MovieChat Forums > Legends of the Fall (1995) Discussion > Samuel was stupid!

Samuel was stupid!

posted 9 years ago by sxymommacitaprincess_227
7 replies | jump to latest

Samuel should have known better than to volunteer for a mission like that! He signed his own death wish! That was stupid on his part! He should have had Tristan go with him!

[–] IcingOnTheCake 9 years ago

Samuel had something to prove. He was always being protected. He wanted to be his own man.
The problem began with Susannah. The entire family would have been better if they'd never met her. She filled Samuel's head with war ideology.

[–] RoadSideAssistance 9 years ago

Yah, at the mid point of the movie when she stays because of the weather the Indian man narrates, "The Colonel insisted she stay. I think she should've left, she was like the water that freezes in a rock, splitting it apart." or something to that effect.

To Icing's point, she filled Sam's head with war. Then she somewhat accepted Alfred only to break his heart by going for Tristan. Tristan and his brother had a falling out then, and because of that his brother left to go do politics (probably finding his own success to spite his family) which tore him and his father apart.

Only at the end when Susan dies does the whole family reconcile.

[–] Victoriavixen 9 years ago

She didn't want him to go. She didn't feel Samuel's head with war ideology.

[–] Jingizu (30) 8 years ago

No she didn't. She begged him not go to war.

[–] Victoriavixen 9 years ago

Different time period. There was a lot of honor in serving your country (even though the US weren't yet involved in WWI until later, Samuel wanted to do his part) Remember, his father was a retired Army Colonel, and even though he objected to his youngest son going off to fight, he probably knew it was his destiny.

[–] angrygemini 9 years ago

Yeah, I tried not to, but I was cracking up when he got his azz lit up on that fence, dumb azz. He was too sure of himself and making all that noise, I didn't care when he was gone. He was very naive and eager to join a war he thought would make him a real man. Smh. He got exactly what he wanted, excitement.

[–] Weber4278 9 years ago

The problem with Samuel is that he was too overprotected, yes he was naive and idealistic (something that comes with youth) but probably if he hadn't been so coddled all his life he might not have made such a reckless decision to go to war.

It was really a form of rebellion, it was Samuel trying to break free of his father and brothers control and anyone who is the youngest sibling, or the baby of their family can probably relate to Samuels frustrations on some level. The more you are 'protected' the more you try and run into danger, the tighter your chains the harder you fight to break free of them.

Samuels rebellion was inevitable, but his downfall was his naivety as he had no idea what he was getting himself into.

I also feel it was completely wrong of their father to place the burden of babysitting Samuel on Tristans shoulders...that just added to Tristans guilt when Samuel died thinking he not only failed his brother but his father as well. War is horrific enough without having to constantly keep an eye on your little brother, not that Tristan wouldn't have anyway...but it was wrong of Colonel Ludlow to place that extra burden on his sons shoulders in the first place.