BBC Radio adaptation: frodo

[Gayalondiel]

Generally, I loved the adaptation. Most of the actors were terrific, the scenes were beautifully described ("Oh look whats this over here" moments notwithstanding) and its very faithful to the books: a lot of the second part comes fron UT.

But Sir Ian Holm bothers me. I really don't like his Frodo. (This is from before i saw the film, incidentally). Up until the breaking of the fellowship, he's great. but then he gradually gets... well... nasty. I know he's under the influence of the ring, but he's always either super-dramatic or shouting at Sam. There's very little of the Frodo i found in the books, the Frodo that never fails to thank Sam, and almost always calms down instantly.

Does this bother anyone else? or do other people find a nasty, snappy frodo in the books?

Ok, rant over! smilies/smile.gif

[The Silver-shod Muse]

Yes, I did. He was very violent and grumpy when talking to Sam, and he didn't sound so very tired, just evil.

[Kaze]

It bothered me a lot, too. It could have been his interpretation of the influence of the ring; that Frodo became angry and violent. I still didn't like it, though, it didn't match the idea I had of Frodo.

[Sweatpea Knotwise]

I think as good as he was in the radio show, Holm makes a better Bilbo than a Frodo. I have enjoyed the BBC version for a number of years, but after the movie, I find that I prefer Wood’s interpretation. And that is an unfair comparison considering the sensory advantages cinema has over radio. Perhaps Frodo is vocally abrasive due to the aural medium; what better way to evince his disintegration than with his voice?

[Gayalondiel]

I agree that the limited medium affects the performance, but i don't think it covers all of what i disliked about Holm's Frodo. The opening episodes were terrific, especially the bits with the four hobbits together. But towards the end, Frodo is just nasty. He gets very snarly and shouts at sam a lot, and then calms down and becomes tragically melodramatic. Maybe this is Holm's, and other peoples, interpretation of the character. It is not what i found in the character, and I certainly don't see him proceeding every single sentance with a deep dramatic sigh when they get back to the shire. That said, someone might well like this interpretation.