Comparing the Cuts: Legend (1985)
Ridley Scott, fresh off crafting one of the most visually stunning sci‑fi films ever, Blade Runner (1982), dove into a new world-building project that set out to redefine fantasy. The result was Legend (1985), a film overflowing with lavish sets, bizarre creatures, and a vigorous dusting of glitter on almost everything. Shot with practical effects and hand-built artistry, it forged a visual language that still holds up against modern films stuffed with cutting-edge tech and digital wizardry. Legend was made by hand, with sweat and dreams, and it shows. It’s as epic as it is beautiful.
But Scott’s original vision was never fully realised. The studio panicked at the darker, more somber adult fairy tale he’d put together, something closer in spirit to the original Brothers Grimm nightmares than safe, family-friendly fantasy. So they cut, trimmed, and repackaged the film into two notably different versions: one for the US and one for the UK.
The YouTube channel Movie Oubliette has put together a cracking video that digs into the story, the production, and the differences between the cuts, from tone and pacing to music and character beats. If you’ve ever wondered why your memory of Legend clashes with someone else’s, this will clear it up.
