The Hobbit, intended for a children audience fits with the tone of Tolkien’s novel, is a charming story with anime style The animated special broadcast in 1977 by NBC. It was the only depiction of J.R.R. Tolkien’s works outside of his books until the more adult themed The Lord of the Rings (1978) by Ralph Bakshi. The tv special was from Rankin/Bass with animation by Top Craft, a Japanese anime studio that eventually became Studio Ghibli. It was adapted by Romeo Muller who also wrote the stop motion Rankin/Bass special, Santa Claus Is Comin’ to Town (1970). It is currently streaming on Max. There is some folk guitar as we get a book with “In a hole in the ground there lived a hobbit.” The narration is by legendary director and screenwriter John Huston, his film work includes the classic The African Queen (1951), he also voices Gandalf. There is something rural, gentle, grand about his voice that can become forceful as Gandalf. The book is known as the Red Book of Westmarch that later records The Lord of the Rings. On the side it reads, “There and Back Again: A Hobbit’s Holiday”, which mistakedly reads by “J.R.R. Tolkien” when it should be the Hobbit author.
Clouds roll covering the book and then revealing the map of Eriador, this is the north-west region of Middle-Earth. The narrator explains that men “shared the land with Elves, Dwarves, Wizards, Goblins, Dragons and… Hobbits.” The watercolor designs look like fairy tale illustrations like what J.R.R. Tolkien illustrated for the book. We are introduced to the Shire, Hobbiton, and finally the Hobbit hole. This is the introduction right out of Tolkien’s The Hobbit (1937). The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey (2012) attempts to connect the trilogy to the earlier book with the older Bilbo (Ian Holm). We see the portly shape, bulbous nose, and kind face of Bilbo Baggins cheerfully places a dish on a shelf. He takes out a pipe (probably not appropriate for today’s young audiences) and blows smoke rings. Suddenly, Gandalf appears, not the worn robes of the trilogy, but blue cone hat and cape and grey robes. He has bushy eyebrows and a long, white beard. Gandalf breaks the smoke rings with his staff and addresses Bilbo Baggins about hiring a burglar.
Bilbo is voiced by Orson Bean who was in the Twilight Zone episode, “Mr. Bevis” (1960) as the hapless, but kind title character.
He refuses saying adventures will make him late for dinner. Closeup of Gandalf’s eyes as lightning flashes across it! Gandalf introduces himself and Bilbo knows of his reputation. He points out to Bilbo the woods where we hear part of “Misty Mountains.” The Dwarves appear, in the book and films, they appear at his door for the party. Thorin makes his introduction. He is voiced by the talented Hans Conried who also voiced Captain Hook in Peter Pan (1953). Thorin has a large nose, wrinkled face and grey beard with a light blue hood. A change from the long, brown haired warrior played by Richard Armitage in the films. He then points out the other Dwarves, all chosen by Tolkien from the Norse Poetic Edda. Jack DeLeon voices Dwalin, Fili, Kili, Oin, Gloin, Ori, Nori, Bifur, and Bofur! Lastly, we have the portly Bombur who leads the ponies. Voice legend Paul Frees voices Bombur. He is the voice of many Disney attractions and also Boris Badenov from The Rocky and Bullwinkle Show. We get a humorous bit of “Blunt the Knives” as the Dwarves awkwardly prepare drinks and carry away dishes! It becomes dark when the Dwarves again sing the beginning of “Misty Mountains.”
Gandalf says to Bilbo that the song has an effect on him. Bilbo admits it makes him want to explore. Thorin interrupts the music and holds up a mug. They toast to Bilbo, but he doesn’t know about the journey. Thorin starts the story of the treasure at Lonely Mountain, the grey spire is like a hood with a gaping cavern and bridges. He says it was ruled by The King Under the Mountain, his grandfather. We see the Dwarves in the halls of Erebor. Gandalf continues with the rhymes of “Misty Mountain” as the Dwarves work the forges. The goblets are offered up to the King Under the Mountain. Thorin adds that the wealth brought the dragon. We see a Dwarf wagon going up to the mountain. The dragon breathes fire down on the Dwarves and then destroys the town of Dale. The Dwarves try to stand up to the dragon which destroys the Dwarf kingdom. Thorin leads the toast to curse the dragon Smaug. Bilbo shrieks “Eeeee!”, funny!, and then Thorin shows him the contract. Bilbo pauses at the “funeral expense” part of the contract and Gandalf agrees for him. He says, “Tomorrow begins your greatest adventure” to the cheers of the Dwarves. Then, we get “The Greatest Adventure” song from folk singer, Glenn Yarbrough.
Bilbo dreams of himself as King Under the Mountain! He wakes to see the morning sun and the Dwarves waiting for him on ponies. They make the journey up a mountain, Bilbo is miserable, he remarks to Bombur that Gandalf suddenly appeared ahead of them. Later, Thorin calls for a rest and a signal is made to Thorin by the lookout, Balin. He shows the others the three Trolls around a campfire. Gandalf is gone. Thorin has Bilbo go out to take some of the food from the Trolls. These Dwarves are not warriors of Gimli’s caliber. A fault of the Peter Jackson trilogy. They are brave, but misguided in their attempt to take back their homeland. Still, they are bumbling, older Dwarves here which seems to be more in line with Tolkien. Bilbo tries to sneak over to the campfire, but is found by a Troll and lifted up above the fire. The others say, “he wouldn’t make a mouthful”, and Bilbo tries to warn the Dwarves. The Trolls go out to capture the Dwarves and Bilbo is tossed aside. Bilbo takes refuge in the Troll’s cave. Out of the woods, Gandalf appears, and the dawning sun transforms the Trolls to stone. The Dwarves were stuffed into sacks. Gandalf frees them and Bilbo calls them over to the cave where he has found the Troll stolen treasure.
Thorin has found a sword and Gandalf says they were stolen. He notes the runes on the sword. Thorin orders the treasure covered up for their return. Bilbo has found his own blade. Gandalf stops Thorin to show them a map of Lonely Mountain. Bilbo looks at it and discovers a pointed hand to a secret entrance to the mountain! Gandalf takes a key from his sleeve to give to Thorin. They see below them a valley next to a river. On a cliff top, Gandalf announces to all of them that it is Rivendell. Bilbo is enchanted. The Elves sing, “In The Valley, Ha! Ha!” Elrond (Cyril Ritchard) with tiny stars ringing around his brows is their host at dinner. Ritchard became famous with his Captain Hook in the Broadway Peter Pan (1954). Thorin shows him his Troll sword, but Elrond says is actually Elvish made for the Goblin Wars and named Orcrist the Goblin Cleaver! He also identifies Gandalf’s sword, Glamdring the Foe Hammer, awesome names! Bilbo presents Elrond the map and holds it up to the moon. It reveals the runes for the secret door that will be revealed by the setting sun!
Their journey continues into the Misty Mountains. Thorin finds shelter from the rain in a cave and calls for them to sleep. Bilbo has a dream of the Dwarves with “Blunt the Knives” and wakes up. He spots a crack in the cave, a boulder being moved!, and the ponies are pulled in! Bilbo shouts a warning to the Dwarves and we start to hear the Goblin song, “Down, Down To Goblin Town”, with a bit of rock song! Thorin leads them to rescue the ponies, but the Goblins close the boulder to seal them in! They look hideous more than any CGi beastie; fanged mouth and wide, grey, almost toad-faces! The Goblins show up in the darkness so they may be scary for young ones. The Dwarves and Bilbo shudder as the Goblins throw chains around them. The Great Goblin (John Stevenson) sees them bfore his throne. Stevenson voices the Great Goblin as well as Dori. He also voiced Fern’s father, John, in the animated Charlotte’s Web (1973). Thorin says they were only taking shelter, but a Goblin reveals Orcrist! The Great Goblin is outraged and opens his gaping, fanged mouth over Thorin!
He is stopped by Gandalf’s voice, the cave is plunged into darkness, and a shining light rains down sparks! It is revealed to be the sword which the Great Goblin recognizes as Glamdring! The blade flashes and the Great Goblin is spun into Glamdring like the soul draining Stormblade of Elric of Melniboné! A cartoon way of ducking violence and instead it becomes a very cool scene! Bilbo then sees it is Gandalf who leads them away. They head to a tunnel chased by Goblins with torches! Dori carries Bilbo on his back, but Bilbo falls, rolls, and then plunges into a hole! We see the subterreanean lake and hut of the toad-like Gollum! His voice is by Theodore, who also voicd Ruhk in The Last Unicorn (1982). He is interrupted by the fall of Bilbo into the lake. Bilbo takes out his sword which illuminates a pool and what he finds there sets into motion the events of Lord of the Rings! Bilbo faces many challenges before encountering Smaug voiced by Richard Boone. He was known for the Westner series, Have Gun - Will Travel. The Hobbit belongs on the shelf with other Tolkien adaptations with adventures perfect for family audiences, the hint of Lord of the Rings, and great animation!
Five Moon Letters out of Five!
#TheHobbit, #RankinBass, #OrsonBean, #JohnHuston, #HansConried, #JackDeLeon, #CyrilRitchard, #Theodore, #RichardBoone
No comments:
Post a Comment