This month marks the 40th anniversary of the release of Legend, a dark fantasy film featuring Tom Cruise that was partially filmed at Silver Springs State Park.
Directed by Ridley Scott, the film stars Cruise as “Jack,” a mortal who lives in solitude with forest animals. Jack battles the “Lord of Darkness,” portrayed by Tim Curry, in a struggle to maintain the eternal balance between light and darkness.
According to Figmentfly.com, while principal photography on the movie began in March 1984 primarily at Pinewood Studios in the United Kingdom, the project faced significant hurdles, including a fire that destroyed the studio’s “007” stage in June 1984.
Following over a dozen rewrites and various edits, the film’s U.S. premiere was delayed. The film eventually had an international debut in 1985 and was released in the United States on April 18, 1986.
A pivotal scene approximately 20 minutes into the movie features Jack’s love interest, Lili (Mia Sara), throwing a ring off a cliff as a challenge to her suitors. Jack dives into the water to retrieve it, a sequence that was shot in Marion County.
All of the underwater sequences in the film were shot at Silver Springs because of the park’s crystal-clear water, which allows for close-up shots that clearly show Cruise’s face.
In the movie, Cruise can be seen swimming underwater for over a minute, maneuvering himself through the structures.
Now world-renowned for his death-defying stunts, the shots confirm that Cruise learned to perform the underwater maneuvers himself.
The specialized underwater crew that worked on the film included John McCloughlin, Jordan Klein, and Gavin McKinney.
According to BoxOfficeMojo, Legend earned approximately $16.84 million.
Just one month after the film’s release, Paramount Pictures released another film starring Cruise that ended up being the highest-grossing film in 1986: Top Gun.
Have you ever seen Legend? Do you have any stories about its filming at Silver Springs? Share them in the comments below or write a letter to the editor.