The Hobbit (TV 1977)

A homebody hobbit in Middle Earth gets talked into joining a quest with a group of dwarves to recover their treasure from a dragon.

Directors:

Jules Bass, Arthur Rankin Jr.

Writers:

J.R.R. Tolkien (novel), Romeo Muller

Stars:

Orson Bean, John Huston, Cyril Ritchard

1 win & 1 nomination.

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Orson Bean	...	Bilbo Baggins (voice)
Richard Boone	...	Smaug (voice)
Hans Conried	...	Thorin (voice)
John Huston	...	Gandalf the Grey (voice)
Otto Preminger	...	Elvenking (voice)
Cyril Ritchard	...	Elrond (voice)
Brother Theodore	...	Gollum (voice) (as Theodore)
Paul Frees	...	Bombur / Troll #1 (voice)
Jack DeLeon	...	Dwalin / Fili / Kili / Oin / Gloin / Nori / Ori / Bifur / Bofur / Goblins (voice) (as Jack De Leon)
Don Messick	...	Balin / Troll #3 / Goblin / Lord of the Eagles (voice)
John Stephenson	...	Dori / Great Goblin / Bard (voice)
Glenn Yarbrough	...	The Balladeer (voice)

Storyline

Bilbo Baggins the Hobbit was just minding his own business, when his occasional visitor Gandalf the Wizard drops in one night. One by one, a whole group of dwarves drop in, and before he knows it, Bilbo has joined their quest to reclaim their kingdom, taken from them by an evil dragon named Smaug. The only problem is that Gandalf has told the dwarves that Bilbo is an expert burglar, but he isn't....

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Plot Keywords:

quest | dragon | hobbit | wizard | middle earth | 

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Genres:

Animation | Adventure | Family | Fantasy | Musical

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Certificate:

Not Rated

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

27 November 1977 (USA)

Also Known As:

A hobbit

Box Office

Budget:

$3,000,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

ABC Video Enterprises, Rankin/Bass Productions, Topcraft

Technical Specs

Runtime:

77 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The song sung when Bilbo and the dwarfs arrive in Lake-town ("The streams shall run in gladness...") is the last verse of the song from the book. The final two lines (sung under the ensuing dialogue) are the first lines of the song.

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Goofs

When Elrond reveals the moon runes on the dwarves' map, he reads the phrased as quoted directly from the book "Stand by the grey stone...", however the phrase shown is "Five feet high the door and three may walk abreast." This is a phrase which was not written in the moon runes.

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Quotes

[as Bilbo and the dwarves are getting ready for the Battle of Three - ultimately Five - Armies, "Mister Baggins" complains about his ill-fitting war-gear]
Bilbo Baggins: This is deucedly uncomfortable. I'm certain to get a rash!
Thorin: That armor was forged in the foundaries of my grandfather. Wear it proudly, and it will carry you to victory!
Bilbo Baggins: Confusticate and be-bother victory! I hope only to be taken prisoner as quickly as possible!
Thorin: Those are the words of a COWARD!
Bilbo Baggins: The coward who flushed out Smaug? The coward who ...
[...]

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Connections

Referenced in See No Evil (2006)

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Soundtracks

"The Road Goes Ever On and On"
Written by J.R.R. Tolkien
Lyrics adapted by Jules Bass
Music by Maury Laws
Performed by Glenn Yarbrough

User Reviews

More Than Just a Book-to-Movie

Many Tolkien fans who have written reviews say that this movie has done bad things to the book. They say it oversimplifies it, that it takes out parts that shouldn't've been taken out, that it turns it from a novel for mature readers into a movie for 'kids'. I've read the book, and been watching this movie for many years. I have to disagree that this is a movie just for children-- when I was younger and watched this movie, I did not realize the philosophical lessons present from beginning to end. Bilbo begins his day just like any other day-- he washes his dishes, cleans his hobbit hole, and leaves it to go outside and smoke his pipe. Then, from the suddeness of destiny, his life is changed. He's taken from his quiet home in the Shire, to begin his Greatest Adventure. An adventure that changes him from shy, unsure, afraid, and reluctant, into a confident, wiser, and better man. "The Chances, the Changes, are all yours to make. The mold of your life is in your hands to break." This happens to all of us in our lives. We leave our happy, unknowing-of-danger homes, and are taken through hard times, until finally, we take those steps into the cave, and we face our fears. "...but to take those last steps. That would be the bravest of all things. Whatever happens afterwards is nothing."

The songs are beautiful, with tunes that will have you humming at work. The song 'The Greatest Adventure', if you listened to carefully, can tell you much about what you will have to do in your own hard times. This is a beautiful, wonderful movie. Not just the animation and the music, but the lesson it can teach.

"So, Mr. Bilbo Baggins... Do you turn back?"