EPISODE · May 7, 2025 · 20 MIN
BONUS: Amber Tamblyn Talks 'Legend'
from 5AM StoryTalk · host Cole Haddon
AMBER TAMBLYN – actress, writer-director, author and poet, Substacker, and activist – returns to discuss a seminal piece of art from her life: Ridley Scott's fantasy film LEGEND (1985), written by William Hjortsberg and starring Tom Cruise. What does the film's “dance of shadows” as I call it, or the “seduction of darkness” I’ve seen others refer to it, reveal about her?This bonus episode was released half a year earlier than it became available on Spotify. To get access to all bonus episodes like this one upon initial release, become a paid subscriber to 5AM StoryTalk at Apple or Substack:Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/5am-storytalk/id1807437928Substack: https://colehaddon.substack.com/Be sure to listen to the first part of my chat with Amber, too: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/amber-tamblyn-actor-author-joan-of-arcadia/id1807437928?i=1000704542394Amber and I will cover:· How the ’80s were heaven for weird kids like us who loved fantasy films like Legend, Labyrinth, and Conan the Barbarian· The feminist under and overtones of the “dance of shadows” in the context of Legend and Amber’s own childhood, which reveal our complicated relationship with “evil” and our own darker instincts· The possibility that Cruise’s character, Jack, is as corrosive a force in the Legend as Darkness and, as such, the film was intended to be far more subversive than it was ultimately allowed to be onscreen· How Scott uses “vibes” – especially in the “dance of shadows” – to convey something dark, sensual, and forbidden far better than the film’s text probably does· Legend’s many cuts, which resulted in the United States being given a watered-down version with one score and the rest of the world being given versions even more feminist in their executionLINKS:· Trailer for Legend: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_U3I6V0SS_k· Read about Legend here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Legend_(2015_film)· Watch the “dance of shadows” US version: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pxhD70-L24U· Watch the “dance of shadows” UK version: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qGJhG1zgeuc· Amber Tamblyn’s website (includes info on all books and articles discussed): https://www.amtam.com/· Amber’s Listening in the Dark Substack: https://ambertamblyn.substack.com/· Trailer for Paint It Black (currently available to stream on Amazon and Apple in the U.S.; consult your platforms outside of the States): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pQeIDXxxd-0SUBSCRIBE TO THE '5AM STORYTALK NEWSLETTER'https://colehaddon.substack.com/You'll gain access to both the 5AM StoryTalk newsletter and all episodes of this podcast – including exclusive bonus episodes in which my guests discuss seminal pieces of art from their lives. Ask questions in the comments section there, too!SUBSCRIBE TO THE '5AM STORYTALK PODCAST' AT APPLEhttps://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/5am-storytalk/id1807437928A paid subscription at Apple will get you access to all of my bonus episodes in which my guests return to break down a seminal artwork from their lives.TIP JARNot up for a paid subscription but appreciate the work that’s gone into making this podcast happen? You can “buy me a coffee” here: https://buymeacoffee.com/colehaddonSOCIAL MEDIAFollow Cole/5AM StoryTalk at…5AM StoryTalk @ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/5amstorytalkpodcast/Cole Haddon @ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/colehaddonwashere/Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/colehaddon.bsky.socialThreads: https://www.threads.com/ColehaddonwashereEMAIL[email protected] StoryTalk would like to acknowledge the Traditional Owners of the land on which this podcast is recorded, the Djarra people of the Kulin Nation and pay respects to Elders past and present.This podcast's music is by Cary Brothers. https://www.carybrothers.com/
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BONUS: Amber Tamblyn Talks 'Legend'
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