The Hobbit (1977)

I don't think The Hobbit is one of Rankin/Bass' best productions, but it is I feel better than it is given credit. Okay, the film is too short and the character designs do look rushed and not particularly appealing, for example while I can see the intent Gollum's description from the book is taken too literally here. However there are a lot of praiseworthy things. The backgrounds and colours are quite atmospheric and handsome, a little like Flight of Dragons and Last Unicorn though not quite as good. The music is good, the lyrics are true in spirit to Tolkein and the style didn't jar too much and sticks in your head. The Greatest Adventure was the standout. The dialogue is droll with the dwarfs yet thoughtful with Gandalf, and while slow moving and quite simple- too much for some- the story does have the essence of fantasy and adventure with a Riddles of the Dark scene that is both terrifying and moving. The characters are just as memorable as in the book, especially Gandalf, Gollum and Smaug. Bilbo is a likable "goes-on-a-journey"(from a story and character standpoint) character, and the dwarfs have distinctive personalities. The voice acting is terrific and for me the most consistent asset of the film, John Huston IS Gandalf and Brother Theodore's voice for Gollum will send shivers up the spine. Orson Bean is a likable Bilbo, and Richard Boone and Hans Conried are similarly perfect for Thorin and Smaug. All in all, an above decent animated adaptation. And I personally do prefer it over Peter Jackson's recent version(which I actually did like), which had the stronger production values and music and an even better Riddles of the Dark scene, but to me we get to know the characters more here and the script and story seemed more focused. 8/10 for this version though. Bethany Cox

What I fondly remember is this premiered on Thanksgiving or at best, the day before, but I think it was on Thursday.And it would run incredible lengths, nearly 30 minutes, before it would go to a commercial. It was evenly divided between the commercial breaks like this, long stretches.It was Rankin-Bass artwork and style, but that never bothered me.I would not see this thing again, after the '77 viewing, until I found it on VHS tape and ordered it, nearly 25 years later.Enjoyed it then, enjoy it now.

I am rating below average because it is really quaint, with choir songs that tell the story and all characters in the film seeming rather simple minded. The animation is not great either, but today's standards, probably looking old even by 1977 standards.The story is that of a hobbit convinced (almost coerced) by Gandalf to go on an adventure with some dwarfs. His purpose: a burglar, to get some gold and split it with the 13 dwarfs. Of course, there is something weird with that, but only at the end Gandalf's plan will be revealed.The characters are all goofy, including Gandalf, and for no good reason, either. While I enjoyed watching it, the film rather bored me and I would not recommend it to anyone.

I seem to keep on forgetting that this little movie exists, but it does (I've seen it twice now). Look, it is probably not the best rendition of the Hobbit, but then again it not only is animate, but it is using 1970s animation technology. We must remember that back then they did not have special effects, and a lot of movies were shot using blue screens and models. These days they simply hire computer programmers and graphic designers, which ends up being a lot cheaper.There really isn't much to say about this animate feature in and of itself. The drawings and animation are not the best, but the voices seem to work okay, though I thought Bilbo looked a little dorky. Most of the story is present, though unlike the Peter Jackson version of the Hobbit that is due to be released soon, there is not focus on the back story. Basically what we have in the book we have in this feature, and nothing more. This means that we do not know where Gandalf goes off to when he is not accompanying the group.The basic story is simple, Bilbo is relaxing in his house when Gandalf appears and tells him that he is going to have some guests. Sure enough, a bunch of dwarfs rock up and begin having a party. Gandalf then tells Biblo (he doesn't have a choice in the matter) that they need a robber (or a professional treasure finder, as Bilbo calls himself) and that Bilbo has been chosen. Then off they go on a long journey across Middle Earth to the Lonely Mountain to kill a dragon, claim the treasure, and restore Thorin Oakenshield to his throne. On the way they are captured by Trolls, Goblins, Elves, and Spiders, and once all is said and done, they suddenly discover that they are in the middle of a massive battle between five armies, who are all wanting a piece of Lonely Mountain.What I discovered from this film was basically how whimpy the dwarfs were. Okay, my thoughts on dwarfs are clouded by the Dungeons and Dragons position, however I would have expected the dwarfs in Middle Earth to be a lot tougher than this lot. If we take into account all the times that they were captured, not once did they actually go out and fight, and if it was not Gandalf rescuing them, it was Bilbo. Even when the go to confront the dragon Smaug, it is Bilbo who sneaks into the mountain, and it is a human from Lake Town that fires the killing blow. The only time the dwarfs actually get involve in a battle is right at the end, and even then half of them are killed.This is not really a criticism of the film, but rather of the book, though we need to remember that The Hobbit was the pre-cursor to Lord of the Rings, the book that pretty much set the standard for all fantasy fiction to come, though being the precursor, The Hobbit is truly the first of the modern fantasy fiction. It is clear that Bilbo is the hero, and that Gandalf is some sort of guardian angel, but I am still, to an extent, a little baffled as to who the dwarfs are. Only a few of the dwarfs actually have major roles, the rest of them seem to just tag along for the ride. As I said, none of them actually get into a fight until the end. However, I do not think this is allegorical, since Tolkein pretty much hated the concept.The book does set the scene for the Lord of the Rings, though once again only in a minor way. Pretty much everything that we need to know about the world of Middle Earth is in the Lord of the Rings, and aspects such as Gollum and the ring, are also more fully explained there as well. All we know about Gollum here is that his is some ugly creature lurking deep in the Misty Mountains, crying over his lost precious. In a way, the riddle scene in the book where Bilbo and Gollum face off each other in a challenge of wits is the most famous scene in the book, but we know nothing about the ring until Lord of the Rings, when Gandalf returns to The Shire, has a look at the ring, and discovers that it is indeed the one ring. All it is here is a magical trinket, however the hold that it has over Gollum should give us some clues that there is simply something not right with it.