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The One Ring Forums: Off Topic: The Pollantir:
Favorite voice of Gandalf?
 
Poll: Favorite voice of Gandalf?
Ian McKellen (Peter Jackson's Fellowship of the Ring, The Two Towers and Return of the King movies)
Michael Hordern (BBC Lord of the Rings radio play)
Heron Carvic (BBC Hobbit radio play)
John Huston (Rankin-Bass Hobbit and Return of the King TV movies)
William Squire (Ralph Bakshi's Lord of the Rings movie
Bernard Mayes (Mind's Eye Lord of the Rings radio play)
View Results (44 votes)
 

Idril Celebrindal
Tol Eressea


May 25 2007, 7:10pm

Post #1 of 21 (1136 views)
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Favorite voice of Gandalf? Can't Post

Every fan knows what Tolkien's characters should sound like! Which actor has your favorite voice of Gandalf?

Because this list includes radio plays, animated films, and live-action films, just consider the actors' voices (and voice acting). Which actor sounds the most like you think Gandalf should? The least? Who is your favorite, and why?

I will start the polling by voting for Michael Hordern (BBC LOTR) -- mainly because he sounds exactly the way I imagined Gandalf would! But it was a tough choice between him, Ian McKellen and John Huston.

Heron Carvic (BBC Hobbit) was kind of an oddball voice casting for Gandalf, but he grew on me as the radio play went on.

My least favorite is William Squire (Ralph Bakshi's film) because he's not particularly memorable.


(This post was edited by Idril Celebrindal on May 25 2007, 7:19pm)


Patty
Immortal


May 25 2007, 8:10pm

Post #2 of 21 (973 views)
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I simply cannot choose between Sir Ian and Sir Michael... [In reply to] Can't Post

and yes, as you said, even the audio Hobbit's oddball voice grew on me. (if only they would have pronounced his name correctly.) I'm glad you didn't actually make this a poll, cause I could NOT choose between the two.


RosieLass
Valinor


May 25 2007, 10:21pm

Post #3 of 21 (943 views)
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Hard decision! [In reply to] Can't Post

Because I love all of them!

Except Bernard Mayes, whom I have never heard. I didn't get far enough into the Mind's Eye version for Gandalf to appear. Maybe I should give it another try. Or not. I didn't like the portrayal of Frodo in the little bit that I heard.

I finally had to go with John Huston, however, just because he was the first Gandalf for me.


FingonOfPittsburgh
Lorien


May 25 2007, 10:25pm

Post #4 of 21 (936 views)
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re [In reply to] Can't Post

Wow this is tougher than I expected. McKellen's portrayal will always "be" Gandalf to me, but Huston will always be his voice in my mind.


Patty
Immortal


May 26 2007, 12:57am

Post #5 of 21 (959 views)
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Bernard Mayes' Gandalf... [In reply to] Can't Post

is the best thing about that version. All the hobbits have "Keebler elves" voices. It is horrible. But it is more complete than the BBC. Still not worth listening to.


Finding Frodo
Tol Eressea


May 26 2007, 5:17am

Post #6 of 21 (914 views)
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I have the same problem [In reply to] Can't Post

I voted for McKellan, but I loved Gandalf in the BBC LotR as well. Their voices were very similar, actually. I should listen to them side-by-side.


Lossefalme
Gondor


May 31 2007, 5:43pm

Post #7 of 21 (913 views)
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Sir Ian gets my vote. [In reply to] Can't Post

He sounded just the way he sounded in my head from the time I was a kid. Looks the part, too, I might add!


Aunt Dora Baggins
Immortal


Jun 4 2007, 8:22pm

Post #8 of 21 (923 views)
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I am Gandalf, and Gandalf means me! [In reply to] Can't Post

John Huston has been in my head as the voice of Gandalf for so many years that I hear him now when I read The Hobbit. Love that impressive voice!


Eledhwen
Forum Admin / Moderator


Jun 9 2007, 11:06pm

Post #9 of 21 (900 views)
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Serena all the way [In reply to] Can't Post

He has a perfect Gandalf voice, able to do kindly, wise and powerful.


Patty
Immortal


Jun 10 2007, 12:41am

Post #10 of 21 (909 views)
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Who is this, Eledhwen? [In reply to] Can't Post

Serena who?


Eledhwen
Forum Admin / Moderator


Jun 10 2007, 12:47am

Post #11 of 21 (905 views)
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Sir Ian McKellen [In reply to] Can't Post

Sir-ian-a. Smile I don't know if he ever used the name for himself, but thanks to corrupting influences from Trinity the Purple have fallen into it. It seems to fit him.


Patty
Immortal


Jun 10 2007, 12:49am

Post #12 of 21 (894 views)
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Oh! [In reply to] Can't Post

Wink

Somehow, I kept thinking it might be.


N.E. Brigand
Half-elven


Jun 10 2007, 4:06am

Post #13 of 21 (914 views)
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"You may think you know what you're dealing with, but, believe me, you don't." [In reply to] Can't Post

Of course, once you've seen Chinatown, Huston's Gandalf may take on new colors.


Fionnan2
Rivendell

Jun 11 2007, 12:33am

Post #14 of 21 (899 views)
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Ian Mckellen [In reply to] Can't Post

He really captures Gandalf in my mind.I just admire Ian's authoritive voice when he means buisness.Actually on that same note most of the actors in P.J LOTR have amzing voices apart from a few such as Vigo Mortesen,who for somebody who is supposed to be a great leader and a king of men, he has a poor uninspiring voice compared to Ian,Crhistopher Lee and Sean Bean to name but a few.


mae govannen
Tol Eressea

Jun 13 2007, 6:49am

Post #15 of 21 (912 views)
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Viggo's voice is inspiring too, [In reply to] Can't Post

but in a different way, usually more subdued.
That doesn't mean at all that he is unable to speak loud or even shout when that is what is required.
At Helm's Deep, for example, when he is clearly in charge of Haldir's battalion of Elves, Viggo has all the voice needed to command them all with unquestioned authority.
Also after the scene with the Mouth of Sauron, when Aragorn gives this speech to the united forces of Gondor and Rohan, Viggo does it so wonderfully well, he gets me everytime!... I really wish I had been one of his men!!!
Well, I mean, being actually female, I would still prefer of course to be his woman if at all possible, but *if I were a man*, I would definitely be inspired much more by his speech than by the one given by Théoden to the Rohirrim, although Bernard Hill is among those with a very sonorous voice, and acts very well too.
Viggo has a natural inner intensity in all he says, that makes on me the deepest impression, even when he keeps his voice low key.


Fionnan2
Rivendell

Jun 13 2007, 5:57pm

Post #16 of 21 (911 views)
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The speech at the black gate? [In reply to] Can't Post

Well for me personally I thought that speech was somewhat corny not meaning any disrespect to you.The Pelennor speech was for me much more realistic and effective for the purpose of gearing his men up for the battle than Viggo's at the black gate.
Does he say in his speech something about that one day the world of men will come chrashing down,well if I were a solider that would not particularly inspire me for the cause.It is a while since I last heard that speech.


mae govannen
Tol Eressea

Jun 14 2007, 9:15am

Post #17 of 21 (897 views)
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Right. Perhaps you could watch it again, [In reply to] Can't Post

and when comparing it to the speech of Théoden, perhaps you could compare also, simply within yourself, which part of you is touched by one speech, and which one by the other.
As someone who practices meditation as well as soccer (I just had a look at your profile!... Wink ), you will probably be able to feel that subtle difference within you, and understand what I mean when I say now to you that it's not the same inner centre (or chakra, or whatever) that is activated, so the kind of energy evoked by each speech is different accordingly .
The difference is also the same between Théoden and Aragorn, and the kind of courage they are likely to want and to be able to evoke in the Men that are under them:
Théoden is the Viking type, valuing above all the warrior in a Man, and earning a glorious end and after-death, when going into battle with 'Death!... Death!...' as a war-cry, and blood-lust as the main actual motivation (it takes even Éowyn and Merry in, who at first were there mostly to help their friends, and were quite scared when it came to being right in front of the enemy lines!!!).
Aragorn represents a higher ideal of a King. It is with the deeper and vaster ideal of brotherhood within all Mankind, and with the view of a longer time-span, that he manages to enthuse all those totally discouraged Men with a love for the eternal values that a Man must defend to truly be worthy of that name. And what he tells them may have seemed corny too a part of you before, but it is what does get them to fight for those eternal values - and would probably
get you to fight also for the same values, be it in such hopeless circumstances. That requires a different kind of courage.


Fionnan2
Rivendell

Jun 14 2007, 10:44pm

Post #18 of 21 (905 views)
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A fair statement [In reply to] Can't Post

I can see the perspective you are taking on this and I admire and respect it.But war is a differenr matter.When I go out to win a match I put myself and the lads together in a unified state of agression to win a match.What we would do as well as many other athletes would be more akin to what Bernard Hill does than Viggo.Bernard's approach to a battlle is more realistic,therefore at least in my view is more effective in gearing his men up.


mae govannen
Tol Eressea

Jun 15 2007, 8:21am

Post #19 of 21 (1027 views)
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LOL!... Won't discuss that, then!... :-D [In reply to] Can't Post

And thank you for your courtesy in answering me so fairly indeed!...Smile


(This post was edited by mae govannen on Jun 15 2007, 8:23am)


Tyler
Lorien

Jul 1 2007, 11:20am

Post #20 of 21 (883 views)
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Lan no problem. [In reply to] Can't Post

 


LEGIONTX
Rivendell


May 3 2009, 3:30pm

Post #21 of 21 (844 views)
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gandalf [In reply to] Can't Post

Ian McKellan by a mile for me. He was born to play Gandalf imo.

 
 
 

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