The Lord of the Rings (1978)

Director:

Ralph Bakshi

Writers:

J.R.R. Tolkien (novels)
Chris Conkling (screenplay) ...
(more)

Release Date:

15 November 1978 (USA)

Genre:

Animation | Adventure | Drama | Fantasy

Tagline:

Come to Middle-earth, a world beyond the furthest reaches of your imagination.

Plot:

The Fellowship of the Ring embark on a journey to destroy the One Ring and end Sauron's reign over Middle Earth.

Plot Keywords:

Ring | Hobbit | Middle Earth | Journey | Quest

Awards:

Nominated for Golden Globe. Another 1 win & 2 nominations

Cast

Christopher Guard	...	Frodo (voice)
William Squire	...	Gandalf (voice)
Michael Scholes	...	Sam (voice)
John Hurt	...	Aragorn (voice)
Simon Chandler	...	Merry (voice)
Dominic Guard	...	Pippin (voice)
Norman Bird	...	Bilbo (voice)
Michael Graham Cox	...	Boromir (voice) (as Michael Graham-Cox)
Anthony Daniels	...	Legolas (voice)
David Buck	...	Gimli (voice)
Peter Woodthorpe	...	Gollum (voice)
Fraser Kerr	...	Saruman (voice)
Philip Stone	...	Theoden (voice)
Michael Deacon	...	Wormtongue (voice)
André Morell	...	Elrond (voice) (as Andre Morell)
Alan Tilvern	...	Innkeeper (voice)
Annette Crosbie	...	Galadriel (voice)
John Westbrook	...	Treebeard (voice)
John A. Neris	...	Gandalf
Sharon Baird	...	Frodo
Michael Lee Gogin
Paul Gale
Patrick Sullivan Burke
Billy Barty	...	Bilbo / Sam
Donn Whyte
Trey Wilson
Albert Ash		(as Albert Cirimele)
Patty Maloney
Jeri Lea Ray
Felix Silla
Mike Clifford
Larry Larsen
Art Hern
David Dotson
Tommy Madden
Gary Jensen
Aesop Aquarian
Santy Josol
Stan Barrett
John L.		(as John L)
Herbie Braha		(as Herb Braha)
Sam Laws
Hank Calia
Terry Leonard
Frank Delfino
Peter Looney
Russ Ernest		(as Russ Earnest)
Dennis Madalone
Robert 'Big Buck' Maffei		(as Buck Maffei)
Edoardo Faieta		(as Eddy Fay)
Jerry Maren
Carmen Filpi
Harry Monty
Ruth Gay
Frank Morson
Leonard P. Geer		(as Lenny Gear)
Walter Robles		(as Walt Robles)
Harriet Gibson		(as Harriett Gibson)
Mic Rodgers
Bob Haney
Angelo Rossitto
Chuck Hayward
Peter Risch		(as Pete Risch)
Eddie Hice		(as Eddy Hice)
Jack Verbois
Loren Janes
Greg Walker		(as Gregg Walker)
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Louie Elias	...	(voice) (uncredited)

Directed by
Ralph Bakshi

Writing credits
J.R.R. Tolkien		(novels "The Fellowship of the Ring" and "The Two Towers")
Chris Conkling		(screenplay) and
Peter S. Beagle		(screenplay)

Produced by
Saul Zaentz	....	producer

Original Music by
Leonard Rosenman

Cinematography by
Timothy Galfas		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Donald W. Ernst
Peter Kirby

Art Direction by
Phil Carroll

Makeup Department
Patricia Messina	....	key makeup artist

Production Management
Denise O'Dell	....	production supervisor (uncredited)

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
John Sparey	....	assistant director

Art Department
Tom Jung	....	poster artist (uncredited)
Tom Jung	....	poster designer (uncredited)

Sound Department
Stephen Katz	....	consultant: Dolby
Carl Lewis	....	assistant sound editor (as Cari Lewis)
Bob Minkler	....	sound re-recording mixer
Bill Mumford	....	sound re-recording mixer
Dan Sharp	....	assistant sound editor (as Daniel Sharp)
Bill Varney	....	sound re-recording mixer
Cathy McKelvey	....	assistant sound editor (uncredited)
John Post	....	sound effects editor (uncredited)
Curt Schulkey	....	adr editor (uncredited)
Curt Schulkey	....	dialogue editor (uncredited)

Visual Effects by
James W. Riley	....	visual effects producer (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Phil Bray	....	set photographer

Animation Department
Marcia Adams	....	landscape painter
Christopher D. Andrews	....	animation effects (as Christopher Andrews)
Craig Armstrong	....	key animator
Dale Baer	....	key animator
Dale Baer	....	layout artist
Brenda Banks	....	key animator
Carl Bell	....	key animator
Kristine Brown	....	final checker
Nino Carbe	....	animation effects
Mary Jane Cole	....	ink and paint special effects
Jesus Cortes	....	key animator
Janet Cummings	....	color modeler
Janet Cummings	....	ink and paint supervisor
Retta Davidson	....	assistant animator
James A. Davis	....	key animator
Lillian Evans	....	key animator
Dotti Foell	....	animation checker
Frank Gonzales	....	key animator
Edward Goral	....	inbetween artist
Steven E. Gordon	....	key animator (as Steven Gordon)
Stan Green	....	animation effects
Edgar Gutierrez	....	cel reproductions
Vince Gutierrez	....	ink and paint supervisor
Lee Guttman	....	ink and paint supervisor
Ann Hamilton	....	ink and paint special effects
Kevin Hanna	....	layout artist
Edwin B. Hirth III	....	landscape painter
Mentor Huebner	....	layout artist
Charlotte Huffine	....	assistant animator
Barry E. Jackson	....	landscape painter (as Barry Jackson)
Sam Jaimes	....	animator
David Jonas	....	layout artist
Sean Joyce	....	key animator
Lisa Kahatriya	....	ink and paint supervisor (as Lisa Kshatriya)
Chrystal Klabunde	....	key animator (as Chrystal Russell)
Rob LaDuca	....	assistant animator (as Rob La Duca)
Larry Leker	....	animator
Terry Lennon	....	assistant animator (as Terrence Lennon)
Ed Newmann	....	assistant animator (as Edward Newmann)
Linda Pearce	....	ink and paint special effects
Manuel Perez	....	animator (as Manny Perez)
Daniel Pia	....	animation production supervisor
Michael G. Ploog	....	layout artist (as Mike Ploog)
Carol Kieffer Police	....	landscape painter (as Carol Kieffer)
Lou Police	....	background assistant
Gary Randall	....	animator
Sally Reymond	....	ink and paint supervisor
Nelda Ridley	....	ink and paint supervisor
Lenord Robinson	....	key animator
Joe Roman	....	animator
Phil Roman	....	animator
Emalene Seutter	....	ink and paint special effects (as Emaline Seutter)
Paul Smith	....	key animator
Irven Spence	....	key animator
J. Michael Spooner	....	background assistant
Karin Stover	....	ink and paint special effects
Martin Taras	....	animator
Barry Temple	....	assistant animator
Ruth Tompson	....	ink and paint supervisor
Hank Tucker	....	key animator
Ira Turek	....	background assistant
John Vita	....	landscape painter (as Johnnie Vita)
Ed Wexler	....	key animator (as Edward Wexler)
Bruce Woodside	....	key animator
Louise Zingarelli	....	layout artist
Micki Zurcher	....	ink and paint supervisor
Daryl Carstensen	....	xerox checker (uncredited)
Brad Frost	....	assistant animator (uncredited)
Ray Harris	....	assistant animator (uncredited)
Madlyn O'Neill	....	paint technician (uncredited)
Richard Raynis	....	background illustrator (uncredited)
Rusty Stoll	....	assistant animator (uncredited)
Tom Tataranowicz	....	animator (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
William Barbe	....	special costume designer and constructor
Lynne Betner	....	special costume designer and constructor
Hollis Trainer	....	costume supervisor (uncredited)

Editorial Department
Jack Hooper	....	negative cutter
Tom Hooper	....	negative cutter

Music Department
Ralph Ferraro	....	orchestrator
Jim Henrikson	....	music editor
Leonard Rosenman	....	conductor

Other crew
Mark Bakshi	....	production staff
Leah Bernstein	....	assistant to director
Lynne Betner	....	assistant to director
Martin Cohen	....	production staff
Christine Danzo	....	production staff (as Christine L. Danzo)
Nancy Eichler	....	assistant to producer
Robert K. Feldmann	....	production assistant
Wayne Fitzgerald	....	title designer
Jacquelyn Herst	....	production staff
Jacqueline Roettcher	....	studio production supervisor
Cathy Rose	....	production staff
Michael Takamoto	....	production staff

Production Companies

• Fantasy Films
• Saul Zaentz Production Company

Distributors

• United Artists (1978) (USA) (theatrical)
• United Artists Pictures (1980) (Finland) (theatrical)
• United Pictures Finland (1980) (Finland) (theatrical)
• Transmundo Films (1994) (Argentina) (theatrical)
• Transmundo Home Video (THV) (1994) (Argentina) (VHS)
• Warner Bros. (2001) (Argentina) (theatrical)
• Argentina Video Home (2001) (Argentina) (VHS)
• Warner Bros. Entertainment Finland Oy (2001) (Finland) (DVD)
• Aquarius TV (2005) (Greece) (TV)
• Connoisseur Video (????) (UK) (VHS)
• Connossieur Video (????) (USA) (VHS)
• Diamond Entertainment Group (DEG) (???) (USA) (VHS)
• HBO/Cannon Video (198?) (USA) (VHS)
• Home Box Office Home Video (HBO) (????) (USA) (VHS)
• Oy Europa Vision AB (????) (Finland) (VHS)
• Republic Pictures Home Video (1993) (USA) (VHS)
• Warner Home Vídeo (????) (Brazil) (DVD)

Special Effects

• Symmetricon (special kaleidoscopic effect)

Other Companies

• Nick Vasu  animation camera
• R & B EFX & Animation  animation camera
• Hogan-Lee Images  animation camera
• Sam Shaw Enterprises  sound effects
• Optical House, The  optical effects
• Image Transform  post-production facilities

Also Known As:

"J.R.R. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings" - USA (complete title)

Runtime:

132 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English | Sindarin

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Canada:A (Nova Scotia) | Iceland:L | Finland:K-12/9 (1988) | Peru:PT | Argentina:Atp | Australia:PG | Canada:G (Manitoba/Quebec) | Chile:TE | Finland:K-12 (1980) | Netherlands:AL | Sweden:11 | UK:PG | USA:PG | West Germany:12 | Canada:PG (Ontario)

Filming Locations:

Belmonte, Cuenca, Castilla-La Mancha, Spain

Company:

Fantasy Films

Trivia:

Rotoscoped action scenes were filmed in Spain.

Goofs:

Errors made by characters (possibly deliberate errors by the filmmakers): The name of the wizard of Isengard fluctuates between "Saruman" and "Aruman" throughout the movie.

Quotes:

Gandalf:I have come for your aid Saruman the White, in troubled times. The Nine are abroad, darkness approaches, the Black Riders!
Saruman:Is that all the news you have for me then?
Gandalf:Is that not enough? Sauron is moving at last!
Saruman:We can deal with Sauron ourselves Gandalf. You, and I. One way or another.
Gandalf:What talk is this? What are you saying Saruman?
Saruman:It is time for us to choose. A new age is upon us, a new power is rising. Nothing that Elves or Men or Wizards can do will avail against it. Its enemies are utterly doomed, but its friends...
Gandalf:You are saying that we should join with Mordor? With him?
Saruman:Does that displease you? Where is the Ring Gandalf? Why do the servants of Sauron seek for it in the Shire? Have you hidden it there? Would you rather see the Dark Lord have it, or Saruman of Many Colours?
Gandalf:Neither of you will have it.
Saruman:There is a third choice. It is to remain here, until you tell me where the One Ring may be found.
[...]

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "The Nostalgia Critic: Thomas and the Magic Railroad (#5.10)" (2012)

Soundtrack:

There is an Inn

Vastly Underrated Don't Listen To Tolkien Fanboys - Best LOTR Adaptation.

First of all no adaptation is ever as good as the book, especially when you're dealing with master writer like Tolkien. This ADAPTATION wonderfully synthesizes Tolkien's universe with 1970s psychedelia, aesthetics, and liberal culture. Yes - the animation and background painting is sometimes a little "rough" in its technical execution but it's beautiful none the less, and very evocative in terms of giving a unique "sense of place" to each of the scenes. Beyond the absolute uniqueness in imagery is the absolutely outstanding voice acting - acting that's FAR superior to the acting in the new live action movies. And while the cell animation might not be the most "technically proficient" animation it superbly captures the expressive bodily and facial gestures of the acting while at once not forgetting to be subtle and nuanced. The background paintings vary from traditional "fantasy" motif to outright abstraction, but the transition to abstracted settings is always motivated by the narrative and contributes greatly to the themes of the film. If you're a person who has to have extensive computer rendering in a film so that everything is visualized for you then I can see how you might not like this movie but if you enjoy superior acting, transcendental imagery, and JRR Tolkien then this film is a must see.