Olivia continues her reimaginations of Films with an 80’s Cult Classic; Ridley Scott’s Legend starring Tom Cruise, Mia Sara, and the amazing Tim Curry. In the newest edition of The Revamp.
The first time I screened Ridley Scott’s Legend (1985) was without dialogue or sound, and caused me to miss out on the conversations at the dinner table at Melt in Cleveland, OH. While most remember their first Melt experience for the gooey and delectable food, I instead remembered it for the silent and dated fairy tale that was playing on the TV behind the bar, and how in attempting to discreetly catch glimpses of it I strained my neck.
While most critics and committees such as Roger Ebert, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, and the British Society of Cinematographers praised the production design and aesthetics more than the rather predictable ‘save the damsel and the world from evil’ plot and the casting (despite acceptable performances from Tom Cruise, Mia Sara, and the legendary Tim Curry), the cult classic clearly still struck a lasting chord with audiences, both old and new like myself.
There is also something to say about the almost fateful and rewarding collaboration between the various production departments, and the numerous people who worked under the leadership of those departments (notably director of photography, Alex Thomson; makeup artists, Rob Bottin and Peter Robb-King; head of wardrobe, Charles Knode; composer, Jerry Goldsmith, and heads of production design/special effects, Assheton Gorton, Nick Allder, Kent Houston, Peter Melrose, Dave Jordan, Jim Morahan, and John Fenner). While naming each individual would cause this column to be several pages long, their effort is appreciated.
So how does one exactly revamp a cult classic, when the ‘genre’ itself contains films that are treasured for their uniqueness and individualism? How does one remake a film that has a solid following, and not risk that following despising the production company for their new vision? While there are no clear cut answers, here are a few suggestions to consider.
ORIGINAL CAST AND CREW
Director: Ridley Scott (Blade Runner (1982), Thelma and Louise (1991), and Gladiator (2000), just to name a few)
Writer: William Hjortsberg (wrote Angel Heart (1987) and Thunder and Lightning (1977))
DP: Alex Thomson (Hamlet (1996), Excalibur (1981), and Superman (1978)).
Make Up: Rob Bottin (Special Makeup Creator, RoboCop(1987), Se7en (1995), and The Thing (1982)) and Peter Robb-King (Makeup supervisor, The Last of the Mohicans (1992), Aliens (1986) and The Dark Knight (2008))
Wardrobe: Charles Knode (Blade Runner (1982), Braveheart (1995), and The Life of Brian (1979).
Production Design/Special FX: Assheton Gorton (Production Design), Nick Allder (Special FX supervisor), Kent Houston (Visual Effects but uncredited), Peter Melrose (scenic supervisor), Dave Jordan (property master), and Jim Morahan and John Fenner (assistant art directors).
Composer: Jerry Goldsmith (director’s cut).
Cast: Tom Cruise (Jack), Mia Sara (Lili), and Tim Curry (Darkness).
The Revamp
The Crew
Director
Peter Jackson
Producers
Ridley Scott and Frank Oz
Much like the sub-theme of teamwork throughout the film, and the cast and crew behind the original, the various production departments would benefit from a collaboration between creative minds. While one would want Peter Jackson to be at the helm of the project, given his creative and artistic vision as well as the zeal and box office success of his previous work (ever heard of a little franchise called Lord of the Rings?), the dream team of producers to rely on for this remake would consist of science fiction and fantasy legends Frank Oz, and Scott himself. Their consultation would greatly aide Jackson in any choice or cut he would have to make along the way.
Director of Photography
Dariusz Wolski
Mr. Wolski is not a household name, but his work has graced millions of household screens due to their box office success (Prometheus (2012), The Martian (2015), and several of the Pirates of the Caribbean films, just to name a few), as well as the impressive look of the film based on his own attention to details. While the landscapes of Mars and the vast oceans could be viewed as monotone and overwhelming on any screen, he seems to have foresight into the ending result of his shots, because each inch of the screen is a delightful snippet of the bigger picture itself. You can enjoy smaller sections and in turn enjoy the whole on a deeper, aesthetic level. This would greatly serve any remake of a fairy tale land, where the possibilities are truly endless to make each scene a moving painting.
Makeup, Wardrobe, and Production Design
Ve Neill, Janty Yates, Simon Lamont, and Nick Dudman.
Not only is collaboration important within the various departments, it is also important across the production staff as a whole. That being said, it is vital to include some of the best of the best women in the filmmaking trade to counter the larger percentage of men. Ve Neill and Janty Yates are two of those women. Given their professionalism, attention to detail in each makeup application and costume, and their bodies of previous work that dabble in the world of fantasy (for Neill Edward Scissorhands (1990), How the Grinch Stole Christmas (2000), and the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise; and for Yates Kingdom of Heaven (2005), Robin Hood (2010), and Alien Covenant (2017)), both artists would greatly contribute to the revamp of this cult classic by taking the modern tools at their disposal, and still delivering that ‘period piece’ or ‘story book’ feel.
Along with Neill and Yates, the creative vision and skills of Simon Lamont (Hellboy (2005)) and Nick Dudman (The Fifth Element (1997) and creature designer for the Harry Potter franchise) would greatly add to that ‘period piece/story book’ feel. In a modern filmmaking world where we can generate anything and everything we could imagine onto a screen, the manual work of these two gentlemen stands well on its own two feet, which could offer the chance for the film to be a combination of prop and CGI effects to add the depth to the world within the film.
That is if the price is right…
Composer
Howard Shore
One of the intriguing elements of Legend that might be lost upon initial viewers is how the score works exceptionally well for the emotional tone of the film and its characters, as well as how it serves the fantasy genre overall. While some would consider John Williams and Hans Zimmer, it would be best to hire Howard Shore, who was responsible for the score of The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit franchises. Sticking to what is comfortable for the directing team, and for what audiences would want out of a fantasy film soundtrack, Shore would be one of the best candidates to compose a new score for this particular remake, should they decide to go that route. At the very least, he could conduct the orchestra with the original music.
The Cast
Jack
Tom Holland
Given both of their impish and youthful, good looks, as well as their favor with audiences and critics alike, Tom Holland or Timothee Chalamet would be ideal considerations for the lead role of Jack. However, if I were to choose one over the other it would go to Holland. Jack is a troubled character, but he hardly broods to the point that some of Chalamet previous roles do. He also has the physicality that would be required of Jack in the final ‘showdown’ with Darkness. Is it also a coincidence that his name is Tom, too?….maybe….
Runner Up: Timothee Chalamet
Lili
Natalia Dyer
While several names and faces came to mind for the role of Lili, it was when I landed on a picture of Stranger Things Natalia Dyer that the re-casting did itself. Given her place in recent Science Fiction history with the streaming throwback hit, it could be wise to tie a familiar face to a revamp of a cult classic from the same decade. One also could argue that like Mia Sara, she could be an ‘It Girl’ of the 2010s; famous but relaxed enough to enjoy the finer and realer things in life after becoming a well known face.
Darkness
Hugh Laurie
Recasting any role of Tim Curry is dubious, and borders on the line of impossible. The man himself is a cult classic and cinematic legend. That being said, several potentials were strong contenders for the role of Darkness, including Jeff Goldblum, Jason Isaac, and the late (great) Alan Rickman. Ultimately, the charming, cool and collective, semi-stoic, and multitalented Hugh Laurie struck my fancy for the devilish role. If you take the dark wit and manic emotional range of Dr. House, and mix it with the experience he has built in other dramatic and comedic roles (both on stage and on screen), I feel that he could deliver a performance that could be his own take on the character, while at the same time approaching a comparable status of Curry’s.