Music: The Ludlows
Artist: James Horner
Legends Of The fall

崔斯汀的传奇

我一直认为我所扮演过的大多数角色都能找到更合适的人选来演，惟独崔斯汀这个角色，我知道我是最佳人选。从我第一次看到剧本时就知道，我了解他的行为、他的心态，我的挑战是如何让观众也能认同我对他的看法。
——本片男主角 布拉德·皮特

有一种人，天生血液里就流淌着不安分的成分。这样的人，注定要颠沛流离地过一生。这部电影的名字叫做 Legends of the fall，它讲的就是崔斯汀的传奇。崔斯汀是一个在军人和猎人的教育下长大的人，他从印第安人一刺那里学到捕猎的乐趣，征服自然、征服一切的欲望常在他心中涌动。崔斯汀也是纯真的，他更像一个与自然尚未完全分开的个体。

在影片中崔斯汀有三次重要的出场，每一次都是骑马前来。第一次是见到苏姗娜，崔斯汀骑着马出现在草原上，飘散的金发迷人的笑容令她一见钟情；第二次是在战争结束后回家，依然是骑马而来，令家人欢呼雀跃；第三次，则是在自我放逐多年后，又一次骑着马出现在家人的面前，物是人非，百感交集。但是这三次的场面几乎如出一辙，都是随着激扬的音乐，一头长发的崔斯汀骑着骏马慢慢浮出地平线。

崔斯汀的一生，以和熊的关联开始，也以和熊的搏斗结束。在这中间，他经历了爱情、战争、自我放逐和短暂的平静幸福。当他死在熊爪之下时，一个似乎遥远的童话就此结束，燃情岁月一去不返。（摘自网络）

This beautiful instrumental theme carries the flavor of the film's Montana scenery. A popular selection for weddings.

Key: D major

Structure: This pieces contains the following musical themes, which flow from one to the other when performed.

Opens with the "Twilight and Mist" tune (played by solo piano on the soundtrack) Followed by "The Ludlows" tune (string orchestra entrance on soundtrack) Followed by "Legends of the Fall" tune (full orchestra portion on soundtrack) Ends with "Twilight and Mist" tune (played by solo violin and piano on soundtrack) (Source: Internet)

Legends of the Fall

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Legends of the Fall is a 1994 film based on the 1979 novella of the same title by Jim Harrison. It was directed by Edward Zwick and stars Brad Pitt, Anthony Hopkins and Aidan Quinn. The film won the Academy Award for Best Cinematography.

The movie's timeframe spans from just before World War I through the Prohibition Era and into the 1920s, and it ends briefly in 1963. The film centers on the Ludlow family of Montana, including veteran of the Indian Wars Colonel Ludlow, his three sons Alfred, Tristan, and Samuel, and object of the brothers' love, Susannah.

The Plot Of Legends of the fall

Colonel William Ludlow, sick of the betrayals the United States government has perpetrated on the Native Americans, retires with his most trusted friend, a Native American serving in the cavalry, named One Stab, along with Decker, a farmer he employs, his Cree wife Pet, and their young daughter, Isabel Two. He moves his family to a remote part of Montana where he builds a large home and begins ranching. His wife Isabel, born and raised in the city, does not adapt well to the harsh winters of the cold country and leaves for the East Coast. She does not return for many years but she and the Colonel remain married and close friends and communicate through letters. He raises his sons with the help of One Stab who teaches them all the language of his Cree people. It is One Stab's voice that narrates the film, all in retrospect, and as an old man.

Colonel Ludlow has three sons, all as different as night from day. The oldest son, Alfred, is mature even at a young age, always responsible, and cautious. The youngest son, Samuel, is naive but educated, and constantly being watched over by his brothers. Tristan, the middle son, is wild, handsome, unapologetic, spirited, confident, and one who has studied the ancient American Indian traditions.

After introducing the characters the film opens with a scene in which Tristan, at a young age, leaves home to hunt a wild bear. He and a large bear confront one another, the bear attacks him, and in the fight that follows Tristan is injured. Tristan is the strongest of the sons.

Just before World War I begins, Samuel, who has been away at Harvard College, comes home to Montana, bringing with him his fianceé, British-born Susannah Fincannon. Susannah is beautiful, well-bred, and intelligent. All of the men in the house are "intoxicated by her presence." She finds Tristan's wild and experienced personality captivating, and she is clearly conflicted over this because of her love for Samuel. The three brothers enjoy one another's company, and this segment is the happiest time for the Ludlows.

Samuel and Susannah intend on marrying, but before this can take place, the war in Europe begins. Samuel feels very passionate about his stance against Germany, and speaks out against them as if he understands fully what he is talking about. Colonel Ludlow disagrees with him, telling him he talks about war but has never seen a war.

Samuel is intent on joining the army, and both Alfred and Tristan go with him. Tristan could not care less about the war, but is intent on protecting Samuel, and is asked to do so by his father as they leave. The night before they leave, Susannah comes to Tristan to talk to him about Samuel. She becomes distraught over his going to war, and in tears reaches out to embrace Tristan for comfort. He soothes her, and yet the embrace lingers a moment too long, due to their mutual attraction to each other. At that moment Alfred walks in and they quickly part. Alfred says nothing, but later Samuel comments that an inexplicable distance seems to have arisen between them.

The three brothers find themselves in an infantry unit. The attack is repulsed with heavy casualties, and Alfred is wounded in the leg. When Samuel is creased by a bullet on his cheek, Tristan immediately drags Samuel into a shellhole, and holds him there until the battle is over, when they can make their way back to their own lines.

Days later, Tristan visits Alfred in the field hospital. He learns that Samuel has volunteered for a dangerous reconnaissance mission. Tristan tried very hard but failed to save Samuel. He holds Samuel until he dies. Shortly after this, he is removed from his service in the army, but he doesn't return home immediately.

Alfred returns home to bury Samuel in October 1915. Susannah is set to leave the following day, however, fierce snowstorms prevent her departure, and Colonel Ludlow insists she stay on with them until the spring. That spring, Alfred takes Susannah to Samuel's grave and confesses his love, and proposes marriage to her. Susannah declines.

Tristan eventually returns home and Susannah finds him weeping at Samuel's grave, and comforts him. Alfred, jealous because he is aware of their attraction, and having seen them return together from a ride, makes a sharp comment to Tristan at dinner that night which sends him storming out into the night. Susannah follows him, and he turns and kisses her. The two become lovers. The next morning an angry and jealous Alfred confronts Tristan, insisting that Tristan cannot make her happy. When Tristan replies that he'll try, Alfred tells him "You will fail." Alfred leaves that same day for Helena.

Susannah is very much in love with Tristan and dreams of a happy life together, but Tristan is still scarred by the memories of war. His guilt and pain over failing to protect Samuel eats away at him. Though he initially found solace in Susannah's arms, he now feels on some level that being with the woman his dead brother loved is wrong, and he feels responsible for driving Alfred away as well. He decides that he needs to go away for a while, a few months, presumably to get his head together. Susannah begs him to stay with her, but he refuses. She asks him if they had children together would he still leave to which he replies simply, "Yes." Finally she tells him she'll wait for him as long as it takes, she will wait forever.

Tristan does not return home for many years. His demons chase him all over the globe. He becomes a hunter in the South Pacific and Africa. Back at the ranch, Susannah waits for him with no word at all, her heart growing more weary with sorrow as each year passes. Finally, she receives a letter from him. It says only this: "Everything we had is dead, as I am dead. Marry another." It breaks her heart, and she never fully recovers. Alfred finds her weeping and tries to comfort her but Colonel Ludlow walks in on them and chastises him. Alfred gets angry and tells his father that Tristan has abandoned her, as well as him. He tells him that Tristan had betrayed Samuel with her before they went off to war and that he was responsible for Samuel's death. Colonel Ludlow, already upset over Alfred's intent to run for Congress, explodes, telling Alfred "Samuel chose to be a soldier! And soldiers die." Colonel Ludlow has a stroke that very night, and doesn't speak for years, other than by writing what he wants to say on a chalkboard. For years the ranch goes with little care.

Eventually Susannah marries Alfred, who is now a congressman living in Helena, Montana. Colonel Ludlow has no contact with Alfred during this time, and remains completely loyal to his favorite son, Tristan.

Tristan finally returns home, bringing with him a herd of horses and quickly breathing life back into the ranch and his father. Tristan accepts Susannah's marriage to Alfred, saying it is how it should be, and he marries Decker's daughter, Isabel Two. Together they have a son, named Samuel, and a daughter, Isabel Three. The happiest phase of Tristan's life has begun. He settles into working the ranch, raising his children, and is completely happy, with the demons of his past finally coming to rest.

However, due to prohibition, he and his father become involved in Bootleg liquor and finds themselves at odds with the O'Banion brothers, who are rivals in the trade. Tristan's wife is accidentally killed by a corrupt police officer working for the O'Banions. Susannah comes to the jail, where Tristan is held for 30 days after beating the police officer. She tells him she feels guilty because she wished for Isabelle Two's death, as well as Samuel's, and that she still sometimes dreams that she is the mother of his children. Tristan tells her their deaths are not her fault, but she still bears that guilt. In a moment that reveals Tristan's great character, he refuses Susannah's advances and tells her to "go home to Alfred," her rightful husband.

The police officer who killed Isabel Two receives a reprimand, but no punishment. After his release from jail, Tristan and his father-in-law kill those responsible for Isabel Two's death, the police officer and one of the O'Banion brothers. During that same timeframe, Susannah, in despair because she has never been able to get over her love for Tristan, and unable to cope with his rejection, commits suicide by shooting herself. The Ludlows bury Susannah in the family cemetery. At the graveside, Alfred tells Tristan that throughout his life, he did everything right, following all the rules, while Tristan followed none of them, yet everyone in their family always loved Tristan more, even his own wife.

When the remaining O'Banion brother comes for Tristan, with the local corrupt sheriff and another police officer, they tell Tristan that he must know they did not come to arrest him, meaning they will kill him. Tristan tells them to take him to the woods, so his son won't see him die. However, in a twist of fate, a shootout breaks out during which Alfred and Colonel Ludlow kill them, with Tristan never firing a shot. Alfred is finally forgiven by and reunited with his father. They bury the three bodies and dump the vehicle in the Missouri River. Tristan, knowing that it will be he that is blamed for their disappearance, leaves for the mountain country. He asks Alfred to watch over his children. Alfred replies, "Brother, it will be an honor."

The film then skips many decades ahead, with Stab narrating. It shows the gravestones of all those in Tristan's life who died before him, but notes that Tristan's children grew to adulthood and produced their own families. Stab goes on to say that all those who loved Tristan most died before him and that "he was a rock they broke themselves against, no matter how hard he tried to protect them." Tristan, now an old man in 1963, rides his horse through the forest in the mountains. He finds bear tracks and a mangled animal. As he kneels to examine it, his horse rears and runs away. Tristan pulls out his knife as he is suddenly attacked by a bear. Stab ends his narration with "It was a good death."