The Legend of 1900 [IMPORT]

Starring:Tim Roth, Pruitt Taylor Vince, MÃ©lanie Thierry, Bill Nunn, Clarence Williams III, Peter Vaughan, Niall O'Brien, Gabriele Lavia, Vernon Nurse, Alberto Vasquez, John Armstead, Cory Buck, Norman Chancer, Sidney Cole (II), Katy Monique Cuom, Luigi De Luca, Agostino Di Giorgio, Nicola Di Pinto, Harry Ditson, Andrew Dunford
Director: Giuseppe Tornatore
Studio: Pid
Product Type: DVD

Album Description

Import only NTSC/Region 1 DVD. The touching story of a man (Tim Roth) who was born and raised on a ship. His only interactions with the outside world are through the ship's passengers. As he matures, he becomes an accomplished pianist, and eventually falls in love with a woman who threatens to tempt him into stepping off the ship for the very first time. Tornatore's fairytale is at once a tender and moving motion picture that gives Roth a chance to shine. Stars Tim Roth, Pruitt Taylor Vince, Clarence Williams III, Melanie Thierry, Bill Nunn, Peter Vaughan. Directed by Giuseppe Tornatore. Widescreen 2.35:1, 1989, 125 minutes. 2001.

Customer Reviews:

Throw logic out the window. Just enjoy.......2007-05-21

You have to think of this movie as a vivid, fantastical, dream. And like such dreams, logical connections are no stronger than wisps of smoke.

Can an infant be abandoned at birth on a cruise ship without the captain's eventual knowledge, and would not any such officer have reported it to some authority? Don't waste your time worrying about it.

And how can a boy be brought up by a black shipworker among other semi-educated shipworkers, and grow into a man speaking with a cultured English accent? Again, don't waste your time worrying about it. Enjoy the magic.

Beautifully filmed.......2007-03-08

I can't say that I loved the ending, but I was captivated by this film. The music is, of course, lovely, but it was the cinematography that I thought stunning. I found myself searching through each scene for something that was a bright, apple-green.

Good Movie.......2007-02-10

I did not want to watch this movie that my retired husband thought was so great. I humored him by sitting down to watch it this evening and have to say that it is one of the best movies I have seen in some time. We both get dismayed by the fact that some very good movies get overlooked or unnoticed because of the Hollywood politics or whatever. We are not all that consumed by special effects and the glitz that is so much a part of some of the prominent films released. Anyway, this movie is fantastic and I will think about it and ponder it and love it long after the next Mission Impossible or whatever declines in popularity. It is a worthy movie and a "must see" by adults who can appreciate a good story, movie, without being inundated with special affects and hype. Truly a good story and movie.

A Musical Fable that Would Have Benefited From A Lot Less Fable.......2006-11-16

"The Legend of 1900" is another movie that might get me into trouble here on Amazon. It seems to be beloved by most reviewers, but ultimately--while there are some strong points--this is a film that just doesn't work for me. Being a fan of Tornatore's "Cinema Paradiso," I looked forward greatly to this story--billed as a fable of a musical prodigy who is born and raised on a ship, never setting foot on land. And while "Paradiso" is a subtle homage to the movies, "1900" tries to cover similar territory with classical and jazz music.

The music is beautiful, and whenever Tim Roth as the titular 1900 (it's his name) sits down at the piano--the movie comes alive. Music is the heart and breath of this picture. Roth is very good in the lead, but I would expect nothing less. This quiet oddball is a bit of a departure for the generally more intense Roth. His relationship with Pruitt Taylor Vince as his best friend and fellow musician is nicely played. If the film had concentrated more on them realistically and less on the "fable" aspect, I feel it would have been far more successful.

Unfortunately, the narrative is told in an unnecessary flashback style with Vince relating the fable to various parties. These modern sequences are awkwardly inserted into the more compelling material. And they lack a bit of logic, as well. While no one has supposedly ever heard of 1900, he is presented in the flashbacks as a famous and notorious personality. In fact, the world's best jazz musician even comes aboard to challenge him to a piano duel--so his reputation must be known beyond the ship.

Too much of the visual style is over-the-top and fanciful. Here, we are hitting on that "fable" again. One great sequence involves Roth playing the piano as it sails around the deck--it is at once beautiful and ridiculous--but it's taken too far so it becomes slapstick instead of poetry. By pulling back just a little in most sequences, Tornatore might really have improved his epic.

Aside form Tim Roth and Pruitt Taylor Vince, nobody speaks in a real "voice." The dialogue can be extremely clunky and the delivery out of left field. I don't know if this had to do with international actors using English phonetically, but perhaps something is lost in the translation. Listen especially to the ambient crowd chatter--it is absolutely inane. And while this may seem like a small point, it distracted me to maximum effect. This could have been fixed easily by a sound effects editor. Also, as Taylor Vince relates 1900's story, the reactions that he gets are bizarrely overacted. There isn't a natural flow to the piece because much of it seems forced.

Recommended for Roth and the music, "The Legend of 1900" is an interesting failure. Scaled back in it's excesses and shortened, it had the capacity to be a great film. I wished they would have trusted the story because I could have done without most of the outlandish and over-the-top accouterments. About 2 1/2 stars from me--I'm rounding up so I don't get slaughtered. KGHarris, 11/06.

A memorable fable for adults, beautifully made.......2006-09-07

How did this terrific movie slip under the radar?

It's about the nature of art, the power of music, the mystery of friendship and love. Most of all, it's about how our fears prevent us from experiencing the immensity of life.

When was the last time you saw a movie tackle issues like this?

The widescreen production is ravishing to watch. It's rare to see an art house film executed with such first-class grandeur. The acting is also uniformly excellent. And the score is luscious.

If you liked THE PIANO or AMADEUS, prepare to be blown away.

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