Ridley Scott's Legend plays as two different fantasies depending on its score. Jerry Goldsmith's orchestral music creates a classical fairy tale, while Tangerine Dream's electronics make it darker and more 1980s. The 1985 fantasy adventure stars Tom Cruise, Mia Sara and Tim Curry as Darkness. According to Qualitipedia, its edits run about 89-90 minutes, 93-94 minutes and 113-114 minutes.
Table of Contents
- Which Cut Has Which Score?
- Why Did Universal Replace the Music?
- How Does Each Score Change the Fantasy?
- Which Version Should You Choose?
Which Cut Has Which Score?
Musique Fantastique reports that Goldsmith's symphonic score uses strings, winds and choir for the initial European release and the later Director's Cut expanded Goldsmith release notes. That pairing preserves Scott's fairy-tale tone through classical orchestration and voice.
According to Wikipedia, Legend has two completely different soundtracks built around Goldsmith and Tangerine Dream. The Tangerine Dream score served U.S. theatrical and home-video releases, so many American viewers first met Legend as synth fantasy.
Why Did Universal Replace the Music?
According to Wikipedia, MCA/Universal president Sidney Sheinberg pressed Scott for a more contemporary score after a disappointing test screening. Goldsmith's music was judged unlikely to appeal to youth audiences.
Tangerine Dream then completed the replacement in about three weeks. FictionMachine describes the result as pulsing 1980s synth, darker and more nocturnal than the classical fairy-tale approach.
How Does Each Score Change the Fantasy?
Goldsmith treats the forest as enchanted and ancient. Strings lift romance, winds carry wonder, and choir suggests gods, monsters and moral stakes. Tangerine Dream treats the same forest as nocturnal and electric.
Sequencers drive pursuit, synth pads thicken night, and the mood turns seductive rather than innocent. The U.S. version also adds two vocal pop songs, according to Discogs data: Jon Anderson singing "Loved by the Sun" and Bryan Ferry singing "Is Your Love Strong Enough?" over the end credits.
Which Version Should You Choose?
Scott maintained that his original Goldsmith-scored cut was definitive. According to the Washington Times, Universal restored that score and cut scenes in the 113-minute 2002 Director's Cut DVD, later carried into the 2011 Ultimate Blu-ray and 2021 Arrow Limited Edition with both cuts.
DVDCompare warns that soundtrack albums alone mislead because film mixes, edits and song placement differ by cut Blu-ray comparison. Check the listing before renting, streaming or buying:.
- About 89:29 with Tangerine Dream credit means the shorter U.S. synth version.
- About 113:27 with Goldsmith credit means the longer Director's Cut fairy tale.