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It's good that this has a wider audience

geordie
Tol Eressea

Aug 21 2010, 10:32am


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It's good that this has a wider audience [In reply to] Can't Post

- but there's quite a bit wrong with it - as a documentary on one of the 20th century's great minds is concerned. To take this from the BBC's synopsis:

"John Izzard meets with JRR Tolkien at his home, walking with him through the Oxford locations that he loves while hearing the author’s own views about his wildly successful high-fantasy novels. Tolkien shares his love of nature and beer and his admiration for ‘trenchermen’ in this genial and affectionate programme. "

Just one or two nit-picks, to begin with. Tolkien wasn't filmed at home. The pictures of him sitting in front of a table stacked with books were shot at the Oxford Chaplaincy, IIRC (I was told this by a friend, who was one of the students who took part in the fim. She only spoke a few words).

Tolkien himself was not too happy about the film - see Letter no. 301. Rayner Unwin mentions it briefly in his book 'George Allen and Unwin: A Remembrancer'. His opinion is that the fim was cut in such a way that it seems to give equal 'weight' to the opinions of Tolkien, and the students.

As for me - I was very pleased to see pictures of my hero walking and talking; but the film is too much of its time - we don't hear the interviewer's questions! Only the answers; and it seems that whenever a student voices an opinion (say, about food) we cut to Tolkien (apparently) flatly denying what that person had just said, yet (according to my friend) they and Tolkien never met during the making of the film.

Overall, though; and in spite of the inadequacies of the BBC, it's useful to see and hear some of Tolkien's ideas and opinions. Carpenter owes that bit about marking exam papers to this movie; and probably several other things, which I can't remember at present. Hammond and Scull refer to it once or twice in their book 'The JRR Tolkien Companion and Guide'.

Subject User Time
Archive (1968) Tolkien interview on BBC website..... Pryderi Send a private message to Pryderi Aug 17 2010, 7:08pm
    Thanks! Just watched the whole thing Ethel Duath Send a private message to Ethel Duath Aug 17 2010, 10:40pm
        the tune is the one Tolkien composed and Swann set to music Magpie Send a private message to Magpie Aug 18 2010, 12:19am
    Very nice. I had not seen that video before.// Kangi Ska Send a private message to Kangi Ska Aug 17 2010, 11:06pm
    Thanks for posting! aranelthehobbit22 Send a private message to aranelthehobbit22 Aug 17 2010, 11:30pm
    "When you finish reading Lord of the Rings..." Magpie Send a private message to Magpie Aug 17 2010, 11:47pm
    GREAT find Pryderi. silneldor Send a private message to silneldor Aug 18 2010, 2:42am
    So that is what it's from! dernwyn Send a private message to dernwyn Aug 18 2010, 3:01am
        The music and the hairstyles! Aunt Dora Baggins Send a private message to Aunt Dora Baggins Aug 19 2010, 8:05pm
            "No death is a natural one. Because man's presence is not natural, it forces everything to be examined." Alientraveller Send a private message to Alientraveller Aug 20 2010, 2:50pm
            Yes, the neuvo Marxist posers.... Eruonen Send a private message to Eruonen Aug 20 2010, 2:52pm
    I remember that!!!! dormouse Send a private message to dormouse Aug 19 2010, 1:50pm
    From Runk Snusgrop Ataahua Send a private message to Ataahua Aug 19 2010, 7:36pm
        From Aunt Dora Baggins: Wow! Ataahua Send a private message to Ataahua Aug 19 2010, 7:47pm
            From Eruonen: I wonder if his accent is regional or of mixed origin Ataahua Send a private message to Ataahua Aug 19 2010, 7:48pm
                Great interviews....the TH White interview crosses similar territory too Eruonen Send a private message to Eruonen Aug 19 2010, 7:52pm
    It's good that this has a wider audience geordie Send a private message to geordie Aug 21 2010, 10:32am
    Not available in my area? Bywater Bridge Send a private message to Bywater Bridge Dec 11 2010, 6:19am
        It had been available in the US Magpie Send a private message to Magpie Dec 11 2010, 7:06am
            Thanks Bywater Bridge Send a private message to Bywater Bridge Dec 13 2010, 5:05am

 
 
 

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