"The Hitch Hikers Guide to the Galaxy" (1981) TV series

Seasons:

1

Release Date:

30 October 1982 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Sci-Fi | Adventure

Tagline:

Don't panic!

Plot:

An Earth man and his alien friend escape Earth's destruction and go on a truly strange adventure as space hitchhikers.

Plot Keywords:

Meaning Of Life | Space | Alien | Time Travel | Planet

Awards:

4 wins

Cast

Peter Jones	...	The Book (6 episodes, 1981)
Simon Jones	...	Arthur Dent (6 episodes, 1981)
David Dixon	...	Ford Prefect (6 episodes, 1981)
Sandra Dickinson	...	Trillian (5 episodes, 1981)
Mark Wing-Davey	...	Zaphod Beeblebrox (5 episodes, 1981)
Stephen Moore	...	Marvin / ... (5 episodes, 1981)
David Learner	...	Marvin (4 episodes, 1981)
David Tate	...	Eddie / ... (3 episodes, 1981)
Martin Benson	...	Vogon Captain (2 episodes, 1981)
Richard Vernon	...	Slartibartfast (2 episodes, 1981)
Rayner Bourton	...	Newscaster (2 episodes, 1981)
Douglas Adams	...	Man in Ocean / ... (2 episodes, 1981)

Also Known As:

The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy (USA) (video title)

Runtime:

Australia:32 min (6 episodes) | Germany:152 min (2 parts) | USA:25 min (7 episodes) (original release) | USA:33 min (6 episodes) (subsequent syndication) | 33 min (6 episodes)

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono | Stereo (video release)

Certification:

Australia:G (original rating) | Australia:PG (cable rating) | UK:PG | West Germany:12

Filming Locations:

BBC Television Centre, Wood Lane, Shepherd's Bush, London, England, UK

Company:

British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)

Trivia:

Alan J.W. Bell relates that he was working on a "making-of" documentary about Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back (1980), in a cutting room in Ealing, when Kevin Davies overheard a sound, stuck in his head and said "Excuse me, is that R2-D2?". Davies (a huge Hitchhikers' fan) then recognized Bell's name, recommended his employer (Rod Lord Animation) for the graphics in the TV version, and the rest is history.

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: Episode 2: When Arthur and Ford are following Marvin through a white hallway, where Marvin mentions that the ship has been stolen, when Marvin walks toward the camera to enter a doorway, the actor's nose can be seen through the mesh of his mouth.

Quotes:

[repeated line]
Marvin: I think you ought to know I'm feeling very depressed.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Doctor Who: The Christmas Invasion (#2.0)" (2005)

Soundtrack:

Journey of the Sorcerer

Don't Panic, it's really quite good

In this 6-part Mini based on the Douglas Adam's radio scripts, Ford Perfect (David Dixon) saves his friend Arthur Dent (Simon Jones, whom made not one, but two of the best mini's of the '80's, this and Brideshead Revisted, both in 1981 mind you. I'm inclined to think that Simon got a hold of the Infinite Improbability Drive) from the annihilation of Earth to pave the way for an intergalactic hyperspatial express route . Ford, unbeknowst to Arthur is an alien and whisks him away on a comical adventure that includes, but not limited to, everything. The humor is delightfully British,most of the characters dead-on (a given, since a lot of the cast were holdover's from the radio play). The effects may be a tad dated (an understatement if I ever heard one), however I feel that it adds to the charm of the show rather than detracts. All in all a marvelous adaption.

My Grade: A