LotR1-FotR-Seq04

[Tuor of Gondolin]

The scenary of Gandalf going into Orthanc was, I think,
one of the best bits in this section. It made clear the later
trashing of the local environment by Saruman and the Ents
resentment of destroying all those trees, etc.

I've always seen Saruman imprisoning Gandalf in a much
more "civilized" manner, with no overt physical action
taken by either, given Saruman's powers vis-a-vis Gandalf
the Grey and Saruman's forces men/orcs/wolves present
in Orthanc.
(A barroom brawl between two maia seems a bit tacky).
An understated hint at force by Saruman would also have
been unsettling for a movie audience, with an implied threat
of torture, with perhaps a reprise of Gollum being tortured
being briefly shown.

I've also thought more could have been used of the voice of
Saruman influencing people, given Christopher Lee's great
voice.