'Microphones in Middle-earth: Music in the BBC Radio Play', Paul Smith - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

Renzolicious · 04-23-2011, 01:39 AM

I would agree that this is the definitive Lord of the Rings for me, every voice is perfect (with the exception of Arwen). The cuts sit very well with me since I think the Tom Bombadil and the barrow wights are completely unnecessary, other additions and cuts throughout I also think fit very well.
I listen to the whole 13 hours at least once yearly, although I do remember a few minor differences from the cassette version that I got back in the mid 90s.
I would say its largely because of this version that I could never take the movies seriously, with Keith Urban as Eomer being the only good translation to my mind. I only wish they carried on and made a dramatisation of the Hobbit afterwards with some actor cross over, that would have been great.
Also on the music - great. Simple, effective, and epic all at the same time. Theoden's ride to Minas Tirith is personal favourite.

Alfirin · 04-23-2011, 05:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Renzolicious

I would agree that this is the definitive Lord of the Rings for me, every voice is perfect (with the exception of Arwen). The cuts sit very well with me since I think the Tom Bombadil and the barrow wights are completely unnecessary, other additions and cuts throughout I also think fit very well.
I listen to the whole 13 hours at least once yearly, although I do remember a few minor differences from the cassette version that I got back in the mid 90s.
I would say its largely because of this version that I could never take the movies seriously, with Keith Urban as Eomer being the only good translation to my mind. I only wish they carried on and made a dramatisation of the Hobbit afterwards with some actor cross over, that would have been great.
Also on the music - great. Simple, effective, and epic all at the same time. Theoden's ride to Minas Tirith is personal favourite.

Actually BBC DID do a Hobbit (back in 1968). this is probably why they did not continue on afterward as far as they were concerned, they had DONE a full cast dramaitization of the Hobbit.
However if you are looking for a little "more" than waht was in the box, there is a sort of "extra" episode to the Lord of the Rings (the reason I suspect why some people described the series as 14 hours, as opposed to 13. Some years after the Lord of the Rings dramatization was done, an addional episode was produced, covering Tom Bombadil and the Events in the old forest. The only two actors that crossed over on this were Ian Holm (Frodo) and Michael Hordern (Gandalf) who plays the Narrator (though it is possible the narrator only exists on the disc version) The CD of this (at least, over here in America) is part of a 3 disc set called Tales from the Perilous Realms (the set also has "Smith of Wooton Major", "Farmer Giles of Ham" and "Leaf by Niggle").

Renzolicious · 04-23-2011, 10:36 PM

Quite right on the 1968 radio production of the Hobbit - I didn't like it. Although there is another radio version that I've heard of that I would like to check out since I could barely stand the 1968 version.
I actually tracked down that "14th" hour just last week, and it was interesting to hear, but I prefer the longer version without it.

davem · 04-24-2011, 08:47 AM

As I recall Tales from the Perilous Realm was produced by the BBC for the original Radio 5 station, which was aimed at young listeners. It was originally broadcast over 6 episodes with Bombadil & Giles broadcast in two parts & Niggle & Smith as single episodes. They were adapted by Brian Sibley, one of the adaptors of the BBC LotR. They don't work quite as well as the LotR in some cases (Smith particularly doesn't capture the heart & mood of Tolkien's tale - but then, for me Pauline Baynes pictures are so essential a part of the story that the story lacks something in print if they're absent) but the Bombadil episode is a fine piece of work (Its Nigel Planer who plays Frodo, though, not Ian Holm).

04-23-2011, 01:39 AM	#1
Renzolicious Newly Deceased Join Date: Apr 2011 Posts: 6	1981 BBC Lord of the Rings I would agree that this is the definitive Lord of the Rings for me, every voice is perfect (with the exception of Arwen). The cuts sit very well with me since I think the Tom Bombadil and the barrow wights are completely unnecessary, other additions and cuts throughout I also think fit very well. I listen to the whole 13 hours at least once yearly, although I do remember a few minor differences from the cassette version that I got back in the mid 90s. I would say its largely because of this version that I could never take the movies seriously, with Keith Urban as Eomer being the only good translation to my mind. I only wish they carried on and made a dramatisation of the Hobbit afterwards with some actor cross over, that would have been great. Also on the music - great. Simple, effective, and epic all at the same time. Theoden's ride to Minas Tirith is personal favourite.

04-24-2011, 08:47 AM	#4
davem Illustrious Ulair Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: In the home of lost causes, and forsaken beliefs, and unpopular names,and impossible loyalties Posts: 4,240	As I recall Tales from the Perilous Realm was produced by the BBC for the original Radio 5 station, which was aimed at young listeners. It was originally broadcast over 6 episodes with Bombadil & Giles broadcast in two parts & Niggle & Smith as single episodes. They were adapted by Brian Sibley, one of the adaptors of the BBC LotR. They don't work quite as well as the LotR in some cases (Smith particularly doesn't capture the heart & mood of Tolkien's tale - but then, for me Pauline Baynes pictures are so essential a part of the story that the story lacks something in print if they're absent) but the Bombadil episode is a fine piece of work (Its Nigel Planer who plays Frodo, though, not Ian Holm). __________________ “Everything was an object. If you killed a dwarf you could use it as a weapon – it was no different to other large heavy objects."

04-23-2011, 10:36 PM	#3
Renzolicious Newly Deceased Join Date: Apr 2011 Posts: 6	Quite right on the 1968 radio production of the Hobbit - I didn't like it. Although there is another radio version that I've heard of that I would like to check out since I could barely stand the 1968 version. I actually tracked down that "14th" hour just last week, and it was interesting to hear, but I prefer the longer version without it.