Legend Arrow Video Blu-ray review: Ridley Scott’s fantasy epic has never looked better

Following the genre-defining one-two-punch of Alien and Blade Runner, director Ridley Scott set his sights on Legend, a dark 1985 fantasy epic starring Tom Cruise just before he soared to super-stardom with Top Gun. Featuring an unforgettable performance from Tim Curry as the Lord of Darkness, Legend is a classic ’80s fantasy film that may not have caught on with audiences upon its initial release but has since developed a large cult following over the years.

Arrow Video has now unleashed a comprehensive Blu-ray special edition of Legend featuring two cuts of the film and a number of new special features, along with the legacy bonus material from earlier releases. As with most Ridley Scott films, there are numerous cuts of Legend; the U.S. Theatrical Cut, an International Cut, Scott’s preferred Director’s Cut, and a TV version. However, unlike Blade Runner or Alien, the various cuts of Legend mostly hew to the same narrative structure, with the film’s score being the main difference.

The U.S. cut of Legend features an ethereal electronic score by Tangerine Dream that immediately places viewers in another world. Set against Ridley Scott’s lush visuals and the epic quest for Jack (Tom Cruise) to rescue Princess Lili (Mia Sara) from the Lord of Darkness (Tim Curry), the Tangerine Score feels like an eerie fairy tale come to life. In the international version (and carried over to Scott’s Director’s Cut) the score is supplied by Jerry Goldsmith, the iconic composer who worked with Scott on Alien. Goldsmith’s score is more traditional and gives Legend the feel of a big-budget Hollywood epic. Both scores are incredible works, and one of the benefits of this new package is seeing how each score completely alters the audience’s experience of the film.

This Arrow Video Blu-ray features an astonishing new 4K scan of the U.S. Theatrical Cut of Legend from the original camera negative that is far and away the best the film has ever looked on home video. The Director’s cut doesn’t fare as well on the A/V front as the original elements now only exist in fairy battered shape (this set includes a note from Scott explaining how the Director’s Cut was put together and the inherent limitations of the source material).

The new extras are a worthwhile addition to the set, especially Incarnations of a Legend, a new featurette from critic Travis Crawford that illuminates the differences between the various cuts of the film. Other highlights include A Fairytale in Pinewood, a new feature including interviews with a number of the UK crew that worked on the film at the legendary Pinewood studios, a deluxe 60-page book with new and vintage writing on the film, a series of postcards, a fold-out poster and more.

Legend fans have been patiently waiting for a special edition Blu-ray release of the film for years, and Arrow Video has truly knocked it out of the park with this set. While rights issues prohibit the inclusion of the International Release, this set features gorgeous packaging, two cuts of the film, and a wealth of new and previously released extras. Over 35 years later, it’s great to see Legend finally getting its due.

Legend Special Features

High Definition (1080p) Blu-ray presentations of the U.S. Theatrical Cut and the Director’s Cut of the film
DTS-HD MA 5.1 surround and 2.0 stereo audio on both cuts
Optional English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing on both cuts
Illustrated perfect-bound book featuring new writing on the film by Nicholas Clement and Kat Ellinger plus archive materials including original production notes and a 2002 interview with Charles de Lauzirika about the restoration of the Director’s Cut
Large fold-out double-sided poster featuring newly commissioned artwork by Neil Davies and original theatrical artwork by John Alvin
Glossy full-colour portraits of the cast photographed by Annie Leibovitz
Six double-sided, postcard-sized lobby card reproductions
Limited edition packaging with reversible sleeve featuring newly commissioned artwork by Neil Davies and original theatrical artwork by John Alvin

Disc One – U.S. Theatrical Cut

Brand new 2K restoration of the U.S. Theatrical Cut from original film materials, including a 4K scan of the original camera negative
Brand new audio commentary by Paul M. Sammon, author of Ridley Scott: The Making of His Movies
Reconstructed isolated score track by Tangerine Dream from 2002
Isolated music and effects track
A Fairytale in Pinewood, a brand new featurette interviewing grip David Cadwalladr, costume designer Charles Knode, co-star Annabelle Lanyon, camera operator Peter MacDonald, set decorator Ann Mollo and draftsman John Ralph
Incarnations of a Legend, a comparison featurette written and narrated by critic Travis Crawford discussing the differences between the various versions of the film
The Directors: Ridley Scott, a 2003 documentary in which the director discusses his career up to that point, including Legend
Music video for “Is Your Love Strong Enough?” by Bryan Ferry

Disc Two – Director’s Cut

Audio commentary by director Ridley Scott
Creating A Myth: Memories of Legend, an archive documentary from 2002 featuring interviews with Ridley Scott, William Hjortsberg, Mia Sara, Tim Curry, Rob Bottin and several other cast and crew members
Original promotional featurette
Two deleted scenes, the alternate ‘Four Goblins’ opening and ‘The Fairie Dance’
Storyboard galleries for three deleted scenes
Two drafts of William Hjortsberg’s screenplay
Alternate footage from the overseas release, plus textless footage
Three theatrical trailers and four TV spots
Image galleries

Legend is available via Arrow Video now.