The film whose art director was Dorree Cooper was based on a 1922 novella by the poetry and fiction writer James Harrison.
 Based on the 1979 novella of the same title by Jim Harrison, the film is about three brothers and their father living in the wilderness and plains of Montana in the early 20th century and how their lives are affected by nature, history, war and love. 
James Harrison (December 11, 1937  March 26, 2016) was an American writer known for his poetry, fiction, reviews, essays about the outdoors, and writings about food. 
 She was nominated for an Academy Award in the category Best Art Direction for the film "Legends of the Fall". 
