Product Description

A wonderous animated version of J.R.R. Tolkein's classic about the magical world of Middle Earth and the adventures of lovable Bilbo Baggins. Featuring the voices of Orson Bean and John Huston. Year: 1977 Director: Jules Bass, Arthur Rankin Jr. Starring: Orson Bean, John Huston

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #2592 in DVD
• Released on: 2001-09-11
• Rating: NR (Not Rated)
• Aspect ratio: 1.33:1
• Formats: Animated, Closed-captioned, Color, DVD-Video, NTSC
• Original language: English
• Subtitled in: English, French, Spanish
• Number of discs: 1
• Running time: 78 minutes

Amazon.com
The J.R.R. Tolkien fantasy classic set in Middle-earth was adapted into this excellent 1978 animated feature first broadcast on television. Codirectors Jules Bass and Arthur Rankin Jr., working from a script by Romeo Muller, are faithful to Tolkien's story and for that alone they get big points. The vocal cast can't be improved upon: Orson Bean is perfect as Bilbo Baggins, the timorous hobbit who grows brave on his adventure with the wizard Gandalf (John Huston). Otto Preminger is the voice of Elvenking, Richard Boone is Smaug, Hans Conreid is Thorin, and Brother Theodore is very effective as the weird Gollum. Terrific for kids and adults alike. --Tom Keogh

Customer Reviews

It was my first viewing on TV...darned good!~!~!
I had been reading JRR Tolkein's works as I lay in a hospital recovering from a plane crash I was unlucky enough to survive as it introduced me to a life of pain at the age of 29 and I am 62 and w.o. stop I still suffer, w.o. being made "whole, by the MFG. of the 172 Skyhawk.

Nevertheless, I remember when this came on tv and Richard Boone played the voice of "Smaug" the dragon that had the village below in terror and kept it that way as the townsfolk would put up with him.
An entourage of Dwarves, besides Gandalf the Wizard invaded Bilbo Baggin's peace and quiet one time and Gandalf being first, sort of took the Hobbit, Bilbo Baggins off guard, and Bilbo had no idea...he was about to go on an adventure, whereas Hobbits, like a good meal, and a pipe afterwards, and please "Don't break the dishes and the plates" as Hobbits live in a town called The "Shire",(with round doors and entrances, exits... which they get along together as a large family, but, there was something that Gandalf the Wizard wanted this little hair-footed Hobbit to do, and that was yet to be shown to him.
If he did NOT like adventures, he was about to join one that would impair him for his life.
He had to ( as the (14) dwarves plus Bilbo Baggins were ready to knock on his door and have a feast at the nerves and ruination of Bilbo's "peace & Quiet" ...(severely).
They had a plan and a map that would show Mr. Baggins the way to "Lonely Mountain" to confront "Smaug the Dragon" and stir him up and you could hear Boone's voice thumping on your chest as "Smaug spoke his threats to Bilbo Baggins and the Dwarves", the story was narrated by "Orson Bean", also to be recalled was the late John Huston...you'll hear his voice bearing in too! Through adventure upon the next thrilling comfrontation with a dangerous situation, had the dwarves getting Bilbo into trouble and Gandalf getting him out of harm's way, but Bilbo was the "LEADER" (a "Burgular" it was said) now, not any dwarf, not Gandalf, but, Gandalf had disappeared for some times, leaving the rescue crew of 14 by themselves to face the dragon and stir him against the town, but Gandalf HAD TO be on HIS way as there was danger brewing in the East...toward dark and dreary "MORDOR" and the trouble growing from there!

This is a treat for anyone to see or read as I read the Hobbit to my adopted daughter, and she still recalls the Stone Dwarves who argued about what they were going to do to eat poor Bilbo Baggins~!
Tom, William, and Bart was the third (IMHO)..I am supposed to suffer from "short-term memory " loss.
But, what I just told you was from my heart and not my mind, as this was the beginnings of my devotion to the rest of J.R.R. Tolkein's written works, such as Farmer Giles of Ham, Tom Bombadil, The emtire Trilogy with the entire set:"The Fellowship of the Ring;" "The Two Towers", and "The Return of the King"... from beg. to end~! I even read or studied the languages of the elves, dwarves, the Goblins, Orcs, and oh so many left that started it all in the book called The Silmarillion" which presented you with the "Creation of Middle Earth" and introduced you to the characters of the rest of Tolkein's writings, and even though death was a way for them also as it is with us, the trilogy dealt with the "Return of the King of Middle Earth" at the end of the third age and beginning of the 4th age of MAN!
What a thrill, as this is one necessary book or movie to have so that one might be prepared for the Trilogy I have spoken of, the largest story of GOOD vs. Evil, w.o. getting into the Scriptures, as there is parallelisms all through the Silmarillion and the Holy Bible, though I do NOT believe that this was the original intent of the Lord Tolkein!
There is no reason to miss this DVD, movie or whatever you have, and if you do get involved, remember this: It is NOT and I MUST say it is NOT as "DUNGEONS and DRAGONS", which I have nothing to do with.
This battle, the same type: of Good and Evil, is a paramount theme throughout the series and ages that was developed from the notes of JRR Tolkein by his son, and there is one thing I did forget Jr. Tolkein's name...(most sorry, sir).!
I apologize Mr. Tolkein, but, it's this "short term memory" thing, which I bow and apologize for.
Now recall, this is one of then most thrilling escapades of the Hobbits as there were for the 13 Dwarves, plus Bilbo Baggins, and Gandalf the Wizard.
Have fun, speak of it together, play "what if", and guessing games of who did what, and to whom...it is a whole new life for you.
Have fun as It is a wonderful story for all of us and our children, and our grandparents which I am as well as a great grandfather , three (3) times now.
Absolutely wonderful, fun, funny, serious, the eternal story of good vs. evil...have fun, and watch carefully...you may miss something that you will need in time!
RIT "STRINGS" Lauzon

adventures make one late for dinner
i was born in the early 80s, and one of my favorite childhood moments was watching this movie. back then i knew nothing of the lord of the rings trilogy or any of the novels. i remember renting this movie when several times when going over to spend the night at my grandparents. well seeing how im a huge fan of peter jackson's trilogy now, i decided to go back and watch this movie after what must be at least 18 years since i last saw it. the magic was still there and it brought back quite a bit of memories. the only thing i noticed this time around is the speeded up story telling. as a kid you don't notice that, but now that i'm in my early 20's its quite obvious as how much they were trying to squeeze in. oh well.. still a classic!

Great Movie!
Thanks for the movie. It arrived right away. My friend LOVED the gift.