The Lord of the Rings (BBC Radio Drama 1981)

In 1981 BBC Radio 4 broadcast a dramatisation of J.R.R. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings in 26 half-hour stereo instalments. It followed a previous 12-part BBC Radio version from 1955 and 1956, of which no recordings are known to have survived. The Lord of the Rings was dramatised for radio by Sibley and Michael Bakewell. The music was composed by Stephen Oliver. Radiophonic sound was provided by Elizabeth Parker. The series was produced and directed by Jane Morgan and Penny Leicester. Each of the original 26 episodes received two broadcasts per week - standard practice for many BBC radio serials even today. The 26-part series was subsequently edited into 13 hour-long episodes, restoring some dialogue originally cut for timing (since each hour-long episode is actually around 57 minutes, as opposed to 54 minutes for two half-hour episodes), rearranging some scenes for dramatic impact and adding linking narration and music cues. It was broadcast in 13 episodes in 1982, restoring some dialogue originally cut for timing. The author's son and editor Christopher Tolkien reviewed and approved the final scripts for each episode. He recorded an audio cassette of correct pronunciations for Middle-earth words and names to assist the cast during recordings. The script attempts to be as faithful as possible to the original novel with many sections of dialogue lifted directly from the source material, such as the conversations between Frodo, Sam and Faramir in The Window on the West. The script also includes an arc where Wormtongue is waylaid by the Ringwraiths, as narrated in Unfinished Tales, a newly-published volume at that time. In the final episode, Bilbo's Last Song, a Tolkien poem which does not appear in the novel, is used to flesh out the sequence at the Grey Havens. However, there are some errors and alterations. For more details check out Tolkien Gateway: https://tolkiengateway.net/wiki/The_Lord_of_the_Rings_(1981_radio_series)#Differences_from_the_book A soundtrack album featuring a completely re-recorded and in some cases expanded, suite of Stephen Oliver's music was released in 1981. E01. Covering "The Fellowship of the Ring": Book 1 - Chapter 1-2-3 The hobbit protagonists are introduced. Bilbo and Frodo's birthday party, Bilbo leaves the Shire. Gandalf tells Frodo the true nature of the ring, and how it must be taken to Mordor and destroyed. Frodo decides to leave the Shire in order to protect the other inhabitants, and Gandalf suggests that he makes for Rivendell. Sam who has been listening at the window, is told to accompany Frodo. Frodo sells Bag End, and officially is going to move to a house at Crickhollow in the area beyond Bucklebury in Buckland, while he actually plans to disappear without causing too much of a fuss. Cast & Characters: Narrator: Gerard Murphy Frodo Baggins: Ian Holm Gandalf the Grey/Gandalf the White: Michael Hordern Aragorn (Strider): Robert Stephens Sam Gamgee: Bill Nighy (credited as William Nighy) Meriadoc Brandybuck (Merry): Richard O'Callaghan Peregrin Took (Pippin): John McAndrew Legolas: David Collings Gimli: Douglas Livingstone Boromir: Michael Graham Cox Galadriel: Marian Diamond Celeborn: Simon Cadell Arwen Evenstar: Sonia Fraser Saruman the White: Peter Howell Elrond: Hugh Dickson Bilbo Baggins: John Le Mesurier Gollum/Sméagol: Peter Woodthorpe Théoden: Jack May Gríma Wormtongue: Paul Brooke Éowyn: Elin Jenkins Éomer: Anthony Hyde Faramir: Andrew Seear Treebeard: Stephen Thorne Denethor: Peter Vaughan Lord of the Nazgûl: Philip Voss The Mouth of Sauron: John Rye Glorfindel/An Elf lord of the house of Elrond half-elven : John Webb Haldir/Nazgûl/Nob/Minstrel: Haydn Wood Gamling: Patrick Barr Ceorl: Michael McStay Háma/A Nazgûl: Michael Spice Éothain/Otho Sackville-Baggins/Ruffian: John Livesy Halbarad: Martyn Read Beregond/The Black Rider/Guard: Christopher Scott Ioreth: Pauline Letts Gwaihir: Alexander John Radagast the Brown: Donald Gee Gaffer Gamgee: John Church Ted Sandyman/Snaga: Gordon Reid Rosie Cotton: Kathryn Hurlbutt Daddy Twofoot: Leonard Fenton Farmer Maggot/Ruffian: John Bott Lobelia Sackville-Baggins: Diana Bishop Farmer Cotton: Alan Dudley Proudfoot/Orc: Sean Arnold Elanor Gamgee: Harry Holm Barliman Butterbur: James Grout Uglúk: Brian Haines Shagrat: Christopher Fairbank Gorbag: David Sinclair Déagol/Bill Ferny/Orc Captain: Graham Faulkner Shelob: Jenny Lee, BBC Radiophonic Workshop Singer (Dream Voice/Bilbo's Last Song): Matthew Vine Singer (The Bard): Oz Clarke Singer (The Eagle/Voice of Lothlórien): David James

E02. Covering "The Fellowship of the Ring" Book 1 - Chapter 3-9-10*: Frodo, Sam and Pippin set out through the South Farthing of the Shire towards Buckland, and encounter a black rider. The hobbits are pursued by deadly Black Riders. The hobbits try to rest in an inn, but Frodo 'accidentally' puts on the Ring, making him invisible. Strider who had at first seemed menacing, turns out to be friendly. The innkeeper, Butterbur, gives Frodo a letter from Gandalf, which tells him that Strider is a friend of Gandalf's whose real name is Aragorn. *1.4–1.8 on Crickhollow, Fatty Bolger, the Old Forest, Barrow-wights and Tom Bombadil omitted. https://tolkiengateway.net/wiki/The_Fellowship_of_the_Ring

E03. Covering "The Fellowship of the Ring" Book 1 & 2 - Chapter 1.10-1.11-1.12 - 2.1-2.2: The hobbits with Strider set out from Bree on foot after their horses had bolted when Black Riders arrived at the inn at night, who had also attacked the beds which they were supposed to be staying in, though Strider had them stay in another room. They buy a pony from Bill Ferny. They pass through the Midgewater Marshes, and reach Weathertop. There they are attacked by five black riders, Frodo puts on the ring to escape them, and is stabbed in the arm by one of them. They pass the stone trolls, turned to stone in The Hobbit. Eventually, they meet the Elf Glorfindel from Rivendell, who takes Frodo with him back to Rivendell on his white horse. The riders are washed away in a flood over the Ford. After awakening from a sleep for four days, Frodo meets Gandalf and Bilbo again, as well as Glóin the dwarf from The Hobbit, Elrond and others. A council attended by many people; Gandalf tells the story of his escape from Saruman; they decide that the ring must be destroyed and Frodo offers to take it to Mordor.

E04. Covering "The Fellowship of the Ring" Book 2 - Chapter 3-4-5: Gandalf, the hobbits, two men – Aragorn and Boromir, an elf, Legolas, and a dwarf, Gimli, set out to destroy the Ring. The nine members of the fellowship travel south through Hollin; they try to take the road over the mountain Caradhras but are forced to turn back. They travel to the gates of Moria, where they have to deal with a sea creature in the lake in front of it. Gandalf eventually opens the doors using a magic word. They reach the tomb of Balin. Attacked by orcs and trolls, the Fellowship tries to make their way to the bridge of Khazad-dum, but Gandalf falls during a confrontation with a Balrog on the bridge.

E05. Covering "The Fellowship of the Ring" Book 2. Chapter 6-7-8-9-10: E05. Covering "The Fellowship of the Ring" Book 2. Chapter 6-7-8-9-10: The company meets the elves of Lothlórien. The elves reluctantly agree to let Gimli the dwarf pass. Haldir takes Frodo to the hill of Cerin Amroth. The company meets Celeborn and Galadriel. Frodo is shown the mirror of Galadriel. The elves give them cloaks, elf bread and other gifts; they leave Lothlórien on boats down the Great River. They notice Gollum following them down the river on a log; they reach the falls of Rauros, where they must choose between travelling on the east or west bank of the river to pass the falls. They arrive at the lawn of Parth Galen; they still face the choice of whether to go east or west; Boromir tries to take the Ring from Frodo, who puts it on to escape him; Other members of the company split up trying to find Frodo. Frodo and Sam go across the river and head east.

E06. Covering "The Two Towers": Book 3 - Chapters 1-2-3-4-5 & Book 4 - Chapter 1: E06. Covering "The Two Towers": Book 3 - Chapters 1-2-3-4-5 & Book 4 - Chapter 1: Aragorn finds Boromir wounded with with many orc-arrows; Boromir tells him that orcs had taken Merry and Pippin alive. Boromir dies, and Aragorn, Legolas, and Gimli send his body down the stream on a 'funeral boat.' The 'Three Hunters' set forth to track the Uruk-hai who had captured Merry and Pippin. They follow the trail of the orcs and find several clues as to what happened with the hobbits, then meet a company of Rohirrim led by Éomer, who tell them that the orcs were destroyed and none were left alive. They camp near the site of the orc massacre. Merry and Pippin flee into Fangorn Forest as the orcs are attacked by the men of Rohan. Merry and Pippin meet Treebeard the Ent, who calls an Entmoot, a gathering of Ents in Derndingle. The hobbits meet another ent, Quickbeam. The ents decide at the entmoot after three days, to attack Isengard. Gollum joins Frodo and Sam, after Sam captures him. Aragorn, Legolas and Gimli, who discover signs that the hobbits escaped the orcs into the forest. They meet an old man, who they at first presume to be Saruman, but who turns out to be Gandalf. They set off for Edoras.

E07. Covering "The Two Towers": Book 3 - Chapters 6-7 & Book IV - Chapters 2: Ents march towards Isengard. Gandalf frees Théoden, King of Rohan, free from a spell. Wormtongue is kicked out of the city. Théoden gives Gandalf the horse Shadowfax. Frodo, Sam and Gollum pass through the Dead Marshes. Aragorn, Legolas and Gimli are at Helm's Deep with the Rohan army, defending the people of Rohan from attack by the army of Saruman.

E08. Covering "The Two Towers": Book 3 - Chapters 8-9-10; Book 4 - Chapters 3-4 & "The Return of the King"": Book 5 -Chapters 2. The company travel to Isengard, and see that it has been destroyed. At Isengard they find Merry and Pippin. Merry and Pippin tell the story of how the ents attacked Isengard, in amongst the ruins or 'flotsam and jetsam' of the city. Gandalf and Théoden go to Saruman's tower, Orthanc, and speak with him. Saruman has a very persuasive voice, which he almost uses to persuade Théoden and the others until Gandalf breaks Saruman's staff casts him from the order of wizards. Wormtongue throws the palantir of Orthanc from the tower, which misses Gandalf, and is picked up by Pippin. He is seen by Sauron. Gandalf explains the origin of the Palantir; Gandalf sets off with Pippin for Minas Tirith, riding on Shadowfax. Aragorn, Legolas and Gimli pass through the paths of the dead between Rohan and Gondor. Frodo, Sam and Gollum reach the gate of Mordor, Gollum persuades them not to go in, and to head south. They reach the pleasant country of Ithilien but are captured by Boromir's brother, Faramir.

E09. Covering "The Two Towers": Book 4 - Chapters 5-6-7; & "The Return of the King"": Book 5 - Chapters 1-2-3. Frodo and Sam are captured by Faramir's men and they are blindfolded on their way to Henneth Annûn. Frodo tells Faramir of his brother Boromir's part in the Fellowship. Éowyn, begs Aragorn to avoid the Paths of the Dead but Aragorn refuses. The Company enteres the dark path. Gimli is nearly paralysed with fear, as he could hear the whispering voices of an unseen host following the Company in the dark. At a clearing, Aragorn turns and speaks to the Dead, summoning them to follow him to the Stone of Erech. After creeping in the darkness for what seemed like ages, the Company emerges from the Paths and rode quickly through the mountain fields with the Men, horses, and banners of the Dead following behind. Faramir shows Frodo they have found Gollum at the Forbidden pool. Frodo saves him from being shot by Faramir's men. Frodo, Sam and Gollum leave Faramir. They travel to the crossroad of the road east between Osgiliath and Minas Morgul, and the north-south road from the Black Gate to the southlands. Gandalf with Pippin arrive in Minas Tirith; they talk with Denethor; Pippin enters the service of the steward. Rohan prepares for war; Merry heads off for Minas Tirith, on a horse with a rider who calls himself Dernhelm.

E10. Covering "The Two Towers": Book 4 - Chapters 8-9-10; & "The Return of the King"": Book 5 - Chapters 4-5; Book 6 - Chapter 1. Denethor upbraid Faramir for showing cowardice in defending the outposts. The Steward bitterly remarked that Boromir, his other son, would have brought him a "mighty gift"—meaning the Ring. Gandalf pointed out that Boromir would have kept the "gift" for himself. The two men argued, and Pippin again sensed the strain between them. Denethor opposed sending the Ring with a Hobbit into the hands of Sauron, believing that he himself should have been given the Ring for safekeeping. The gathering dispersed. Pippin asked Gandalf why, as Faramir had indicated, Frodo and Sam were traveling with Gollum. Gandalf feared Gollum’s treachery, but noted that perhaps some good may yet come of Gollum’s actions. The next morning, Denethor sents Faramir to protect the outlying ruins of Osgiliath, where Mordor's armies were likely to strike first. Faramir dutifully accepts the perilous—possibly suicidal—assignment from his father. Frodo, Sam and Gollum witness an army leaving Minas Morgul. Frodo and Sam try to cross the pass of Cirith Ungol into Mordor, but are attacked by the giant spider Shelob. Frodo is stung and trussed up like a fly. Frodo is taken by the orcs. Sam listens to the orcs talking about him, which is how he finds out that he is still alive, having thought that Frodo had been killed by Shelob. Gandalf rode off toward Osgiliath to help fight the Black Captain. The Wizard returned the next day, leading many wounded men. Faramir remained at Pelennor, trying to hold his men together to execute a safe retreat. Minas Tirith is besieged by the forces of Mordor. Sam goes to find Frodo in the orc tower.