The Hobbit (1968 radio series): Difference between revisions

From Tolkien Gateway
No edit summary
 
 
(40 intermediate revisions by 11 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
'''''The Hobbit''''' is a [[1968]] BBC Radio adaptation of [[J.R.R. Tolkien]]'s [[The Hobbit]].
{{cleanup}}{{disambig-more|The Hobbits|[[The Hobbit (disambiguation)]]}}
'''''The Hobbit''''' is a [[1968]] [[BBC|BBC Radio]] adaptation of [[J.R.R. Tolkien]]'s [[The Hobbit]].


The series was adapted by [[Michael Kilgariff]] and produced by [[John Powell]] in eight half-hour mono episodes for BBC Radio 4.
The series was adapted by Michael Kilgariff and produced by John Powell in eight half-hour mono episodes for BBC Radio 4.


==Story==
==Story==
The radio series follows the [[The Hobbit#synopsis|plot]] of the original novel (revised [[1951]] version) very closely, except for the addition of The Tale Bearer, a narrator whose account of the story is often interrupted and embellished by the protagonist [[Bilbo Baggins]] in the role of secondary narrator.
The radio series follows the [[The Hobbit#synopsis|plot]] of the second edition very closely, except for the addition of The Tale Bearer, a narrator whose account of the story is often interrupted and embellished by the protagonist [[Bilbo Baggins]] in the role of secondary narrator.


Bilbo, a stay-at-home [[hobbit]], is approached by the [[wizard]] [[Gandalf]] to undertake a dangerous adventure, and despite his initial reluctance he soon finds himself accompanying [[Thorin Oakenshield]] and his party of [[dwarves]] on a long and difficult quest to recover the dwarves' treasure from [[Smaug]] the [[Dragons|dragon]], encountering [[trolls]], [[goblins]], [[Gollum]] (acquiring a [[One Ring|magic ring]] near Gollum's cave), [[wargs]], [[eagles]], giant [[spiders]], [[elves]] and [[men]] along the way. In the process Bilbo is transformed from a clumsy, timid and rather comic figure into a dignified and occasionally heroic everyman.
Bilbo, a stay-at-home [[Hobbits|hobbit]], is approached by the [[wizard]] [[Gandalf]] to undertake a dangerous adventure, and despite his initial reluctance he soon finds himself accompanying [[Thorin]] and his party of [[dwarves]] on a long and difficult quest to recover the dwarves' treasure from [[Smaug]] the [[Dragons|dragon]], encountering [[trolls]], [[Orcs|goblins]], [[Gollum]] (acquiring a [[The One Ring|magic ring]] near Gollum's cave), [[wargs]], [[eagles]], giant [[spiders]], [[elves]] and [[men]] along the way. In the process Bilbo is transformed from a clumsy, timid and rather comic figure into a dignified and occasionally heroic everyman.


==Production==
===Episodes===
The show's production was complicated by the inclusion of multiple sound effects (often inserted live while recording the actors' performances), songs from the novel, and special sounds and electronic voice treatments created by the BBC Radiophonic Workshop. All of the trolls, elves, goblins, wargs and eagles have treated voices, as does Gandalf when imitating the trolls.
{| class="wikitable"
|- bgcolor="#CCCCCC"
! Episode !! Air date
|-
| An Unexpected Party || [[29 September|September 29]], [[1968]]
|-
| Out of the Frying-pan into the Fire || [[6 October|October 6]], 1968
|-
| Riddles in the Dark || [[13 October|October 13]], 1968
|-
| Strange Lodgings || [[20 October|October 20]], 1968
|-
| Barrels out of Bond || [[27 October|October 27]], 1968
|-
| A Warm Welcome || [[3 November|November 3]], 1968
|-
| The Gathering of the Clouds || [[10 November|November 10]], 1968
|-
| The Clouds Burst || [[17 November|November 17]], 1968<ref>[http://www.britishdrama.org.uk/lotr.html J.R.R. Tolkien - The Hobbit & Lord of the Rings], BritishDrama.co.uk</ref>
|}


==Influences from ''The Lord of the Rings''==
===Influences from ''The Lord of the Rings''===
Although the script is closely based on the original novel, Kilgariff incorporates a few names and phrases from ''[[The Lord of the Rings]]'' that did not originally appear in ''The Hobbit''.
Although the script is closely based on the original novel, Kilgariff incorporates a few names and phrases from ''[[The Lord of the Rings]]'' that did not originally appear in ''The Hobbit''.
*In an early scene at [[Bag End]], Gandalf originally tells Bilbo, "Great elephants, you're not at all yourself today". In the radio version this is changed to "Great [[oliphaunts]]", the form used in LOTR.
*In an early scene at [[Bag End]], Gandalf originally tells Bilbo, "Great elephants, you're not at all yourself today". In the radio version this is changed to "Great [[oliphaunts]]", the form used in ''The Lord of the Rings''.
*At the beginning of the [[Battle of Five Armies]] Gandalf says, "Upon victory depends not just the treasure, nor only our lives, but the whole future and well-being of [[Middle-earth]]". The name Middle-earth is not used at all in the original novel.
*After killing the Great Goblin, Gandalf makes a light by saying the spell ''Naur an edraith ammen''.  
*During the battle the [[Thranduil|Elvenking]] uses his name, Thranduil, as a battle-cry.
*At the beginning of the [[Battle of the Five Armies]] Gandalf says, "Upon victory depends not just the treasure, nor only our lives, but the whole future and well-being of [[Middle-earth]]". The name Middle-earth is not used at all in the original novel.
*In the same battle Thorin uses the dwarves' battle-cry, "Baruk Khazâd! Khazâd aimênu!"
*During the battle the Elvenking uses his name, [[Thranduil]], as a battle-cry.
*In the same battle Thorin uses the dwarves' battle-cry, "[[Baruk Khazâd! Khazâd ai-mênu!]]"


Despite this, the script retains almost all of the book's [[The Hobbit#Differences and inconsistencies|differences and inconsistencies]] from Tolkien's other works.
==Cast and credits==
{| class="wikitable"
|- bgcolor="#CCCCCC"
! Actor !! Role
|-
|Peter Baldwin || [[Glóin]], [[Galion]]
|-
|[[David Brierly]] || [[Fíli]], [[Chief of the guards|Elf Guard]]
|-
|[[John Bryning]] || [[Master of Lake-town|The Master of Esgaroth]]
|-
|Wilfrid Carter || [[Ori]]
|-
| [[Heron Carvic]] || [[Gandalf]]
|-
| [[Paul Daneman]] || [[Bilbo Baggins]]
|-
|[[Nicholas Edmett]] || [[Kíli]]
|-
| [[Leonard Fenton]] || [[Thranduil|The Elvenking]]
|-
|[[Brian Haines]] || [[Bifur]], [[Bert]], [[Dáin Ironfoot]]
|-
|Betty Hardy || Spider
|-
| [[Denys Hawthorne]] || [[Beorn]]
|-
| [[Anthony Jackson]] || The Tale Bearer
|-
|[[Alexander John]] || [[Dori]], Elves, Goblins
|-
| [[John Justin]] || [[Thorin]]
|-
|Hilda Kriseman || Spider
|-
|Rolf Lefebvre || [[Óin]]
|-
|Victor Lucas || [[William|Bill]]
|-
| [[Denis McCarthy]] || [[Bofur]], [[Great Goblin]]
|-
| [[Duncan McIntyre]] || [[Bombur]], Elves, Goblins
|-
| [[Wolfe Morris]] || [[Gollum]]
|-
| [[Peter Pratt]] ||  [[Balin]]
|-
| John Pullen || [[Elrond]]
|-
| Ian Thompson || [[Braga|Herald of Esgaroth]]
|-
| Antony Viccars || [[Nori]]
|-
| [[Lockwood West]] || [[Dwalin]]
|-
|[[Marjorie Westbury]] || Spider, [[Thrushes|Thrush]]
|-
| Peter Williams || [[Bard]]
|-
| [[Francis de Wolff]] || [[Smaug]], [[Tom]]
|-
| [[John Wyse]] || [[Roäc]]
|}
 
The music is composed by David Cain and performed by David Munrow with The Early Music Consort.
 
==Production==
The show's production was complicated by the inclusion of multiple sound effects (often inserted live while recording the actors' performances), songs from the novel, and special sounds and electronic voice treatments created by the BBC Radiophonic Workshop. All of the trolls, elves, goblins, wargs and eagles have treated voices, as does Gandalf when imitating the trolls.


==Wiping and recovery==
==Wiping and recovery==
Line 26: Line 114:


For broadcast and home audio purposes the BBC re-edited these compilations back into half-hour episodes, adding a brief snatch of the theme tune at the beginning and end of each. The title ''The Hobbit'' is spoken only at the beginning of the first episode and there are no opening or closing credits. It is quite likely that the credits were never included in the episodes themselves, but would originally have been read by a continuity announcer at the end of each episode.
For broadcast and home audio purposes the BBC re-edited these compilations back into half-hour episodes, adding a brief snatch of the theme tune at the beginning and end of each. The title ''The Hobbit'' is spoken only at the beginning of the first episode and there are no opening or closing credits. It is quite likely that the credits were never included in the episodes themselves, but would originally have been read by a continuity announcer at the end of each episode.
The lack of credits makes it difficult to establish the names of the actors who played specific roles. The only cast credits included in the CD release of the series are as given in the cast list below; on the information given it is not possible to tell who played, among others, [[Thorin Oakenshield]], [[Elrond]], [[Thranduil|the Elvenking]], [[Beorn]] or [[Bard the Bowman]].


==Audio release and reference==
==Audio release and reference==
There have been several home audio releases of the series on cassette and CD. The [[1997]] CD release includes a bonus CD containing 9&frac14; minutes of additional music in stereo, which evidently ''was'' taken from an unwiped master tape. The 1997 set also contains a "Personal Memoir" by series producer John Powell, from which some of the information in this article is derived.
There have been several home audio releases of the series on cassette and CD. The [[1997]] CD release includes a bonus CD containing 9 minutes and 45 seconds of additional music in stereo, which evidently ''was'' taken from an unwiped master tape. The 1997 set also contains a "Personal Memoir" by series producer John Powell, from which some of the information in this article is derived.


==Cast and credits==
On [[29 July|July 29]], [[2008]], an edition was published by BBC AudioBooks America; it includes interviews with [[J.R.R. Tolkien]].<ref>[http://www.tolkienlibrary.com/press/835-Tolkien_Audio_Books_2008.php Tolkien Audiobooks 2008], [[Pieter Collier|TolkienLibrary.com]]</ref>
*The Tale Bearer - [[Anthony Jackson]]
*[[Bilbo Baggins]] - [[Paul Daneman]]
*[[Gandalf]] - [[Heron Carvic]]
*[[Gollum]] - [[Wolfe Morris]]
**Other parts are not individually credited (see above)
*Music - composed by [[David Cain]]<br />Performed by [[David Munrow]] with The Early Music Consort
*Special sound effects and voice treatments - David Cain and [[Dick Mills]], BBC Radiophonic Workshop
*Producer - [[John Powell]]


{{References}}
{{title|italics}}
[[Category:Radio adaptations]]
[[Category:Radio adaptations]]
[[de:The Hobbit (Hörspiel)]]

Latest revision as of 23:01, 3 April 2023

"I shan't call it the end, till we've cleared up the mess." — Sam
This article or section needs to be cleaned up to conform to a higher standard of article quality.
The name The Hobbits refers to more than one character, item or concept. For a list of other meanings, see The Hobbit (disambiguation).

The Hobbit is a 1968 BBC Radio adaptation of J.R.R. Tolkien's The Hobbit.

The series was adapted by Michael Kilgariff and produced by John Powell in eight half-hour mono episodes for BBC Radio 4.

Story[edit | edit source]

The radio series follows the plot of the second edition very closely, except for the addition of The Tale Bearer, a narrator whose account of the story is often interrupted and embellished by the protagonist Bilbo Baggins in the role of secondary narrator.

Bilbo, a stay-at-home hobbit, is approached by the wizard Gandalf to undertake a dangerous adventure, and despite his initial reluctance he soon finds himself accompanying Thorin and his party of dwarves on a long and difficult quest to recover the dwarves' treasure from Smaug the dragon, encountering trolls, goblins, Gollum (acquiring a magic ring near Gollum's cave), wargs, eagles, giant spiders, elves and men along the way. In the process Bilbo is transformed from a clumsy, timid and rather comic figure into a dignified and occasionally heroic everyman.

Episodes[edit | edit source]

Episode Air date
An Unexpected Party September 29, 1968
Out of the Frying-pan into the Fire October 6, 1968
Riddles in the Dark October 13, 1968
Strange Lodgings October 20, 1968
Barrels out of Bond October 27, 1968
A Warm Welcome November 3, 1968
The Gathering of the Clouds November 10, 1968
The Clouds Burst November 17, 1968[1]

Influences from The Lord of the Rings[edit | edit source]

Although the script is closely based on the original novel, Kilgariff incorporates a few names and phrases from The Lord of the Rings that did not originally appear in The Hobbit.

  • In an early scene at Bag End, Gandalf originally tells Bilbo, "Great elephants, you're not at all yourself today". In the radio version this is changed to "Great oliphaunts", the form used in The Lord of the Rings.
  • After killing the Great Goblin, Gandalf makes a light by saying the spell Naur an edraith ammen.
  • At the beginning of the Battle of the Five Armies Gandalf says, "Upon victory depends not just the treasure, nor only our lives, but the whole future and well-being of Middle-earth". The name Middle-earth is not used at all in the original novel.
  • During the battle the Elvenking uses his name, Thranduil, as a battle-cry.
  • In the same battle Thorin uses the dwarves' battle-cry, "Baruk Khazâd! Khazâd ai-mênu!"

Cast and credits[edit | edit source]

Actor Role
Peter Baldwin Glóin, Galion
David Brierly Fíli, Elf Guard
John Bryning The Master of Esgaroth
Wilfrid Carter Ori
Heron Carvic Gandalf
Paul Daneman Bilbo Baggins
Nicholas Edmett Kíli
Leonard Fenton The Elvenking
Brian Haines Bifur, Bert, Dáin Ironfoot
Betty Hardy Spider
Denys Hawthorne Beorn
Anthony Jackson The Tale Bearer
Alexander John Dori, Elves, Goblins
John Justin Thorin
Hilda Kriseman Spider
Rolf Lefebvre Óin
Victor Lucas Bill
Denis McCarthy Bofur, Great Goblin
Duncan McIntyre Bombur, Elves, Goblins
Wolfe Morris Gollum
Peter Pratt Balin
John Pullen Elrond
Ian Thompson Herald of Esgaroth
Antony Viccars Nori
Lockwood West Dwalin
Marjorie Westbury Spider, Thrush
Peter Williams Bard
Francis de Wolff Smaug, Tom
John Wyse Roäc

The music is composed by David Cain and performed by David Munrow with The Early Music Consort.

Production[edit | edit source]

The show's production was complicated by the inclusion of multiple sound effects (often inserted live while recording the actors' performances), songs from the novel, and special sounds and electronic voice treatments created by the BBC Radiophonic Workshop. All of the trolls, elves, goblins, wargs and eagles have treated voices, as does Gandalf when imitating the trolls.

Wiping and recovery[edit | edit source]

The original master tapes for the series seem to have been wiped sometime during the 1970s. The reason is not clear, although it was rumoured to be due to a dispute with the Tolkien estate (if so, the subsequent recovery and commercial issue of the series proves that the dispute was resolved).

The BBC eventually recovered the series from a domestic off-air FM recording, apparently comprising 90- and 60-minute compilations edited together from the original episodes. The sound quality of these recordings is clear and legible, though it is noticeably inferior to a studio-quality recording and exhibits prominent tape hiss.

For broadcast and home audio purposes the BBC re-edited these compilations back into half-hour episodes, adding a brief snatch of the theme tune at the beginning and end of each. The title The Hobbit is spoken only at the beginning of the first episode and there are no opening or closing credits. It is quite likely that the credits were never included in the episodes themselves, but would originally have been read by a continuity announcer at the end of each episode.

Audio release and reference[edit | edit source]

There have been several home audio releases of the series on cassette and CD. The 1997 CD release includes a bonus CD containing 9 minutes and 45 seconds of additional music in stereo, which evidently was taken from an unwiped master tape. The 1997 set also contains a "Personal Memoir" by series producer John Powell, from which some of the information in this article is derived.

On July 29, 2008, an edition was published by BBC AudioBooks America; it includes interviews with J.R.R. Tolkien.[2]

References