Literature in Songs #5: Call Me Legion

There is a scene in The Exorcism of Emily Rose in which Emily, in a German tongue, screeches, "I was with Legion." The reference is to a bible passage in which Jesus meets a man possessed by demons. When asked its name the demon, through the man, replies,

My name is Legion, for we are many.

The Exorcism of Emily Rose (2005)

I'm inordinately fond of that quote. It sends shivers up my spine. So much pea-soup-spewing imagery. (I could have sworn the line, or something like it, is spoken in The Exorcist but I can't find reference to it anywhere.)

Regan, pre-pea soup

The word "legion" itself means vast horde. It's the juxtaposition of the singular and plural that make this quote really work for me: My name is Legion, for we are many. The implication is, of course, that there is a multitude of demons inhabiting one body and they've managed to work together to create one cohesive voice. Creepy as.

This quote has inspired or been referenced in dozens of books, songs and films. But here's one track you've likely not heard before--this version at least. A favourite movie soundtrack from my childhood (and a favourite movie) is the Jewel of the Nile. I went hunting for a track on YouTube called "Legion (Here I Come)", as it appears on the record, and ended up with this one, a song simply called "Legion" by Mark Shreeve. It's a bizarre electronica track with an even more bizarre film clip. But I like it--the track at least. I'm rather fond of electronica and could imagine this being busted out on dance floors in the eighties. If only I had been there!



Happy New Year!!

Fictional writer: Kathleen Turner's Joan Wilder

Joan Wilder one of my favourite tongue-in-cheek heroines. She's also a writer--a romance writer who becomes embroiled in adventures straight out of romance novels. The films, Romancing the Stone (1984) and The Jewel of the Nile (1985), poke fun at the Fabio-era, bodice-ripper romances popular at the time.


Wilder's "Fabio" is Jack T. Colton, played by Michael Douglas, a scoundrel and unlikely hero. Each film concerns the hunt for treasure--or rather, Colton's hunt for treasure, and Wilder's nobler hunt for her sister (Romancing the Stone) and fulfillment as a writer (The Jewel of the Nile).

These films are very funny as well as being great adventure romances. While they parody romance novels it's in a very affectionate manner. Perhaps "homage" would be a better word than parody: while there's a lot of action, in the end these films embrace what they truly are--romances--and give the audience glorious happily-ever-afters.


The Jewel of the Nile has always been higher in my esteem for several reasons: I watched it before Romancing the Stone, Danny DeVito gets a funnier role, and Joan Wilder has a lot more spunk. It's also got a kick-arse sound track. Billy Ocean's "When the Going Gets Tough (The Tough Get Going)" was on high rotation on the record player when I was a kid and I just adore it.



Now, over to you: Who are your favourite fictional writers?