The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum - View Single Post - Degrading LotR in the Name of Merchandising

amyrlis · 10-10-2002, 12:28 PM

DaughterofVana, I don't have the facts, but I do remember reading somewhere, perhaps on this board, that Tolkien sold the movie rights for a mere $10,000 in order to pay off some taxes. Wow, it makes me sad to think of it! An insulting $10,000 for a lifetime work of genius, when many modern books written in probably 5 minutes get hundreds of thousands for their movie rights! Of course, that could have been 10,000 British Pounds, but it's still a very small amount of money.
Just need to add a defense for Lord of the Flies! I'm really surprised at the reactions here. I read it in high school and it is one of my all time favorite books!

10-10-2002, 12:28 PM	#12
amyrlis Wight Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Helcaraxe Posts: 210	DaughterofVana, I don't have the facts, but I do remember reading somewhere, perhaps on this board, that Tolkien sold the movie rights for a mere $10,000 in order to pay off some taxes. Wow, it makes me sad to think of it! An insulting $10,000 for a lifetime work of genius, when many modern books written in probably 5 minutes get hundreds of thousands for their movie rights! Of course, that could have been 10,000 British Pounds, but it's still a very small amount of money. Just need to add a defense for Lord of the Flies! I'm really surprised at the reactions here. I read it in high school and it is one of my all time favorite books! __________________ "Pull the blinders from my eyes, let me see these endless skies And drown here where I stand in the beauty of the land."