be spotted in the alternate opening footage on the  Legend  DVD, chumming it up with his fellow goblins.

All of Gump's lines were dubbed

tom cruise and legend

When watching any of Gump's scenes, there's always something off -- just enough of a delay between his lips moving and his dialogue to keep you distracted. Was he dubbed? Yes, yes he was.

As confirmed by screenwriter William Hjortsberg, David Brennent -- who played Jack's sidekick Honeythorn Gump -- had his lines completely dubbed over by Alice Payten-- the actress who played the evil goblin, Blix.

The studio thought that Bennent's accent was too heavy for English-speaking audiences to understand.

Bennent went on to a long career, performing primarily in his native language in Germany.

They didnt want little people to play the goblins

tom cruise and legend

While a staple of fantasy films, it's no easy task casting appropriate actors for roles like goblins and dwarves. It's hard enough finding suitable actors for any big movie, but once you narrow down the search to characters of certain shapes and sizes, difficulties increase.

This problem led VFX legend Richard Edlund to consider filming on 70mm film to get out of the requirement of casting little people for size-appropriate roles.

Shooting that way would allow for easier framing so editors could make cast members simply "look" like they're dwarf-sized. Edlund's previous work with other "miniature" characters ( Star Wars ’ Ewoks) likely served as motivation behind this ditched idea.

Blade Runner's Unicorn connection

A unicorn appears in a dream from Blade Runner

A great excerpt from the book  Legend Making  was Hjortsberg's discussion on how the film was pitched to him by Ridley Scott.

Scott was still busy with  Blade Runner , so he still had unicorns on the mind.

Scott told the writer that he wanted to tell a story involving unicorns, "the fastest steed on Earth," in some way.

This led to Hjortsberg describing a story involving a princess in love with a commoner. The princess would sneak out of the castle so the two could meet up and interact with some unicorns, leading to the inciting incident. He described it almost exactly the same as the film version. Scott loved what he was hearing, which then led to Hjortsberg being sent home to write the script.

The writer's only reference for the script was Faeries

tom cruise and legend

When drawing up a somewhat original fantasy story, it's important to have a strong foundation to draw from. And while Ridley Scott definitely had a vision, William Hjortsberg was largely on his own when drafting up a script. Before he was to begin writing, Scott pointed to a picture book called  Faeries  by Brian Froud and Alan Lee.

This is where Hjortsberg developed the foundation of the script as he got a mentality on the world he was to help develop, along with some minor character ideas.

As Hjortsberg explained to Figment Fly , the paintings and art of the Celtic mythical creatures known as faeries influenced the world of Legend.

Ridley Scott "Disney-fied" the movie

tom cruise and legend

Creative compromises with production studios are a necessary evil of filmmaking. After all, the studio wants to ensure that whatever project they're supporting can make money, and the filmmaker sometimes must make tough choices to ensure success.

Since this was nowhere near a typical fantasy film, the studio had a simple idea: make it more like Disney.

Disney had been a powerhouse for years upon years, so it was difficult not to agree with the choice to draw closer to their framework. As revealed to Cinefantastique , this led to a lighter tone, more simplified story, and story reworkings that made everything feel much more familiar. Creatively, it hurt the film in the long run.

Yet, when you think about Scott's position, was there anything else he could've done?

The electronic youth score

tom cruise and legend

The story of Jerry Goldsmith's time working on  Legend  is so dense that it requires two entries, starting with what led to his replacement. Goldsmith was the original composer for the film, providing a suitably fantastical and romance-inspired score. For those who listen to it, it's another strong product from the prolific composer.

According to Universal executive Sidney Sheinberg in Jack Mathew’s book The Battle of Brazil , initial reactions from the preview audience were negative, with some singling out Goldsmith's score.

Many changes were made to the overall product because of this, like bringing in electronic band Tangerine Dream to help the movie be more youth-friendly. Goldsmith was then left in the dust, along with his original score.

There are two different soundtracks for the movie

tom cruise and legend

Thankfully, even though Goldsmith did get unceremoniously replaced, that doesn't mean all of his work was for nothing.

Sure, American audiences had Tangerine Dream's synth-heavy underscore for the theatrical cut of  Legend , but European audiences got to experience Goldsmith's score with theater speakers.

Yes, the European cut of the movie came with the original score attached, allowing the movie to play out similarly to its original test version. It's not quite the same, but at least something closer to what Ridley Scott originally envisioned. It's up to audiences to determine which score is better suited, but at least Goldsmith's hard work was still able to be appreciated.

Ridley Scott approved of all the major changes from the studio

tom cruise and legend

Moviegoers today are often extremely worried whenever they feel a director's vision has been diluted by executives. Viewers want to ensure that they're getting the definitive edition of whatever film they're watching.

Legend  seems like a great example of this, as the film was influenced heavily by its studio.

None of the film’s major additions/removals were implemented without director Ridley Scott's approval.

Each new idea went through Scott and he approved them.

As Scott has made clear in the past, he sees his relationship with production studios as a partnership rather than an obligation. In addition, his confidence in the product was shaken following the poor test screenings, so he was game to change, so long as they could potentially lead to success.

Style over substance

tom cruise and legend

Considering the somewhat "light" source material given to Hjortsberg, it makes sense that there wasn't really much for him to work with. He had to create a lot from very little as he looked at a picture book for potential lore. Without the substance to back up the material's visuals, it stands to reason that you work with what you've got.

This approach spilled into bits of the film, as certain elements feel chosen based on aesthetic rather than depth. Visuals can be as stunning as you'd like, but there's only so much to them when there's nothing below the surface.

Storyboards for the film totaled 411 pages

tom cruise and legend

Any fantasy project surely has an endless amount of concept art and storyboards used throughout the creative process. Thoroughly-designed worlds and inhabitants that help the world itself feel authentic.

Legend may have suffered from shallow source material, but its creative team did not lack ideas.

According to production designer Assheton Gorton, the number of storyboards maxed out at 411.

It's an unsurprising number, given how much of this movie felt dedicated to ensuring there were no moments of "fakeness" on screen, but still notable. It shows that for those who feel the movie lacked depth, it doesn't mean it lacked effort.

One writer did all the rewrites

tom cruise and legend

Inconsistent vision across numerous creatives can be a rather frustrating thing to experience. Whenever it feels like a different person wrote a specific section following the last, it can really hurt a film's immersion.

Even though Legend suffered from many production problems, they always had their trusty screenwriter around.

William Hjortsberg maintained his position as head of writing duties throughout production. This includes every rewrite, addition, and restructuring. It also includes the opening title scroll, which was a creative choice he voiced his displeasure for.

The only time Hjortsberg had his job done for him was when Ridley Scott and then-President of Universal Studios, Sidney Sheinberg, made final preparations for the movie to be theater-ready (according to The Ridley Scott Encyclopedia).

20th Century Fox's one specific fix to Legend's first draft

tom cruise and legend

Regarding the deleted torment scene -- it's difficult to think of it ever being approved in any fantasy project decades before  Game of Thrones . If you think execs had strong reactions to it, you're absolutely right.

When pitching the film, Fox executive Marcia Nassiter specifically voiced one fix: "You can't have the villain [get with] the princess."

Discussed in William Hjortsberg's book  Legend Making , that component of the film was always a hard sell. Following this response, the film went through years of continuous rewrites with Hjortsberg and Scott working together extensively to get the project right.

The Psycho II Cue

tom cruise and legend

Jerry Goldsmith's time working on  Legend  was a bundle of misfortune.   He gets replaced late in the creative process, almost gets the only copy of his score misplaced/ruined because of studio negligence, and ruins his working relationship with Ridley Scott.

Then there's the fact that American audiences never got to experience his score in theaters. Yet, that statement isn't entirely true. American audiences did get to experience Goldsmith's work in  Legend , it just was for a different movie.

Temp music from Psycho II is used in Legend. 

For American audiences, it's the only time they get to hear Goldsmith's work during the theatrical cut. It's sad, but at least his work could finally be appreciated once the Director's Cut was released.

Ridley Scott still maintains his pride in the film

tom cruise and legend

You'd think that following all the divisive reactions and the chaotic production process, Ridley Scott would feel some bitterness or negativity towards  Legend .

It represented another box office flop for him during a not-so-successful time in his career and likely caused much more than a couple headaches. However, if his commentary on the Director's Cut is anything to go by, he's still proud of it.

Listening to him speak fondly of the film and its specific components confirms the admiration he has for this project. It's likely not his proudest achievement, by a long shot, but it certainly wasn't a project he regretted taking on.

Do you have any trivia to share about Legend ? Let us know in the comments!

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Legend

Where to watch

1985 Directed by Ridley Scott

There may never be another dawn.

Set in a timeless mythical forest inhabited by fairies, goblins, unicorns and mortals, this fantastic story follows a mystical forest dweller, chosen by fate, to undertake a heroic quest. He must save the beautiful Princess Lili and defeat the demonic Lord of Darkness, or the world will be plunged into a never-ending ice age.

Tom Cruise Mia Sara Tim Curry David Bennent Alice Playten Billy Barty Cork Hubbert Peter O'Farrell Kiran Shah Annabelle Lanyon Robert Picardo Tina Martin Ian Longmur Michael Crane Liz Gilbert Eddie Powell Mike Edmonds

Director Director

Ridley Scott

Assistant Directors Asst. Directors

Garth Thomas Bill Westley

Producers Producers

Arnon Milchan Tim Hampton

Executive Producer Exec. Producer

Joseph P. Grace

Writer Writer

William Hjortsberg

Casting Casting

Jane Feinberg Mike Fenton Marci Liroff Donna Isaacson Jeremy Zimmermann Noel Davis

Editor Editor

Terry Rawlings

Cinematography Cinematography

Alex Thomson

Production Design Production Design

Assheton Gorton

Art Direction Art Direction

Jim Morahan Leslie Dilley John Fenner Norman Dorme

Set Decoration Set Decoration

Stunts stunts.

Vic Armstrong Eddie Powell Paul Grant

Choreography Choreography

Arlene Phillips

Composers Composers

Jerry Goldsmith Christopher Franke Edgar Froese Johannes Schmölling

Sound Sound

Roy Charman Chris Greenham

Costume Design Costume Design

Charles Knode

Makeup Makeup

Nick Dudman Peter Robb-King Linda DeVetta Rob Bottin Lois Burwell Pauline Heys Jane Royle

Hairstyling Hairstyling

Eithné Fennel Betty Glasow Barbara Ritchie Joan White

Embassy International Pictures Legend Production Company Universal Pictures 20th Century Fox

Primary Language

Spoken languages.

English Italian

Releases by Date

28 aug 1985, 04 oct 1985, 07 nov 1985, 21 nov 1985, 13 dec 1985, 02 jan 1986, 20 feb 1986, 18 apr 1986, 01 jan 2013, 01 jun 1991, 03 apr 2002, 21 may 2002, 25 jan 2006, 31 may 2011, 01 feb 2012, 29 feb 2012, 11 oct 2016, 14 sep 2008, releases by country.

  • Theatrical PG
  • Theatrical L
  • Theatrical U
  • Theatrical 12
  • Theatrical G

Netherlands

  • Physical 12 DVD
  • Physical 12 Blu-ray
  • Theatrical 11
  • Physical 11 DVD
  • Physical 11 Blu-ray
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Popular reviews

matt lynch

Review by matt lynch ★★★½ 1

yeah i know but just look at it.

Joe

Review by Joe ★★★½ 7

Why did Tom Cruise grab the armored top but not the pants?

Ian West

Review by Ian West ★★★★½ 31

A link to the past.

Very strong chance that this may be the most visually appealing movie as far as my tastes go—beautiful on all fronts with lush scenery, hypnotic visual atmos soundwaved with euphoric tones courtesy of Tangerine Dream, the best goblins and melty faced creatures I’ve ever seen, and the single scariest image from my youth that I would eventually become obsessed with—Darkness.

A friend recently said that this will probably be the best Legend of Zelda movie that we’ll ever get and I’m inclined to agree. Hits all the beats I look for in a movie like this without being 4 hours long which almost gives the the vapors as much as that TD score. I was…

sarah squirm

Review by sarah squirm ★★★★★ 3

don’t show me a movie unless it looks like this and is scored by tangerine dream with a credits song by BRYAN FERRY !?!

this is what we call a GLITTER MOVIE!!!!

George Carmi

Review by George Carmi ★★½ 5

Not quite my tempo, but I'll be damned if I didn't at least admit it was fun to look at.

Tears_in_Rain

Review by Tears_in_Rain ★★★★★ 50

Anyone who has more than a passing familiarity with my reviews, should be aware of the fact that I don't believe in objective film analysis. My reviews and ratings are an expression of my subjective feelings on a film at that particular moment in time. But, even if I did review films objectively, this is one of those films where I would find such a task impossible. This was one of those defining films for me. As with Alien and Blade Runner , there's just something about the aesthetic of Ridley Scott's early output that resonated with me in my formative years. It's one of those films I can watch endlessly and, every time I do, for 89 minutes, I feel…

Jordan Beaumont Anderson

Review by Jordan Beaumont Anderson ★★★½ 2

What else do you people want? This fucking thing has:

- Tim Curry wrapped in a thousand pounds of sexy latex. - Tom Cruise hugging a fox. - A Tangerine Dream score played with one elbow. - Lengthy unicorn pornography. - "I could eat her brains like jam." - Tom Cruise wearing a scale mail dress. - There's a fucking character named Honeythorn Gump. - Mia Sara, nailing her performance and still being the second prettiest. - A swamp witch played by Robert "Innerspace Cowboy" Picardo. - Tom Cruise squatting. A lot. - Billy Barty, being a goddamn delight. - A sex dungeon made by Disney. - An entire sequence devoted to throwing enormous frisbees. - The plot of at least three D&D campaigns I've played. - A way cooler fairy than that Julia Roberts Hook garbage.

FilmApe

Review by FilmApe ★★★★ 6

There are whale noises playing over slow-mo shots of unicorns in a forest...how could this be any less than a four star movie?

comrade_yui

Review by comrade_yui ★★★★★ 7

a rare ornate gem of a film, easily among the best of ridley scott's work, back when his visuals were lush & overwhelming in detail instead of stringent and aseptic. legend coasts along on intuitive ethereal vibes, a tactile set-bound fantasia of slime-slick goblins, capricious fairy glamour and deliriously fervid colors, all sweetly wrapped within the buttery-smooth synths of tangerine dream's perfect score. the kind of movie where no one wears pants and tom cruise's face is constantly smothered in a thick sheen of glitter. a pure sensory experience.

Rafael "Parker!!" Jovine

Review by Rafael "Parker!!" Jovine ★★★½ 11

Action!: The Scott Brothers – How To Get Screwed By Spielberg Twice W/ Ridley Scott

The movie that feels like a slap in the face and a “fuck you” to everyone who told Ridley he shouldn't use the unicorn in Blade Runner.

After having this movie on Prime for almost a year now, and hearing about the movie for quite some time, I finally decided to watch this somewhat bizarre fantasy movie that followed the iconic "Blade Runner". In a sense, it feels like a radical departure from the film noir, but then you realize that's not entirely the case. The film's cinematography and camera work share a lot in common with his previous project. With his display of creativity…

Patrick Pryor

Review by Patrick Pryor ★★★★★ 6

The best drippy goblin I've ever seen in my life. More fantasy movies with gross drippy goblins and nightmare facial prostheses and elaborate lush otherworld sets and Tangerine Dream synth scores, please.

CinemaJoe

Review by CinemaJoe ★★★ 2

Compared to its 80s peers,  Legend may not have the grandiose lore or any exciting action set pieces— in fact, as far as fables go, it’s fairly derivative. But it does have 2 things going for it that make it worth watching:

- Tim Curry as Darkness - immaculate production design and visuals

A rare example where Tom Cruise is maybe the least good thing about the picture.

As a kid I preferred The Neverending Story. As an adult, I still prefer The Neverending Story. 

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Beautiful, interesting, incredible cinema.

Legend

In a fantastical forest, the pure-hearted Jack takes Princess Lili to watch the unicorns. But the Lord of Darkness captures the Princess and the unicorns, plunging the world into everlasting night. Jack must descend into the devilish creature’s underground lair to save the kingdom and his true love.

Three years after his iconic Blade Runner , prolific British filmmaker Ridley Scott directed this high-budget, special-effects extravaganza starring acting duo Tom Cruise and Mia Sara. A cherished cult movie, Legend is a gorgeously designed adventure into the most fantastical of universes.

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Recent movies have created sort of a generic fantasy universe of Muppets and swamps, strange beasts and evil tyrants, damsels and heroic lads, and ancient prophecies and mythical legends. It's a world inspired by ingredients from "Lord of the Rings," the "Star Wars" movies, Dungeons and Dragons gamesmanship, tales of King Arthur and the latest gimmicks from the special-effects people.

In a movie that works, these ingredients can be exciting and delightful. "Legend" does not work.

The movie is a British big-budget, special-effects extravaganza by Ridley Scott , the director of " Alien ." It tells of a time long, long ago, when unicorns roam the Earth and the powers of light and darkness are at war. An evil prince named Darkness lives in caverns far beneath the Earth, scheming to blot the sun out of the lives of all the planet's creatures and to rule the gloom forever.

Earth itself is a sylvan place, filled with flowers and little glades and grassy clearings - but also with dread swamps and moldy fens. Young lovers can kiss for an afternoon in a bath of sunshine, but fearsome storms come up suddenly and lash the land with their fury. A race of evil little druids lives in the woods, and they spread mischief wherever they venture. Their favorite pastime is frightening the unicorns.

Into this setting come our heroes, Jack and Lili. Jack ( Tom Cruise ) is a hero whose mission in life is to vanquish Darkness and allow the sun to prevail. Lili ( Mia Sara ) is the young woman he meets and falls in love with, but she is lured into the underworld and seduced by an exotic priestess into seemingly becoming evil. Will Jack save Lili and defeat Darkness? Or will the movie end unhappily? Can we vote more than once? Let it be said that "Legend" is an impressive technical achievement. Scott is a perfectionist who takes infinite pains to make things look right.

The problem is, the world of "Legend" is itself wrong for this material. To some degree, this is a fairy tale, and it needs a certain lightness of tone, a plucky cheerfulness, to work. Like many recent sword and sorcery movies, it is so effective in rendering evil, so good at depicting the dire, bleak fates facing the heroes, that it's too dreary and gloomy for its own good.

Performances tend to get lost in productions like this. I particularly noticed how easily Cruise got buried in the role of Jack.

Here is the talented young actor from " Risky Business ," where he came across as a genuine individual, and this time he's so overwhelmed by sets and special effects that his character could be played by anybody.

Tim Curry , from " The Rocky Horror Picture Show ," makes an effective Darkness; I liked his style. But, once again, the makeup people have done such a good job with his blazing eyes and gigantic horns that, in a way, almost any actor could be lurking inside there (only Curry's sensuous lips give him away).

Despite all its sound and fury, "Legend" is a movie I didn't care very much about. All of the special effects in the world, and all of the great makeup, and all of the great Muppet creatures can't save a movie that has no clear idea of its own mission and no joy in its own accomplishment.

Roger Ebert

Roger Ebert

Roger Ebert was the film critic of the Chicago Sun-Times from 1967 until his death in 2013. In 1975, he won the Pulitzer Prize for distinguished criticism.

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Film credits.

Legend movie poster

Legend (1986)

Tom Cruise as Jack

Mia Sara as Lili

Tim Curry as Darkness

David Bennent as Gump

Alice Playten as Blix

Billy Barty as Screwball

Directed by

  • Ridley Scott

Produced by

  • Arnon Milchan

Screenplay by

  • William Hjortsberg

Photographed by

  • Alex Thomson
  • Tangerine Dream
  • Terry Rawlings

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Tim Curry Didn't Know What He Was Getting Into When He Agreed To Legend

Tim Curry in Legend

Ridley Scott's "Legend" might be the closest thing we've gotten to a "Legend of Zelda" movie so far. The film came out in 1985, just a year before Nintendo's beloved fantasy-adventure video game series was created. Even so, the parallels between the two are hard to miss. Tom Cruise stars in "Legend" as Jack, a hero who has long hair and wears a green tunic. There's also a princess in the movie (" Ferris Bueller's Day Off " star Mia Sara in her screen debut) who gets kidnapped by a tall, demonic figure bent on ruling their magical homeland. See what I mean?

A critical and box office failure upon its theatrical release, "Legend" has gone on to amass a cult following. Similar to "Blade Runner," this was partly the result of a director's cut being released on DVD in 2002, with over 20 minutes of added footage and the original score by Jerry Goldsmith restored. But more than its fantastic sets and creature designs (this is a Ridley Scott film, after all), there is one aspect that everyone seems to remember above all else in the movie. 

That would be Tim Curry as the Lord of Darkness, a devilish being who — along with David Bowie's goblin king Jareth in "Labyrinth" — is responsible for many a young fantasy fan's sexual awakening. Unlike Bowie, however, Curry had to don layers of makeup, prosthetics, and more to bring his sinister, seductive fantasy villain to life. What he didn't know was that he would end up spending as many as eight hours a day in the makeup chair during filming, with everything from his eyes to his teeth and his entire face covered.

Big horns and long legs

According to Monsters of Makeup , Curry has already signed on for "Legend" before the design for the Lord of Darkness had been finalized. Much to his concern, he found that with each new piece of concept art, more and more of his actual face was being covered over to play the character. His attempts to avoid wearing contact lenses didn't pan out, either. When all was said and done, the Lord of Darkness was devoid of any distinctly human features, from his "cat-like orbs" to his "faun-like ears" (as the outlet described them).

The process of applying Curry's makeup and costume took eight hours a day at first, although the film's artists shaved it down to a "mere" five-and-a-half hours after a while. Of course, it wasn't just his face they were altering. His hands were also fitted with devilish nails and skin, with three-foot-long fiberglass horns strapped to the top of his head. The horns were initially too heavy and had to be reduced so as to avoid straining Curry's back. In their final form, Scott found it "weird" and "disarming" how light they actually were.

Where Curry was his regular height playing the monstrous Pennywise the Dancing Clown in the "IT" mini-series , his role in "Legend" further saw the actor wear 18-inch stilts to create the Lord of Darkness' hoofed feet. Between his stilts, horns, and his own height, it's likely Curry stood over 10 feet tall while playing the character. That's almost two Tom Cruises stacked on each other's shoulders.

Does the man or the makeup make the monster?

Curry's "Legend" getup (which, on top of everything else, includes what seems to be dark lipstick and fake fangs) was just as difficult to remove as it was to put on. Every day, after filming was finished, Curry would have to sit in a bath for an hour just to remove all the adhesives that had been applied to him face and body. He couldn't remove the makeup by force, either, as he learned the hard way after losing patience one day and trying to rip the material off, tearing up his skin in the process. Scott spent a week shooting around Curry to "calm him down" after.

In his review of "Legend," Roger Ebert praised Curry, writing that he "makes an effective Darkness; I liked his style." But Ebert also felt the actor's makeup was a little too potent, arguing, "almost any actor could be lurking inside there (only Curry's sensuous lips give him away)." I would counter that it's Curry's luscious voice and line delivery that really makes the character come alive. All the prosthetics in the world can't compare to the alluring sound of Dr. Frank-N-Furter crooning, "My dream is of eternity with you."

tom cruise and legend

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Legend Standard Theatrical Cut + Director's Cut

Product Description

  • Feature Commentary With Director Ridley Scott
  • Lost Scenes
  • Bryan Ferry "Is Your Love Strong Enough" Music Video
  • Photo Galleries

Product details

  • Aspect Ratio ‏ : ‎ 2.35:1
  • Is Discontinued By Manufacturer ‏ : ‎ No
  • MPAA rating ‏ : ‎ NR (Not Rated)
  • Product Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 7.6 x 5.5 x 0.6 inches; 3.2 ounces
  • Item model number ‏ : ‎ 42927968
  • Director ‏ : ‎ Ridley Scott
  • Media Format ‏ : ‎ Color, Subtitled, Widescreen, NTSC
  • Run time ‏ : ‎ 1 hour and 54 minutes
  • Release date ‏ : ‎ October 11, 2016
  • Actors ‏ : ‎ Tom Cruise, Mia Sara, Tim Curry, David Bennent, Alice Playten
  • Subtitles: ‏ : ‎ Spanish, French
  • Producers ‏ : ‎ Arnon Milchan
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English (Dolby Digital 5.1), English (DTS 5.1), English (Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo)
  • Studio ‏ : ‎ Universal Pictures Home Entertainment
  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B01K4EU7SQ
  • Writers ‏ : ‎ William Hjortsberg
  • Number of discs ‏ : ‎ 1
  • #5,338 in Mystery & Thrillers (Movies & TV)
  • #9,890 in Action & Adventure DVDs

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Legend (1985)

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Tim Curry as the Lord of Darkness in Legend

Why I'd like to be … Tim Curry in Legend

Anyone who grew up in the late 1980s and early 90s is bound to have some questionable role models. Elder generations should just be pleased there aren't a host of twentysomethings looking like this, or this . Films of that era offered an impressionable child nothing better than a series of cookie-cutter, clean-cut American teens to aspire to – still aping Luke rather than the far more desirable Han. So it should be no surprise that I was drawn to Tim Curry's scenery-chewing, gloriously designed turn as the Lord of Darkness, in Ridley Scott 's failed epic (or should that be epic failure) Legend.

Thinking about it now, it makes perfect sense – the natural end point to a series of man-crushes on a progressively more insidious stream of ersatz male mentors. Perhaps it all began with Terence Stamp – and the endless TV reruns of Superman 2. As a youngster I'm sure it's the hero with the kiss curl you're supposed to imitate, but I was more concerned with instructing unimpressed classmates to kneel before Zod.

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Stamp's carefully crafted facial hair, costume cut to the waist and of course the cut-glass English accent were the perfect counterpoint to the blandest of all-American superheroes.

As I approached my teenage years, it was Kiefer Sutherland and his succession of snarling, sneery performances that captivated. It all came to an end with A Few Good Men, by which point he was too old for the act to look anything other than petulant – and so he duly retired to obscurity until Jack Bauer was born . But he was at his best as the mysteriously enticing David in Lost Boys.

Everyone else may have wanted to join the two Coreys as one of the Frog brothers – but I wanted nothing more than to follow Kiefer into eternal life. While I may never have been tempted to copy the haircut so expertly modelled by him and his crew in the film (the admiration in which Lost Boys is held may explain the mullet's brief revival a few years ago), it certainly provides the answer as to why I have a fascination with Chinese takeaways served in those American-style paper boxes.

As teenagehood really caught hold, it was an all-black uniform and a futile attempt to embody Christian Slater as JD in Heathers. Channelling a young Jack Nicholson – and who wouldn't want to be a young Jack? – Slater was effortlessly cool, with a stream of quotable lines. He nailed the agony of school life while seemingly coasting along unaffected by its horrors. School is tortuous for most in some way or other – and Slater is able to enact our revenge fantasy on the jocks and cheerleaders of the typical American high school, so alien yet so familiar to a Brit. Of course, he's horribly self-absorbed, as only someone in the midst of puberty can be. Masterminding a string of murders and a high-school bomb plot that would never see the light of a projector post-Columbine, he attempts to prove the point that "the only place different social types can genuinely get along with each other is in heaven". In retrospect, a quick look at Thatcher's Britain proved the point far more effectively.

Slater's style of nihilism is a little too naive to stick with in adulthood – a perfect snapshot of a particular time in life. Tim Curry , on the other hand, is for ever. If all the other performances above have an element of camp, none can match the master. A recognisable face from Rocky Horror, it's his voice, and his laugh, that leap out at you from beneath the makeup in Legend. If I was supposed to empathise with a pre-dental work Tom Cruise as Jack, or the insipidly stupid Princess Lili (Mia Sara), then the screenwriters might perhaps want to look at the shout-at-your-screen dumb decisions they force on the characters to get the plot moving.

Instead, it's the deep, at first unseen, voice of Curry that lifts the film – dragging you along until he's revealed in all his bright-red, horny glory. Presumably we're supposed to be rooting for Jack and Lili, and the return of summer to the ludicrous, fairytale middle ages – but I've always rather liked the snow, and frankly those two deserved what was coming to them. When the film reaches its denouement, Curry is in full flow – and he's irresistible. Not only has Lili gone from the above to the below under his stewardship (a definite improvement) but he's a huge, red, demon thing! With hooves! And giant black horns!

And anyway, he may start out with the aim of wreaking havoc on the world, but by film's end all he really wants is love and companionship – what could be more admirable than that? While the film's heroes remain unchanged by events, a boringly perfect, all-white couple, Darkness shifts from his selfish, destructive appetites to a desire to love and be loved. He's the ultimate role model of how our wants shift as we mature. And did I mention he's a bloody massive horny red devil? I suppose I should have grown up by now – but if you ask me it still doesn't get any cooler than that.

Curry would go on to countless other film roles – including another iconic turn as Pennywise in It – but in Legend he was at his best, shaping the imagination of a young, impressionable Londoner into something twisted – a heart "black and full of hate" – waiting to be enraptured by my very own Lili, and teaching me that while blowing everything up may seem cool when you're young, it's your relationships with other people that really matter in the end.

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NEWS... BUT NOT AS YOU KNOW IT

Tom Cruise, 61, ‘splits’ from Elsina Khayrova, 36, days after meeting her kids

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Tom Cruise

Tom Cruise has split from Elsina Khayrova after a whirlwind romance, it has been claimed.

The Top Gun actor, 61, was first linked to the Russian socialite, 36 , at the end of 2023 – with the pair seen getting very close on a dance floor in December.

They have since enjoyed some very swanky date nights around London , and were both in attendance at a gala for the Air Ambulance Charity, but had never made their romance public.

However, just days after the action icon reportedly met Elsina’s children , they are thought to have gone their separate ways.

According to an insider, there are ‘no hard feelings’ between the former lovebirds, who happen to live in the same building.

‘To end things on a bad note would’ve been awkward if they bumped into each other in the lift,’ they told the Sun .

Tom Cruise's girlfriend Elsina Khayrova

‘There are no hard feelings between them and, for Tom, their relationship simply ran its course.’

Neither have yet to address the speculation publicly.

This may come as a surprise to some as Tom was said to be thinking about his ‘long term’ future with Elsina, the daughter of Russian MP Rinat Khayrov, before claims emerged of their split surfaced.

‘They’re very happy,’ a source previously told Us Weekly. ‘And Tom’s extremely confident about it working out for the long term.

Tom Cruise

‘They’ve hung out at Tom’s favorite private members club and regularly enjoy afternoon tea and gourmet dinners out in London.

‘He wanted to take his time and not rush into any relationships just for the sake of it.’

‘What started as a basic friendship quickly turned into something more special.’

‘Tom is going into 2024 totally energized, excited and feeling healthier and happier than he has in years,’ they added. ‘This is a very special time for him, and having a serious relationship in his life that he can build on is the icing on the cake.’

Russian socialite Elsina Khayrova

As their bond made headlines, Tom also received a warning from Elsina’s ex-husband, multi-millionaire diamond and mining tycoon Dmitry Tsvetkov – who she shares two children with – of her ‘expensive taste’.

‘Irrespective of whoever she’s with, Tom Cruise or anybody else, they should be aware that she likes the finer things in life and has expensive and luxurious taste. Tom should keep his eyes and wallet wide open,’ the oligarch told the Daily Mail, before insisting that he wished his ex ‘all the best’.

Metro.co.uk has contacted Tom’s reps for a comment.

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Francis Ford Coppola shares the story behind discovering then-unknown actor Tom Cruise and the other stars of The Outsiders.

The Godfather trilogy director Francis Ford Coppola reveals the casting process that he used to discover Tom Cruise , Rob Lowe , Patrick Swayze and other stars in his film The Outsiders .

Francis Ford Coppola recently took to Instagram to reminisce about the distinctive casting journey for his 1983 film, The Outsiders . Based on S.E. Hinton's 1963 novel, the movie is renowned for catapulting the careers of its young stars , including Tom Cruise, Matt Dillon, Ralph Macchio, Diane Lane, C. Thomas Howell, and Emilio Estevez. Coppola shared audition tapes from this iconic casting process, offering a glimpse into the beginnings of these now-famous actors' careers.

Rob Lowe and Tom Cruise in The Outsiders

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Coppola stated, “ We had all the actors together on a soundstage and would alternate different actors reading for different roles ." The process is reflected in the accompanying footage of Coppola’s post, where various actors read lines from characters they did not play. At one point, the clips include several different performances of the line, “Hop the 3:15 freight to Windrixvill." Coppola said, " It was interesting because each of them was watching their competition , so while it could’ve been a volatile situation, it turned into a very positive one . There emerged the natural respect and sense of colleagueship among them. The result worked beautifully and reminded me of my days as a camp counselor.”

What Is The Outsiders About?

Coppola’s film tells the story of rival teen gangs in rural Oklahoma: the poor Greasers against the wealthy Socs. Francis Ford Coppola hadn't initially considered delving into the world of teen gangs on screen until he received a heartfelt letter from Jo Ellen Misakian a school librarian at Lone Star Elementary School in Fresno in California. Representing her seventh and eighth-grade students, Misakian penned a persuasive plea urging Coppola to adapt S.E. Hinton's novel, The Outsiders , into a film.

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Misakian's letter conveyed her students' profound admiration for the book, stressing its profound impact on them. They passionately advocated for the story's adaptation onto the big screen, nominating Coppola as their preferred director. The letter was accompanied by approximately 15 pages adorned with children's signatures.

Moved by the earnestness of the students' petition, Coppola eventually read The Outsiders . Coppola found himself drawn to the intricate relationships among the greaser kids. These portrayals evoked nostalgic memories of Coppola's own experiences as a drama counselor during his youth, especially his time working with children at a summer camp.

Following its release, The Outsiders garnered predominantly positive reviews from critics, earning praise for its performances. Despite initial doubts, the film struck a chord with audiences and proved to be a commercial success, grossing $33.7 million against its modest $10 million budget. Over time, The Outsiders has cultivated a dedicated cult following.

Meanwhile, Tom Cruise remains at the top of the A-list, currently working on the upcoming sequel Mission: Impossible 8 .

Source: Francis Ford Coppola

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COMMENTS

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  3. Legendary Facts That You Probably Never Knew About Legend

    Tom Cruise, Mia Sara and Nell actress Tina Martin were probably the luckiest actors on the set of Legend, in that they were the only ones allowed to appear on camera without extensive prosthetic makeup. Otherwise, pretty much every other performer in the film had to undergo a lengthy makeup application for every day they were on set, some of ...

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  5. Legend (1985)

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    Legend. When the Lord of Darkness (Tim Curry) seeks to plunge the world into eternal night, he sets out to kill unicorns, guardians of the light. A young man (Tom Cruise) and his band of friends set out to protect the magical creatures and thwart Darkness' plan. 15,387 IMDb 6.3 1 h 29 min 2020. X-Ray PG.

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  14. ‎Legend (1985) directed by Ridley Scott • Reviews, film

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  16. Legend: Why the Tom Cruise and Tim Curry Film Is Still Worth the ...

    Legend (1985) is an overlooked yet epic dark-fantasy film that stars two unlikely legends: Tom Cruise and Tim Curry.Ridley Scott directs the film, and many of the scenes contain clear inspiration from his other popular franchise, Alien. Legend also didn't receive commercial success during its initial release, but it is a cult classic, especially after the unrated director's cut was released.

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  24. Tom Cruise

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  25. Why I'd like to be … Tim Curry in Legend

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    Tom Cruise has split from Elsina Khayrova after a whirlwind romance, it has been claimed. The Top Gun actor, 61, was first linked to the Russian socialite, 36, at the end of 2023 - with the pair ...

  28. The Godfather Director Shares How He Discovered Tom Cruise

    The Godfather trilogy director Francis Ford Coppola reveals the casting process that he used to discover Tom Cruise, Rob Lowe, Patrick Swayze and other stars in his film The Outsiders.. Francis Ford Coppola recently took to Instagram to reminisce about the distinctive casting journey for his 1983 film, The Outsiders.Based on S.E. Hinton's 1963 novel, the movie is renowned for catapulting the ...