MovieChat Forums > Legends of the Fall (1995) Discussion > Does anyone else wished the director wou...

Does anyone else wished the director would have changed the love story?

posted 9 years ago by sarizonana
25 replies | jump to latest

Both times that I watched this movie I was certain this was a doomed love story.

But now that I think about it, I realize it was a one sided love story which is even more tragic than two lovers or soulmates not being able to be together. So now I wished this director would have done what Michael Mann did with the last of the Mohicans where he changed Cora's love interest.

In the original last of the Mohicans the love triangle is between Uncas and the soldier who loved Cora Fighting for Cora's love with no romantic interest for Alice and yet Mann made the change which I think was a great idea thumbs up for that .

Does anyone else think would have been better if Tristan truly loved Susanah like she did and they became a sort of Romeo and Juliet ? that would have meant no Isabel II or at least not as a second wife and stop respecting the novel from that point.

I felt terrible for Susanah that her love for Tristan was one sided and he felt in love with Isabel. It was so heartbreaking to see her realize he was just attracted to her but never loved her.

I just wished Tristan and Susanah would have been written or portrayedikr like Newland and the countess olenska, Katherine and Almasi and Rose and Jack to name a few

[–] Weber4278 9 years ago

No I most definitely would NOT have wanted the director to turn the story into another 'Romeo and Juliet' type clone (don't get me wrong I do like those types of stories, but they've just been done so many times).

And honestly I think the theme of unrequited love can be just as powerful as doomed love, and is maybe even a bit more relatable because most of us have experienced what it's like to love someone who doesn't really return our feelings (probably more-so then falling for someone you can't be with).

Or doesn't return our feelings with the same intensity. (As I DO think Tristan cared about Susannah, maybe had even 'loved' her in his own way, but their relationship happened at the worst time in his life, a time he was all to eager to move past).

And I would NEVER want them to cut out the character of Isabel Two, as she is one of my favorite characters!

I also think that a big reason why Susannah kills herself is because she couldn't have children. I don't think it was entirely because she couldn't have Tristan, it was more because she couldn't have a 'family'. I really do believe that if she'd had a child (even if it was Alfred's child) she wouldn't have fallen into such a depression.

And maybe a child of her own would have helped her to let Tristan go!

And it may have also allowed her to 'love' Alfred in a way, since he would then be the father of her child (maybe not as much as she'd loved Tristan but enough to make her content). But without a child...Tristan was the only thing she had left to cling to. And when he rejected her then that was the straw that broke the camels back.

I would not have wanted them to turn the story into another case of 'star crossed love', I think it works better the way it is, as a story about a FAMILIES downfall, rather then just the downfall of a couple.

It's a bigger story then just Tristan and Susannah, and I like that about it.

[–] hgarul 9 years ago

Ditto to everything you said, Weber.

[–] Yasmin_07 8 years ago

How wrong you are. This story was not realistic at all nor was it about unrequited love.
He had a true love story with susannah and both comforted each other and it was very passionate.
He returned to marry her when he was in a better mental state. He was not as selfish as they made him out to be. He suffered from PTSD! He sent her a letter when he thought he would not return.
I even agree with another reviewer in that he went to see her and not alfred after finding out they had married.

Isabel was nothing but a child. She was 16 in the novella and 20 (still developing in more ways than one) in the movie. There was no true love there or peace. It was a means to an end. He even named his son samuel after what susannah wanted!

this movie was not only historically wrong but it was so unrealistic. It could have been bigger than Braveheart, Titanic or the Notebook. It didn't have to turn Tristan into an awful person.
The character was very contradictory. Someone capable of unconditional love is not like they made him out to be.

People who like isabel are very weird. She had psychological issues and was after a man more than twice her age. You talk about it being realistic, but it wasn't. In reality SHE would have been told to go away NOT susannah.

the movie left an awful taste in the mouth.
The first half and final scenes were epic. But the lack of creativity showed when they kept isabel in. They should have changed the scenario completely and kept it to tristan and susannah and been more realistic. We have too many films like this around. He was no legend but had the capability to be.

Alfred was actually a wolf in sheeps clothing. Seems like isabel-tristan fans can't handle that.

[–] Weber4278 8 years ago

He had a true love story with susannah and both comforted each other and it was very passionate.
He returned to marry her when he was in a better mental state. He was not as selfish as they made him out to be. He suffered from PTSD! He sent her a letter when he thought he would not return.

Yes he suffered guilt from Samuel's death and that played a big part in why he would never be able to find peace with Susannah...their relationship happened at the worst possible time for Tristan.

Throughout their entire courtship Tristan was as detached from Susannah as you could be, and his leaving her was unemotional, and cold...as was his letter telling her that everything between them was 'dead', and 'marry another'.

I'm not saying that Tristan didn't care for Susannah in his own way, but Susannah brought with her constant reminders of Samuel and his failure to save him. The best thing Tristan could have done for himself was letting her go. Yes he would probably have kept his word and married her if she hadn't married Alfred upon his return, but it's obvious to me that Tristan had already let her go in his heart before he got the news.

"It's as it should be", no tears, no real grief, just an acknowledgement that it was for the best that Susannah had moved on.

I even agree with another reviewer in that he went to see her and not alfred after finding out they had married.

He went to see her one last time to close that door for good, it was time to move on and that was his way of saying goodbye to that time in his life.

Isabel was nothing but a child. She was 16 in the novella and 20 (still developing in more ways than one) in the movie.

Isabel married Tristan when she was 20...that is NOT a child! At least back then is certainly wasn't.

Heck my mom got married to my dad when she was 20 and they have been happily married for over 30 years now. Going even further back my Grandma got married at 18, had her first child a year later.

You matured faster in those days because you had to (people died younger) and most women were married by there early twenties.

That's just the way it was even to a couple of generations ago (all of my moms friends married out of High School).

There was no true love there or peace. It was a means to an end. He even named his son samuel after what susannah wanted!

Were we even watching the same movie? 

"It was then that Tristan entered the quiet heart of his life, the bear inside him was sleeping. It is hard to talk of happiness...time go by and we feel safe too soon."

These are the words spoken in the film when it shows Tristan and Isabel's courtship. It is very clear from not just the words but the images that we are shown that Tristan had found true happiness and peace with her.

Even going to the moment when Tristan and Isabel and their children meet Susannah and Alfred at the Fair. Tristan and Isabel are all smiles, while Susannah and Alfred look completely miserable.

It's obvious that Tristan was the happiest he had been in his life since before Samuel had died. And it's made even clearer in his violent reaction to Isabel's death...which is that of a man who has just lost the woman he loved.

The way he picks her up and carries her away in tears...that is NOT the reaction of a man who didn't feel any love for his wife, I am sorry but you are only seeing what you want to see.

Tristan had known Isabel since she was a little girl, they had always had a close bond, and it was a bond that turned to love when she grew up...that is NOT a relationship you can just dismiss.

People who like isabel are very weird. She had psychological issues and was after a man more than twice her age.

Psychological issues? The person who had psychological issues was Susannah, NOT Isabel.

Isabel married Tristan when she was a grown woman, they fell in love as adults...there is NOTHING wrong with that.

Susannah was the one who killed herself because she couldn't have Tristan. The one who couldn't let Tristan go even after he sent her a letter saying there relationship was 'dead' and then moved on to marry someone else.

Are you sure we watched the same movie?

Alfred was actually a wolf in sheeps clothing.

You mean the Alfred who did nothing but love Susannah, and tried to defend her honor after Tristan slept with her, "you WILL marry her!" which at that time could ruin a womans reputation if word got out.

Yes he was jealous, yes he unfairly blamed Tristan for Samuel's death. He was not perfect by any means...but that's what makes him human. He was still a good man at heart who truly loved Susannah and his grief over the fact that he could never make her happy truly devastated him.

Him and Tristan were just so different they could never really understand each other...but in the end they were still brothers and their love for each other brings them back together.

Just my opinion, but to each his own. 

[–] Yasmin_07 8 years ago

Shannon and xajkx truly annihilated your argument lol I suggest you go and re read their comments on the "who would have chosen alfred" thread. Go ahead They truly analysed the film and the message.

Alfred was a wolf in sheeps clothing actually. You really do not pay attention nor can you judge these characters properly. He had a two faced nice guy persona but seemed like he needed a therapist. I blame the father for making him like that.

You are seeing what you want. Tristan was not cold. There was passion and more than that too! Unconditional love - tristan was capable of that. He showed he was because he had that sort of love for samuel. The writers were awful and didn't recognise their contradictory story.

I agree with xajkx, he did not mean to let her go. He showed his selfless side and it came from the heart. He did love her. He went away to deal with his PTSD so that he could be a better husband to her.He came back and his intention was to marry HER.

And you claim women were more mature? Let's talk about my background for a second. I have studied psychology, history, science and am now a student of english literature and creative writing.
People knew it was not love in those days. Actually, we should be talking about the time in which the science boom occurred. After that, huge age gap relationships slowly became extinct.
It had nothing to do with girls maturing faster. That is exactly what science has proven WRONG.
These marriages occured for exchanged in power and wealth for youth.
Others included grooming, manipulation and taking advantage.

At 20 you are developing in more ways than one. The mental side of development is soon to kick in.
I have been groomed, molested and targeted by older men who have no business doing what they do. I KNOW what it is all about.

Girls do not develop faster than boys. They look taller than boys earlier on but that is it. I am sick of the pseudo-science.

At 20, the most you should be going for is a 25 year old. I say this because I know about the development people go through. The world would be better if the truth was told.

My mothers parents are the same age.
My fathers parents? My grandad was married previously and had a daughter. He then married my grandma who was 19 and he was 40. She was infatuated and thought she loved him but it soon became obvious what he wanted. CONTROL. And of course a carer in old age. My grandmas sister was 12 when she married her older husband. It ruined her too.

I woke up one day and sought help. This movie was awful for what it promoted. She was 20, he was 40 something and he was meant to look 60 after his voyage.

The past is not meant to be emulated. Even though the majority did marry someone their own age and were protected. The 60s was when the bad stuff started and it was all glamorized again.

"It was then that Tristan entered the quiet heart of his life, the bear inside him was sleeping. It is hard to talk of happiness...time go by and we feel safe too soon."
Yes, you should read the analysis given by many others. "safe too soon". He was not back to normal and that is why the story sucked.
Shannon put it best. He was not a tristan anymore. He was a creep marrying a child.

Oh and I suggest you read the book. She is even younger. She had psychological issues and was infatuated with a man old enough to be her father.
There was no LOVE there. In the book she is throwing herself at him for sex.

That part was offensive because all she was, was a native american sex slave.
She was also a means to an end. A way of having children and nothing else.

I really do question the way you think.
Knew her from childhood? You mean he knew her when she was a prepubescent child.You do not one day plan to marry a child because they happen to be legal.
Sane people know what men like that are. There was no bond. Why are you fooling yourself?

Tristan came back from his voyage. THE MOVIE PEOPLE made him seem happier. They missed out all the bootlegging ( which only selfish people did ) and showed how happy he was. One stab knew what the reality was. He was living a facade.

Susannah did not have issues. She was truly a woman in love. She was waiting for him.
Isabel did have psychological issues. Have you studied the topic? You sound like a typical politically correct media educated person. There was no love.
At 20 she was a developing child. Decent parents would have guided their kids to know what men that age would want.

Jim Harrison is an awful writer. Isabel is nothing but a native sex slave in the book so you can throw the love bit out. Susannah is actually written worse in the book too. In the movie she is fine..

I have actually been through the whole grooming thing and educated myself on the mind, history and what love is. We choose who we love in life.
Tristan did not love his child bride. She was a means to an end.
I suggest you read the comments of those above.
It seems many people realize how wrong it is if they have been targeted by older men or once they have kids and are decent parents.
The law doesn't mean anything. It hardly takes the right things into account.
At 20 you are not grown. I hope I dont have to go scientific on you.

You need to review other comments which blow your argument out of the water. You sound like someone living in a fantasy who cannot handle the truth.

And you spoke of unrequited love. Any sane older man would have told isabel to go and find someone her own age and sort her daddy issues out. Don't be so PC. Isabel was the unrequited love or should have been.
The book and movie was a shambles. The movie had potential of becoming a truly tragic love story.
Braveheart, last of the mohicans, titanic, notebook, lotr, North and the south are all great stories of love and loss. This story mocked real love. Not realistic nor is it moral.

[–] GypsyNights 8 years ago

Wow, what an awful and poorly-argued analysis. Clearly you have your own personal issues (which you lay out for us strangers as some bizarre proof of how "right" you must be) that are heavily effecting your take on this film.

I will agree with you that this movie is absolutely unrealistic. It's basically just a symbolic American saga/fairy-tale.

Also, being a creative writing student doesn't make you any more or less "right" about your analysis of film. There are plenty of dodos with PhDs. Your personal accomplishments and tragic anecdotes are not relevant to this discussion. I'm sorry if you were molested, but your personal history doesn't serve as an argument or a qualification. If we all laid out our own personal histories, I'm sure there would be lots of different tragedies--but I don't think we would get any further in our understanding of films.

Additionally--a discussion of the book this movie is -very- loosely based on is totally irrelevant to the discussion of this film. Obviously the director/screenwriter chose to make changes. The book is its own animal. For example, when Tristan returns (in the movie) he clearly is not 60 years old. He looks basically the same age. That may be a stupid blunder on the part of the director, but we just have to accept that he is basically still in his early 30s or so. In the film, Isabel Two is obviously a woman grown up enough to make up her own mind as to whom she wants to sleep with/marry. She isn't raped/molested/preyed upon. She's independent and strong and they both choose each other freely. There isn't a single scene that shows them unhappy together, so we must accept that they are happy. The book is irrelevant.

[–] Yasmin_07 8 years ago

Also. In reality (ever heard of it) a man going after a 20 yr old when he is much older, he is seen for what he is. His intellect is the same age he has not matured etc.

Seems like many follow some sort of pseudoscience. It happens all the time in real life and normal people see it for what it is! She was not done developing. The youngest she should have been is 25. In reality she was slightly younger yet they couldn't have kept it for the movie.

Still does not defend him from how he treated susannah. I wish she was ethnic. People would be supporting her *eye roll*

[–] GypsyNights 8 years ago

Again, references to the book are irrelevant. We are talking about the movie.

I'm going to assume that Tristan is around 30. Isabel Two is 20. A ten year age difference is not that big of a deal. People marry like this all of the time. It is not molestation/predatory. I respect grown women enough to believe them capable of making their own decisions and living with the consequences. She is not a minor. You say that she is "not mature," but what behavior in the film exhibits immaturity in Isabel Two? She seems like a serious, stoic, and mature person to me--and perfectly capable of making a mature decision regarding marriage and choosing a spouse.

Are you seriously suggesting that all people should not marry until they are 25? Most people in the world do not wait that long (usually for a combination of biological, emotional, and economic reasons). Are they all just crazy? Are all the men in relationships with women under 25 predatory molesters? I hope I'm misunderstanding you, because that's just absurd.

[–] Yasmin_07 8 years ago

Not predatory molesters. Just ageist and lacking an advanced intellect.

He was older than 30 and 10 yrs IS a big difference. Most who marry before 25 notice a huge difference in themselves that did not seem to be around earlier.

Mature? Lol ok then. She didnt have psychological issues because at 12 she wanted to marry a grown man? Yeah ok.

And people marry quickly in 3rd world countries due to a lack of education. Young girls marry much older men all the time. Many indoctrinated. 10 yrs is a huge gap. 30 and 40 is fine. But 20 and 30 is not. Also I find ut hilarious that people always pick on females when it comes ti having kids. Aging sperm is worse than eggs. Science and psychology came around for a good reason. It stopped relationships like these and made people question motives of much older adults.

You seem to allow the law to define what an adult is and not proper facts. I'd like to end the argument here because it's a bit obvious you aren't even worth talking to. Go out and observe men like that. Just because the law says youre an adult it does not mean you are nor does it mean your mind is capable of making certain decisions (but oh well because many women do learn and wake up one day, learn from experience ir just continue living in denial as to why a creep decided to get with them)
Good day

[–] GypsyNights 8 years ago

I'm not talking about the law; that's another matter.

I say this: I believe women over 18 (and some even younger) are intelligent enough to make decisions for themselves. I don't believe all women are victims that freely marry men that are older than them. They are free adults making free decisions. You are a moralizer who unfairly passes judgement on millions of people. Who are you to say what is right for another free adult? I'm glad you're not in charge of anybody except yourself.

As for being sexual and romantic--having those feelings as a child is normal. Children don't just become sexual/romantic overnight. It's a gradual process. And little girls having crushes on men is normal. That's why little girls put pictures of Clark Gable/Brad Pitt on their walls and have crushes on members of boy bands, older cousins, and male teachers, etc. This is very NORMAL behavior. I'm not suggesting children engage in relationships with adults, but crushes are benign and a normal part of a person's growth.

[–] Jingizu (30) 7 years ago

Well said GypsyNights.

[–] sarizonana 8 years ago

To weber and Yasmin i can see both of your points.

Yasmin wants the love story i wanted first. The star crossed lovers which is more romantic and nicer to see on screen than unrequited love but Weber is right, we have thousands of those but we never before experienced on screen that the leading female character would expirience that feeling at least not from our leading man.

Maybe its not the most realistic love story but like Wber said its different and more relatable since unrequited love happens quite often. Its just so hard to see when it happens to the protagonist and is done by the other protagonist. Ususally in love stories the one who suffers the unrequited love is the secondary character like Jacob in twilight to give an example.

Yasmin maybe in the book Tristan is a better character and much more likable but in the film itself is quite clear Trostan did fall for Isabell i know its a shocker for people who look for a doomed love story with the passion of star crossed lovers but now i have culled off with Weber Explanation its good we got something different from this film.

Its just a shock at the beginning where we first react with denial and see things likevwe want to them frustration when the story was not what we wanted and then rellief when we think hey at least we saw soomething new in a love story.

[–] Yasmin_07 8 years ago

The book one is even worse. And to the person who replied an hr ago, studying something does make you more observant. I can see what this story was about.

People keep claiming love and not motives which is really sad. Only creeps love kids.

It should have ended up promoted real love. It wasn't moral nor is it teaching the masses a good lesson. No wonder there's so many sociopaths in society. When movies promote such awful behaviour and the idiots watching defend it, it will only have a bad effect.

Im not going to continue typing and typing. Awful movie with good music. I'm glad it isn't rated as a classic.

[–] Yasmin_07 8 years ago

Also seeing a child and taking a liking to them does not mean you're falling.

In real life princess diana like figures get and deserve the sympathy they get. But put an ethnic character in and somehow it's all accepted. Scandal is the same. Pathetic really. You can continue to assume my life has issues. I assure you it does not. I'm just observant.

[–] jeffer23 8 years ago

People who like isabel are very weird. She had psychological issues and was after a man more than twice her age. You talk about it being realistic, but it wasn't. In reality SHE would have been told to go away NOT susannah.

You completely failed to understand the movie. Even though it is extremely weird now it was not considered that weird in those days. It was legal to get married at the age of 10 in Montana until sometime close to 1920 when numerous states raised the minimum age.

It was also almost impossible for a girl like Isabel Two to get married in those days due to her mixed Indian origin. So of course she would would admire the only younger man around who loves the Indian lifestyle. There were no other Indians or mixed race individuals in the area. Tristan's entire early life was like that of an Indian. So Tristan and Isabel Two had a lot in common.

There was actually nothing weird about this movie except some of the screwed up dates if you look at it in the proper context of history.

[–] Jingizu (30) 7 years ago

I completely disagree with you. Firstly, Isabel Two wasn't a child any more at 20, especially not in those times. Secondly, One Stab himself tells how marrying Isabel brought the only time of peace and happiness that Tristan experienced as an adult. That the bear in him slept. No matter who was the mother or who suggested it first, Tristan was of course always going to name his first son Samuel after the brother he loved so much.

Where is Tristan twice her age? He was probably in his late twenties, early thirties at most, when he returned to the ranch.

Even in the novella where Isabel is 16, it was considered a marriageable age in those times.

[–] katzinoire 9 years ago

SPOILERS****Tristan marrying the lovely "little Izzy" his true soulmate and the one person capable of taming the "bear" within him remains my favorite part I was so sad when Izzy dies, she was such a pure soul raised with love and compassion, taught by the Colonel who was so obviously pleased, as was Isabelle (the Colonel's wife) with the match (admit most people were) Tristan was already loyal to her as they were close before he left so breaking her heart would never be an option-Alfred's casual dismissal of their love also shows how ingrained he is with the "rules". Surely the gentle and quietly strong Samuel (the brother) would have gotten it. Isabelle 2 obviously agreed with honoring her lost "brother" by naming her first born after him-she loved him and again in a chaste and pure way. She was a born match to Tristan-her foreshadowing her marriage was sweet (what 12 year old didn't think they were going to marry the older crush if their dreams?) then her welcoming home Tristan with the puppy gift-the peaceful vibe the actress conveyed was just lovely. I believe his original attraction to Suzanna was partly because she was all he had left of his beloved, treasured baby brother and they were united in their raw grief-he realized he had to leave to heal the guilt he felt by not only his perception of "failing" his baby brother in protecting him, but also by claiming his brothers intended. The most surprising character showing strength is quiet but devoted from a distance Isabelle 1-her and Tristan had remained distant until his impending marriage to Izzy 2-she gifts her bridal gown to Izzy 2 with such affection and approval and we are reminded how much she does love her family-she left because of the elements but she still had a respectful and loving relationship with the Colonel-Alfred again displays his lack of understanding of emotion when he caustically states that the Colonel has experience with "a woman who doesn't love him"-I disagree-the Deckers named Izzy 2 after Isabelle for a reason-she obviously had survived a great deal with them out in the open until the boys became teens and she went to live somewhere less scary. You see the affection and how happy the Deckers are when she shows up for the wedding and Isabelle seems to be around more once her grandchildren are born. The story is about unconditional love and unconventional love. The standard "star crossed" wouldn't work well for the story and all the facets involved are what make it engaging

[–] Yasmin_07 8 years ago

How creepy is your comment?She did not tame him.
He came back to marry susannah, his one true love. She was there and still developing in more ways than one.
Study psychology and biology why don't you. She had ISSUES. In the book she is even younger and throwing herself at him for sex. Nothing else.
She was a child lusting and crushing on a man who was not interested in her that way both times. She was a means to an end. A way of creating children. Nothing else.

OHHH and samuel? that was SUSANNAH's idea.She planned to name Tristan and HER son that. Isabel was dumb. She did not honor anyone.

I think you need to get your head out of the sand and read the book even and be more critical. He loved only susannah and there was no love in his and isabel's relationship.She was nothing but a means to an end.

In reality no decent parent, in that time or today, would be joyous over the fact that their child is horny over a grown man. Unconventional? there is a name for men who like children.

the native theme became a JOKE after the marriage. He wasn't a legend. The movie should have cut her out

[–] morganseer 8 years ago

Jesus, Yasmine, you really need to simmer down and stop insinuating all the other posters are "creepy." They seem fine to me. You seem overwrought and overreactive to me.

Since you love to pull the "I'm more educated than you" card, I'll tell you right now that I have a Ph.D. in psychology. And here's how my knowledge informs me:

1) Having sexual FEELINGS for a young girl is normal. It's ACTING on them that is wrong. If you are as informed as you keep telling us, then surely you know that sexual feelings in humans are all over the place. They don't fall into neat little boundaries. It's up to us to use our neocortex to keeps us from doing harm.

2) Anything that two adults do consensually is OK. Regardless of their age. Older men are only creepy if they try to force their attention on young women, not if they are returning their interest.

3) If by "there is a name for men who like children" you mean pedophilia, than you're way off. That name is only applied to people who are exclusively attracted to PREPUBESCENT children. Since Isabel was attracted to Tristan before he left, it's fairly safe to assume she was pubescent. Which most adolescents are by the time they're 13, and certainly by the age of 20. Moreover, according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5), to qualify for the label of pedophilia, the older person has to either act on his/her sexual desire, or be significantly distressed by it. I saw evidence of neither in the film.

I don't know where you got your definition of adulthood. Well, actually I do. You took the information that the brain slows down in development at age 25, and interpreted that to mean that adulthood doesn't begin until then. But hey, why stop there? The brain slows down even more at 60, why not put the line there?

Are you really going to tell 20 year olds who are making major decisions about their education and careers at that time, or entering the military, that they aren't capable of making decisions about sex and marriage? I certainly wouldn't presume.

[–] punxgurrl 9 years ago

No.

Tristan was too damaged and complicated and tragic to love her back at that time. That's what made it epic and sad and depressing because you knew he was a good person, but was just unable to return love due to his PTSD.

[–] ShannonTriumphant 9 years ago

I get what you are saying and I felt that this was how they portrayed it: that two lovers who wanted each other equally and deeply, simply could not come together for a variety of reasons. If you watch the scene when Susannah first arrives in Montana and they meet Tristan coming from the hunt, just watch the look he gives her! He can barely speak to say hello at first, he is so taken with her. I wish I knew what he says to One Stab but I'm sure it was a bit salacious.

All the men, even the Colonel have some strong attraction to Susannah. I never felt that Alfred felt real love, but just what he described, like something from a novel. Samuel simply worshiped her in a boyish way but Tristan felt a full, adult passion, both sexual and emotional.

That's why you get all those awkward scenes--the staring, his watching her when they play tennis or she's at the piano. She watches him as he breaks the new mare and is obviously feeling desire.

I also never felt that Tristan really loved Isobel as a wife, but more as a companion and friend--someone he knew well, with no emotional problems; she steadied him, but that's not real love.

Your comparison to Newland Archer and Countess Olenska was one that I thought of often, though their obstacles were different. But I got the distinct feeling that Tristan loved Susannah passionately; he just realized that his trauma from the war and losing Samuel made him an unfit companion. He loved her enough to go away, so as not to hurt her more (remember the scene when he comes home, all bloody and probably drunk and when she wakes him up he pulls that giant knife on her? I think that was the breaking point; he couldn't trust himself any more.)

Don't get me wrong...
It might be unbelievable,
But let's not say so long

[–] Yasmin_07 8 years ago

I love your analysis. Susannah and tristan had a lot of potential.
You know what should have happened? A tristan and isoult situation. Same tragedy but no isabel and unrealistic storyline.

[–] IcingOnTheCake 8 years ago

It was a love story. The soulmates, so to speak, were Tristan and Isabel Two.
Susannah was pathetic. Someone should have reminded her there were other men outside of the Ludlow family. I'm surprised she didn't also spend romantic time with the father. I hate the way Susannah was depicted.

[–] Redart27 8 years ago

^ This is why fan fiction exists, so overly obsessed fans can re-write stories to fit their own fantasies.

I thought the film was right as is.

be ayse der wax falama. ok hoone

[–] bvandellen 8 years ago

It was a tragic love story between Tristan and Susannah. If it were meant to be a love story between Tristan and Isabelle 2, there would have been more development on it right away. Instead of him dating her because Susannah is unavailablr.