Where Was Legends Of The Fall Filmed? A Timeless Western Drama From The ‘90s!!

If you’re an avid fan of Brad Pitt, then I’m sure you must’ve watched his epic drama film, Legends of the Fall. But do you know where was Legends of the Fall filmed? If you don’t, then follow this article to know all about this Oscar-winning cinema and its scenic filming locations.

The American western-drama film, Legends of the Fall released in 1994, was inspired by a fiction novel by Jim Harrison, published 23 years prior to the film. The basic premise depicts the heart-warming story of three brothers, living with their father in the wilderness of Montana. The story is set in the early 20th century, and also showcases the impact of the contemporary wars on the lives of Americans.

Edward Zwick, the director of this film, received much appreciation from audiences and critics across the world. This intense drama movie earned a number of major awards and nominations, including an Oscar in 1995. Commercially, Legends of the Fall performed exquisitely as well, grossing over $130 million in worldwide collections.

Now, let’s discuss in detail where was Legends of the Fall filmed so that you can take a closer look at the beautiful shooting locations. Plus, later in this article, I will also introduce you to the plot of this Oscar-winning film.

Where Was Legends Of The Fall Filmed? Let’s Know This Western Drama Flick Closely!

The basic premise of Legends of the Fall is about an all-American story. However, you’d be surprised to know that this popular movie wasn’t filmed in America. That’s right folks, the makers decided to refrain from shooting Legends of the Fall in the United States, for a number of reasons. 

Edward Zwick had a production budget of $10 million at his disposal for this project. Thus it was very difficult for the director to maintain the filming budget and shoot across beautiful locations in America. Consequently, the director took the advice of other creative heads of the unit and agreed to film the entire movie in Canada for tax purposes, primarily.

So, after the production members arrived at the final conclusion to shoot in Canada, different locations in and around this picturesque North American country were scouted. Filming took place in parts of British Columbia and Alberta.

The principal photography commenced in the summer of 1993 and continued till the fall of the same year. However, before the shooting began, the director asked the actors to attend a special training class, to learn the mannerism and dialects of the Native Americans. The filming schedule wasn’t extended, as the production members completed the shooting within the estimated time.

So, without further ado, let’s have a detailed discussion about where was Legends of the Falls filmed and find out more interesting facts about the specific filming locations.

British Columbia | Canada

The opening sequence depicting the town of Helena in the film, was actually filmed on the outskirts of Vancouver. Even though this major Canadian city is regarded as the cultural capital of the world, it was primarily used to portray the secluded town of Montana for this movie.

Important to mention that, the director didn’t of course capture any scenes in the downtown area or any other crowded part of Vancouver, as he wanted a peaceful and quiet location. So as mentioned the scenes depicting the soothing sites of the town of Helena in the movie, were all filmed in sparsely populated parts of the city, specifically on the outskirts.

So after shooting the initial sequences around Maple Leaf Square in Vancouver, the production members moved to the Gastown area. Sequences depicting Alfred Ludlow’s business place in Helena were captured here. The production members turned around a vacant store in a week’s time and then captured the interior sequences of Ludlow’s business firm shown in the film.

Other pivotal sequences in Vancouver featured the famous Hotel Europe, located at 43 Powell Street. This Canadian hotel was used to capture the sequence depicting the luxurious hotel in Helena that appears in a later part of the movie.

Alberta | Canada

The second half of the movie, showcasing the scenes of World War I, was shot in the province of Ontario. The outdoor shots depicting the ranch and the deep trenches of the battlefield were captured on the banks of Ghost River.

A few other significant outdoor sequences, featuring the return of one of the Ludlow brothers from the Great War and the marriage were filmed around the city of Calgary and Morley in Alberta. Filming in this beautiful province lasted for 4 and a half weeks, after which the crew returned to America and began working on the promotion of the film.

Alright friends, it’s about time for me to discuss the plot of Legends of the Falls in brief. So that you can get a better grip on the narrative of this film. In the meantime, you can check out Ozark, Three Pines and Out of the Blue as well.

Plot Of Legends Of The Fall | What’s It About

The basic premise of Legends of the Falls is centered around the character of an ex-US Army officer, Colonel William Ludlow and his family. At the beginning of the movie,  the Colonel appears to move into a secluded town in Montana with his three sons, after voluntarily retiring from the army.

Later as the story progresses, the life of William’s sons, Alfred, and Tristan are depicted. The impact of the war on the lives of an average American family is vividly portrayed through the story of the Ludlows. The plot thickens when one of the brothers returns from the war to see his wife, re-married. Watch Legends of the Fall to witness the heart-warming story of the Ludlows, which is bound to make you tear up.

Final Words

Alright, ladies and gentlemen, I hope now you finally know where was Legends of the Fall filmed. I’d definitely recommend you to watch this classic film if you haven’t already. Let us know if you enjoyed the read in the comments section below. Be sure to check out other amazing articles on Viebly, which are informative and entertaining at the same time.