Middle Earth links
18 Oct 2011 05:17 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
thisbluespiritSince a lot of my flist seem to have listened to the R4 LOTR adaptation, or, um, have now been inspired to do so, I thought the following might be of interest: (You know, if anyone ever feels the need to defriend me for my unreasonable tendency to gush about obscure British productions that are at least 30 years old, I will understand.)
Anyway, I found at this blog, some lovely scans from the appropriate 1981 edition of the Radio Times, including two cast photos, one of which is Bill Nighy and Ian Holm in studio with what is presumably Peter Woodthorpe. (I thought that one might be of interest).
Also, randomly, I came across a LOTR forum which was having a rewatch/discussion thread. Why do I mention this? Only because Brian Sibley, one of the two writers responsible for the dramatisation joined in the discussion at episode two, & attempts to answer any queries or criticisms as best as he can for the rest of it! (You do need to pay some attention, as they don't seem to have any way of distinguishing quoting the last comment from the new comment. Possibly it's archived or something).
Naturally, my favourite bit (of what I've read - it's a long thread, and I stopped at the episode I've got up to) was this: Brian Sibley, on which cast members were (unlike Michael Hordern!), familiar with the book: I'm trying to remember... Ian Holm, I think, had already read the book and certainly read it in close detail while preparing for the role. David Collings (Legolas) was a devoted fan of the book and knew it well which was a great help in the Fellowship scenes. I'm sure some of the others had read it or seen the truncated Bakshi version. The time available and the fees paid would probably not have induced many who hadn't read the book..." ♥ (I can't remember what it was now, but there was something during Fellowship that made me think he'd probably read it, but I thought maybe that was just me being biased.)
(Also for the attributed quote to John Le Mesurier who'd written to a friend to say he was playing Bilbo, didn't understand a word of it, but was having a lovely time along with Michael Hordern, who also didn't understand a word of it. :lol:)
(The icon bears no relation to the post, except for expressing my feeling of how this production continues to rise and rise in my estimation.)
Anyway, I found at this blog, some lovely scans from the appropriate 1981 edition of the Radio Times, including two cast photos, one of which is Bill Nighy and Ian Holm in studio with what is presumably Peter Woodthorpe. (I thought that one might be of interest).
Also, randomly, I came across a LOTR forum which was having a rewatch/discussion thread. Why do I mention this? Only because Brian Sibley, one of the two writers responsible for the dramatisation joined in the discussion at episode two, & attempts to answer any queries or criticisms as best as he can for the rest of it! (You do need to pay some attention, as they don't seem to have any way of distinguishing quoting the last comment from the new comment. Possibly it's archived or something).
Naturally, my favourite bit (of what I've read - it's a long thread, and I stopped at the episode I've got up to) was this: Brian Sibley, on which cast members were (unlike Michael Hordern!), familiar with the book: I'm trying to remember... Ian Holm, I think, had already read the book and certainly read it in close detail while preparing for the role. David Collings (Legolas) was a devoted fan of the book and knew it well which was a great help in the Fellowship scenes. I'm sure some of the others had read it or seen the truncated Bakshi version. The time available and the fees paid would probably not have induced many who hadn't read the book..." ♥ (I can't remember what it was now, but there was something during Fellowship that made me think he'd probably read it, but I thought maybe that was just me being biased.)
(Also for the attributed quote to John Le Mesurier who'd written to a friend to say he was playing Bilbo, didn't understand a word of it, but was having a lovely time along with Michael Hordern, who also didn't understand a word of it. :lol:)
(The icon bears no relation to the post, except for expressing my feeling of how this production continues to rise and rise in my estimation.)
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Date: 18 Oct 2011 05:42 pm (UTC)I didn't listen to one earlier 'cos I was watching the first two eps of Midnight is a Place courtesy of LoveFilm!
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Date: 18 Oct 2011 06:39 pm (UTC)My Googling has made me learn that you and I are listening to very slightly different versions! I think you have the 13 episode broadcast version? And I have the 2001 edition with Prologues/Epilogues by Ian Holm, and re-edited to match the books, which means a) I have 11 discs of story (& 1 of music) and b) they start and end at different places, and from Two Towers, some of it is in a different order. But otherwise the same. I'm just noting this in case our conversations start getting confusing, because I've no idea how much or how little my edition has been re-ordered!! :-)
Oh, gosh. Heh. You haven't?! I dread to ask what you think!! :lol:
I was just going to reply to your other comment just now to ask if your laptop was okay yet - and not too horribly dear if so? :-/
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Date: 18 Oct 2011 06:47 pm (UTC)Oh right. I could've borrowed that version, but it would've cost me 3 times as much (£4.50 instead of £1.50)
Um, not much happened in MiaP as yet (watched the first two eps).
Haven't heard anything about the laptop as yet...
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Date: 18 Oct 2011 07:07 pm (UTC)Well, we only had this version & it was free hire for teen SW. But people seem to think the episode format is better, anyway. Either way, it's the same thing in essentials; you were indeed wise to save your pennies!!
Ohh, dear - will keep my fingers crossed for you.
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Date: 18 Oct 2011 07:11 pm (UTC)So long as the essentials are there! I note that the R4 version, like the movies, skips poor old Tom Bombadil... :(
Thanks!
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Date: 18 Oct 2011 07:20 pm (UTC)Oh, yes, yours is the broadcast version. This one also has everything, but I think a little re-ordered, which some people object to, plus some v short prologue/epilogue things with an older Frodo, which are quite nice, but highly inessential and frippery!!
[On the thread I linked to] Brian Sibley talks about leaving out Tom Bombadil - that he wrote a line about the Old Forest, so those who know, know it happened, and he got the chance to dramatise it for R4 separately years later, but without the same cast, aside from having Michael Hordern back as Gandalf to narrate it. (A Tales of Middle Earth set, with that and some of the short stories, I understand.) But, yes, nobody wants Tom Bombadil! ;-)
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Date: 18 Oct 2011 07:22 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 18 Oct 2011 07:38 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 18 Oct 2011 07:40 pm (UTC):D
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Date: 18 Oct 2011 07:42 pm (UTC):-p
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Date: 18 Oct 2011 07:46 pm (UTC)no subject
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Date: 19 Oct 2011 09:05 am (UTC)no subject
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Date: 19 Oct 2011 09:07 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 18 Oct 2011 11:00 pm (UTC)Interestingly, and frustratingly, my checked-out copy of the LotR audio doesn't have much information. It has the simplest outside cover imaginable, with no extra information outside or inside. Even the online library info's a bit bare, just noting that it stars Ian Holm and features a cast of 25. No other names listed! But it's the correct version, and has 13 CDs.
Oh dear, the animated Bakshi version. Do not want. I saw that way back in the day (1978?), and it seemed to glory in the "pornography of violence," to the point that I was unsettled and my parents regretted having gone to see it. Yes, it's a dark, violent story, but it can be done with style, and Bakshi had none. *shudder*
Hah, the quote about the stars who had no idea what they were doing reminds me of accounts I've read of the "Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy" radio show, and perhaps the televised version -- some had no clue what they were doing, but it was a job, so... ;-)
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Date: 19 Oct 2011 09:11 am (UTC)Damn, I'll have to think of something else... :lol: Aw, thanks. :-D
Oh, that's odd. Still, with it being a library thing, there could easily have been a little booklet-y thing that went missing. The link above has lots of fun info, if you're interested.
Hah, I was going to say, I saw that once, when I was young, and didn't remember it being violent - and then realised that I saw it on TV, so it probably wasn't! As far as I can see, the main interesting thing about it, is that the BBC got Peter Woodthorpe (Gollum) and Michael Graham Cox (Boromir) to reprise their roles for the Radio version.
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Date: 19 Oct 2011 02:07 pm (UTC)OTOH, there was an animated "Watership Down" that was dark and violent, but quite well done, and I was okay with seeing that one. Hmm.
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Date: 19 Oct 2011 04:02 pm (UTC)... But Watership Down scared me to death! :lol: That opening with all the dark rabbits!! I don't think I ever looked at a rabbit in the same way again. (Rabbits are Evil. *nod*)
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Date: 19 Oct 2011 02:01 am (UTC)no subject
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Date: 19 Oct 2011 06:14 am (UTC)Not only are the pics great (and David Collings appears to be standing next to Richard O'Callaghan, presumably because it was the corner for those wearing distracting jumpers), the jumper is the most un-elf-like thing possible (I probably should not have seen that until I finished this; it's 1981, it's even possible someone knitted the thing) but even better, Brian Sibley said on that forum that Stephen Thorne went round wearing tape round his neck so that he rustled - and there he is! :-D Also, I'm guessing the one who actually looks a bit like a dwarf must be Douglas Livingstone, which is great. He looks exactly like he sounds!
Also, a splendid typo in the text, that Michael Hordern was disturbed to find Gandalf fell in Moira... :lol:
(I woke up too early this morning, so that cheered me up a lot. I saved it. I may also be slightly madder than usual...)
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Date: 19 Oct 2011 06:21 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 19 Oct 2011 08:59 am (UTC)Um, my brain is a strange place, and it produced a Missing Scene, just after they left Lothlorien:
GIMLI: What is that strange garment you are wearing, Legolas?
LEGOLAS: It is Elvish raiment. A gift of Lorien.
GIMLI: Your gift was a bow and a knife.
LEGOLAS: Since you will know, Gimli, the sister of my mother's mother dwells yet in Lorien. She has great kindness of heart and is swift and keen with needle and twine.
GIMLI: Hmm. Yet her eyesight fails her in these later years?
LEGOLAS: No. It does not. Such garments have considerable powers to ward off the chill of winter. We Sylvan Elves wear them frequently.
GIMLI: I should keep your cloak close about you, if I were you.
LEGOLAS: I shall.
GIMLI: And save that to scare the Orcs and not your unfortunate companions.
LEGOLAS *visibly considers thwacking Gimli over the head with the oar*
GIMLI: Peace, Legolas! I too have a formidable Great Aunt...
***
Umm. Yes, well. (It might have been the combination of LOTR, Tough Guide re-reading, and then knitting/jumpers.) Have a bit of fanart I found of him as Legolas instead (entirely jumper free) in compensation: http://thecosmicdancer.deviantart.com/art/My-Legolas-60441238
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Date: 19 Oct 2011 06:22 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 21 Oct 2011 04:51 pm (UTC)