The Lord of the Rings (1955 radio series)

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In 1955, the BBC Radio Third Programme aired a treatment of The Fellowship of the Ring in six episodes. A year later, three episodes each on The Two Towers and The Return of the King followed. Together, they became known as the 1955 radio series of The Lord of the Rings.

Episodes

The Fellowship of the Ring
The Two Towers
  • Episode 1: ?
  • Episode 2: ?
  • Episode 3: ?
The Return of the King
  • Episode 1: ?
  • Episode 2: ?
  • Episode 3: ?

Cast

Role Actor
Gandalf Norman Shelley[2][3]
Tom Bombadil Norman Shelley[1][3]
Frodo Oliver Burt[1]
Sam Victor Platt[1]
Pippin Basil Jones[1]
Merry Michael Collins[1]
Aragorn Godfrey Kenton[1]
Legolas Frank Duncan[2]
Elrond Garard Green[2]
Gimli Eric Lugg[2]
Boromir Derek Prentice[2]
Bilbo Felix Felton[2]
Narrator Derek Hart[1]
Unspecified, presumably Goldberry Nicolette Bernard[1]
Unspecified Frank Duncan[1]
Unspecified Derek Prentice[1]

Adapted by Terence Tiller.[4] Music by Anthony Smith-Masters.[1]

Differences from the book

  • Tom Bombadil: Considered by Tolkien "dreadful", though it is left unexplained why.[3]
  • Goldberry: She is for some reason portrayed as Bombadil's daughter.[3]
  • Willowman: He is shown in league with Mordor, rather than just an antagonist of the Hobbits.[3]
  • Glóin: He was "someone's idea of a German". Tolkien thought he was not too bad, though a bit exaggerated.[5]

References