MovieChat Forums > Legend (1986) Discussion > Goldsmith score vs. Tangerine Dream

Goldsmith score vs. Tangerine Dream

posted 12 years ago by pmssissy
31 replies | jump to latest

So tonight I caught Legend on tv and was ridiculously excited. I fricken LOVE this movie. Right off the bat I noticed something was off about the music. So I checked out the trivia section and it said...

"Composer Jerry Goldsmith's original score was removed by the studio after the first round of test screenings. In an effort to appeal to "the kids", executives commissioned Tangerine Dream to create a replacement. Until 2002, Goldsmith's original score was heard only with the film's European release."

Apparently, I was watching the European release with Jerry Goldsmith's original score. This was a VAST difference from the Tangerine Dream score that I was so used to. I literally wore out that VHS. I never really noticed how music can drastically change the feeling of a movie.

I felt as though Goldsmith's score was stale, and lacked the emotion I yearned during the dramatic parts. For example, when Jack tries to apologize to the unicorn for screwing things up.

I know Tangerine Dream is waaaay 80's but their music was perfect for the film.

Does anyone else agree with me?

[–] Nothin_But_the_Rain 12 years ago

I completely agree. I suppose it largely comes down to which one you saw first/grew up with, but when I first heard the Goldsmith score I could hardly believe my ears. The Tangerine Dream one suits the atmosphere of the movie so much better.

"Why is it that every time I need to get somewhere I get waylaid by jackassery?"

[–] thornsthorns 11 years ago

seems like people like whichever version they grew up with.

Personally from what I've heard, the tangerine dream score makes the film dark and twisted, foreboding, whilst the goldsmith score makes the film disneyish and ethereal.

So might be matter of preference.

I don't really remember it much from childhood, but from an adult perspective (after watching goldsmith's version recently) I wish I had watched the tangerine score one, as the film is too childish otherwise. The dark score is more suited to an adult audience I'd say.

the only problem with tangerine version which is US theatrical version is the editing of the film butchered the film out of the few good moments it had.

[–] Johnny_Wrong 11 years ago

I grew up with the Tangerine Dream score and I think the Goldsmith one blows it out of the water.

You have to realise, though, it was ACTUALLY replaced as so many cuts were made to the film that it no longer fitted. The two versions of the film have many more differences than just audio.

Director's cut is best.

[–] lone_wolf_fenrir 11 years ago

It's actually the other way around. Goldsmith's score suits the darkness in the movie much better. Tangerine Dream is "just another OST", like most OST, you forget it as soon as the movie ends.
Can't forget Goldsmith's version after hearing it.

So yeah, the US version is not the best one of the two. They cut the film and had to replace the score that didn't suit the new version because of that, i think.

[–] jpowell180 10 years ago

Agreed completely - I have the 2-disc set, and only ever watch the one with the Tangerine Dream score - once a soundtrack gets embedded into your memories, a different one just messes with your head, in a bad way.
TD's sound is simple etherical, which suits the film perfectly.

[–] Duragizer 12 years ago

Agree. Tangerine Dream's score is incredibly mesmerizing and it really carries the film. Goldsmith's, while not bad by any means, didn't do much for me, and the film just comes off as average as a result.

Standing there, on a road that leads to anywhere ...

[–] gwnightscream 12 years ago

The Tangerine dream score plus it's the version I also grew up with.
Goldsmith was one of the best composers and I love a lot of his music,
but only like a couple pieces from the director's cut.

[–] 12 years ago

[deleted]

[–] apples42 11 years ago

I agree 100%. I like the Tangerine dream version. That's the version me and my sister saw when we were little.

[–] prbronx5 11 years ago

I liked both scores AND both versions of the movie. I grew up on the American version, with the TD score. When they finally released the JG score cd, I loved it.

Then, they released the DVD (later Blu-Ray, which I own), with both versions of the movie. I loved them both. The American version is more Disney fairy tale and sortta juvenile. The European version is a much longer movie. It's also darker, scary and more geared to adults. They also wait a lot longer to actually show Darkness.

Depending on what mood I'm in, I'll watch either version, and still enjot it.

[–] DeRo64 11 years ago

Except for the vocal song at the end (not Is Your Love Strong Enough, but the one before the credits), I prefer Tangerine Dream's soundtrack even though it sounds more like instrumentals for 1980s power ballads. For some reason, it just fits this movie.

"There is no escape, John!"

[–] Caprizonica8 11 years ago

Tangerine really gives it another vibe to it, something playful, eerie, but enigmatic, alive, more personality. I own the directors cut but watched the american version on youtube last night.

[–] lone_wolf_fenrir 11 years ago

It's nostalgia. Goldsmith's version suits the movie much more than the commercial crap by Tangerine Dream imo.
It is more of an ambient style of music and reflects the darker side of the story in such a better way. The tones in particular make it very strong emotion wise.

[–] johnnyz-2 11 years ago

I agree. This cut of the movie, with Goldsmith's music, and this movie is the fairy tale it was supposed to be.

[–] BB-15 11 years ago

I saw the American version of "Legend" many years ago as an adult, I thought it was an OK kid's film.

And I thought the Tangerine Dream score in "Legend" sometimes had a nice mystical electronic sound and some of the music worked well. But a lot of the time I thought the soundtrack was weak.

- Then I heard that the director's cut of "Legend" had been released on Blu-Ray.
I got it and to me this version is a much better movie.

As for the music in the DC, Jerry Goldsmith's score is excellent. He is just a much better composer than Tangerine Dream. Goldsmith is one of the best film composers of all time.

Electronic music in a movie can be at the highest level of quality. Vangelis was able to do that. But Tangerine Dream cannot write music as well as Vangelis or Goldsmith.

Imo anyway.

BB ;-)

it's just in my opinion - imo -