Loved By The Sun
In 1984, Ridley Scott began work on his most ambitious project yet. Alien and Blade Runner proved he could handle very complicated projects involving composite work, miniatures, and elaborate costumes and makeup, but “Legend” would be an order of magnitude more complicated.
Legend uses Celtic mythology to create a new version of the Eden Story in the bible. Jack, an elven forester, is in love with Lili, a human princess and a maiden. Using teenage actors Tom Cruise and Mia Sara in the lead roles.
The Lord of Darkness (Tim Curry in one of the greatest prosthetic makeups ever envisioned by Rob Bottin) seeks the Unicorn's horn to destroy the world. Sending his demons out, they trick Lili into using her pure maiden powers to tame the male unicorn and slice off his horn. Without her mate, the mare unicorn is dying, and the universe is descending into darkness.
To save creation, Jack must transform from forester to knight and save the universe from the Lord of Darkness.
The Unicorn is the symbol of Scotland. His horn represents the male counterpart to female creative powers. It has to do with the shape. Figure it out. Women create, men heal. The touch of the unicorn's horn can heal any wound and turn poison water sweet. Representing the Scottish discomfort with English rule, the Unicorn is untamable, except by the touch of a pure maiden. Upon sight of her, the unicorn cannot help but rest his head in her lap. In this position, the maiden can slip a golden rope around his neck and capture him.
Any form of a horse is considered magical in Celtic culture. The Unicorn is a water horse, a creature of elemental power.
For me, Unicorns represent the Tennessee Williams play, “The Glass Menagerie.” His first successful play, Laura, has a deformed leg, making her extremely antisocial. She pours out all of her love on her collection of glass animals, her favorite being a tiny unicorn. When its horn is accidentally broken off, she mourns the loss because now he’s just a horse.
Williams’ sister Rose had the same disease as my brother. At the time, there were few reliable treatments for the disease. Doctors suggested a frontal lobotomy to cure her mania. When the lobotomy didn’t go as planned, she was left unable to care for herself for the rest of her life. Williams committed all the proceeds of “The Glass Menagerie to her care.
An ancient ally told me that someone dear loved unicorns. We’ll see.
