Before meeting on “Meeting Joe Black”, Anthony Hopkins and Brad Pitt collaborate for the first time together on “Legends of the Fall”. During the filming of Edward Zwick’s melodrama, the first gave a striking advice to the second, which accompanied him throughout his career.
Fall Legends : a torn sibling
A few months before working with Tom Cruise on Interview with a VampireBrad Pitt holds a role originally intended for the star of Top Gun. In Fall Legendsmelodrama by Edward Zwick (Glory, Blood Diamond) released in 1995, the comedian then on the rise lends his features to Tristan. The latter passes a peaceful childhood on a ranch in Montanaalongside his brothers and their father, Colonel William Ludlow (Anthony Hopkins), who left the military and turned his back on the US government because of the treatment of Native Americans.
When the First World War breaks out, Tristan, his older brother Alfred (Aidan Quinn) and the youngest Samuel (Henry Thomas) enlist. This last dies at the frontshortly after introducing his girlfriend Susannah (Julia Ormond) to his family. After this drama, Tristan and Samuel return to the country and tear each other apart over their feelings for Susannah.
Karina Lombard completes the cast of this feature film, which benefits from a superb composition by James Horner and photography by John Toll (Braveheart, The Red Line), which won an Oscar.
The precious advice of Anthony Hopkins
When he reunited with Anthony Hopkins a few years later on Meet Joe Black, Brad Pitt became a star. But at the time of Fall Legendsthe young actor has not yet explodeddespite notable performances in Thelma and Louise And in the middle flows a river or true romance.
During the production of the drama, Brad Pitt receives wise advice from the interpreter of Hannibal Lecter which marks him deeply. 25 years later, while interviewing Anthony Hopkins for Interview Magazine, the actor reminds him of this anecdote as they discuss mistakes. The Oscar-winning actor Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood start by explaining:
I think we live in a time when we are extremely critical. (…) We always attach great importance to error. But it’s what happens after the mistake that really defines a person. (…) In our culture, I feel like we don’t want to stick around to see what that next step is. And that’s the part that I find so much more interesting.
Anthony Hopkins continues:
We’ve all screwed up before.
Brad Pitt then remembers:
“And then shit.” That’s one of the first things I heard you say, back in the days of Fall Legends, when I had my first chances. And that has always stuck with me. It sounds like a principle, a guide. “And then shit.”
The actor of The Father concludes:
I once asked a Jesuit priest: “What is the shortest prayer in the world?” He answered me: “And then shit”. It is a prayer of liberation. Just say, “So what the fuck.” None of this matters. The important thing is to enjoy life as it is.
