LEGEND

JERRY GOLDSMITH

Rating:

Original Review: The back story surrounding Jerry Goldsmith's score for Ridley Scott's Legend is, unfortunately, a rather sad and sorry one. Originally, it was conceived that Goldsmith and lyricist John Bettis would collaborate on both score and songs in an attempt to bring a heightened sense of fantasy and life to William Hjortsberg's story of goblins, demons, fairies and unicorns. Goldsmith succeeded admirably and, upon its release in Europe, Legend was warmly welcomed by critics, many of whom noted Goldsmith's music as one of the film's highlights. However, the box office takings were not as high as expected and, with the North American release imminent, the executives of Universal Pictures decreed that changes were needed to make it more palatable for the youth market - so it was substantially re-edited, and Goldsmith's score was dumped. German electronic group Tangerine Dream were brought in to compose the new music, but the film flopped miserably, and although Tangerine Dream were never actually blamed, it is not implausible to imagine that their new music had less of an emotional impact than Goldsmith's original masterpiece.

What makes Universal's decision all the more mind-boggling is the fact that Legend is, for all intents and purposes, one of Goldsmith's finest scores of the 1980s. A perfect amalgam of orchestra, synthesisers and voices, Goldsmith's beautiful melodies and innovative electronic embellishments lend the film a timeless feeling of magic and mystery. Goldsmith approached his score from an unashamedly romantic standpoint, and while the score is not constructed in leitmotif per se, several recurring elements can be easily identified. Much of the score's early music has a wondrous, ethereal quality, using each of the three elements in unison to musically embody an idyllic world full of wonder and magic. However, regularly breaking this spell is a marvellously mischievous motif for the three goblins, Pox, Blix and Blunder, whose riotous antics are underscored by a watery-sounding synth motif, punctuating the generally soft and calming nature of the score.

Goldsmith's main melody is introduced during the second track, a folk-like tune called 'My True Love's Eyes', which is initially performed on-screen as a beautiful, lullaby-like song. As the score progresses, many additional motifs are worked into the cues, including an operatic, spine -chilling crescendo of strings and choir for 'The Unicorns', which is first heard as the mystical creatures are seen on-screen for the first time. There is a wild fiddle theme for Honeythorn Gump, a wise but unpredictable elf in 'The Faeries/The Riddle' and the vibrant 'Faerie Dance', while 'The Armour' features the first performances of the soothing flute glissando motif for Oona, an infatuated fairy, and the noble horn-led Champion theme for the film's hero, Jack (played by a very young Tom Cruise).

However, the score takes a definitely darker turn during 'The Dress Waltz', immediately after which the villain of the piece - The Dark Lord - makes his initial appearance. (I must take this opportunity to mention the staggering make-up that actor Tim Curry wore for this role - with blood red skin, cloven feet, muscular frame and immense black horns protruding from his head, he looked every bit the devil incarnate!) Here, Goldsmith introduces a menacing theme for The Dark Lord himself, characterised by booming brasses, eerie synthesised groans, a deathly choir and clanging metal percussion. After several minutes of powerful action music combining the Champion and Dark Lord themes, the music bursts into a shimmering rendition of the Love Theme in 'The Ring' and 'Reunited' to bring the CD to a close. The score's only misfire is the unintentionally funny faerie song 'Sing The Wee', which sounds for all the world like the Chipmunks doing Christmas carols in the round. The lyrics are somewhat garbled in the final performance, and it sounds like the vocalists are actually singing the nonsense words "Wingle Wangle" repeatedly. Mercifully, it only appears twice on the CD, and then only in short bursts.

As the American release of Legend featured music by Tangerine Dream, Jerry Goldsmith's score on CD is incredibly difficult to come by in North America. However, I would certainly recommend this score to anyone with an affinity for Goldsmith's music. It really sounds unlike any of his other scores, before or since, and its sheer intelligence and beauty make the astounding decision made by the studio executives all the more unbelievable. Without a doubt, this is one of the most challenging, brilliant and thoroughly enjoyable scores of Goldsmith's career, and should not be missing from any self-respecting collectors CD rack.

Track Listing: Running Time: 70 minutes 54 seconds

Silva Screen FILMCD-045 (1992)

Music composed and conducted by Jerry Goldsmith. Performed by The National Philharmonic Orchestra. Lyrics by John Bettis. Recorded and mixed by Mike Ross-Trevor. Mastered by Mike Ross-Trevor and James Fitzpatrick. Score produced by Jerry Goldsmith. Album re-issue produced by David Stoner.


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