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The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (Dramatised) cover art

The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (Dramatised)

By: J. R. R. Tolkien
Narrated by: Ian Holm, Michael Hordern, Robert Stephens, full cast
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Summary

With its first broadcast on BBC Radio 4 on March 8th, 1981, this dramatised tale of Middle Earth became an instant global classic. It boasts a truly outstanding cast including Ian Holm (as Frodo), Sir Michael Hordern (as Gandalf), Robert Stephens (as Aragorn), Bill Nighy (as Sam Gamgee) and John Le Mesurier (as Bilbo). Brian Sibley's famous adaptation has been divided into three corresponding parts, with newly recorded beginning and end narration by Ian Holm, who now stars as Bilbo in the feature films based on The Lord of the Rings. Part One, The Fellowship of the Ring, introduces us to Frodo Baggins. With his uncle Bilbo having mysteriously disappeared, Frodo finds himself in possession of a simple gold ring that has great and evil power. It is the Ruling Ring, taken long ago from the Dark Lord, Sauron, who now seeks to possess it again. Frodo must do everything he can to prevent this, and with the help of Gandalf the wizard and a band of loyal companions he begins a perilous journey across Middle-earth. Sauron's Black Riders are on their trail as they travel to Rivendell, attempt to cross the snow-swept Misty Mountains and, in desperation, enter the terrifying Mines of Moria.

©2018 BBC Worldwide Ltd trading as BBC Studios (P)2018 BBC Worldwide Ltd trading as BBC Studios

What listeners say about The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (Dramatised)

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Overall
  • 5 out of 5 stars
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    2,051
  • 4 Stars
    256
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    65
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    25
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    1,693
  • 4 Stars
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Story
  • 5 out of 5 stars
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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars

Should have been published on Audible as a whole!

I loved the original radio series so much that I had it on cassette - not terribly useful these days.

I'm pretty sure this has been edited from the original broadcast, some of the classic lines I remember don't seem to be there and I can't have dreamt them all. At one time I could recite entire episodes of this dramatization by heart.

That brings me to my main bugbear. This was a 13 part radio dramatization of the whole trilogy. There is no reason (other than making 2 extra sales) for it to have been divided into three.

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113 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

I'd have been preferred it in 13 parts

I would have give it 5 stars if it were the original radio drama 'prepared for radio in 13 parts, by Brian Sibley' but it's not.
I grew up listening to the cassette tapes of this play and there are some changes. 99% of it is the same, but it's been re-edited. There are alternate takes and extended scenes that I just find so jarring as they weren't in the original version. At first I thought I was losing my memory.
The title music is sped up with a new voiceover, but as it's only at the front of the play it's not too distracting. The pacing has suffered, because now it's no longer in 13 parts, the end of each episode is now a chapter. There is no longer a little cliffhanger and as a result it feels a tad less exciting. I liked the music and used to look forward to hearing it again. The score is excellent and some of the score was woven into the end title music on some episodes, which is now sadly lost.

it's still a brilliant drama with some of the best voice acting on Audible, but it's not quite the version I grew up with.

If you aren't over familiar with the original broadcasts you'll probably think I'm nitpicking. You're probably right.

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81 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

A travesty of the original BBC original.

I have the cassettes of the original BBC radio series, that was a masterpiece. Peter Jackson has credited them with more influence over his films then anything other then the original books.
This version still has much to commend it, primarily the casts fine performances, but the changes made to transform the 26 half hour episodes in to three audio books has killed the rhythm of the piece, robbing it of half of its magic.

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38 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

A Great Listen

I have just listened to this again after a gap of 10 years and it is even better than I remember. I thought after having seen the films that it would have lost some of the magic. But, this is not the case. One of the great things about audio is that you still get to fill in the gaps using your own imagination and this BBC Radio 4 version gives you plenty of opportunity to that. The new start to each of the books is a good addition, as is the linking together of the individual episodes. Sam is still my favourite character, with Gandalf a close second. If you have not listened to this yet then don't wait too long before you do!

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33 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    1 out of 5 stars

Missing section of the book

Its Missing Bombadil. Real shame that is my favourite bit of the first book.
A

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11 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

wonderful

adored all three books. But it's a bit annoying that you have to buy it in 3 separate sections - using 3 credits! but it's worth it.

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10 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    2 out of 5 stars

Cut

I think this has been cut from the official.
It seems quite a bit shorter

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9 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Much Easier to Get Through Than the Book

I read the books a long while ago and really struggled to get through them. I think that the radio play format works well for this story and has a much better story flow. It doesn't feel too cut down, like some radio productions based on books can. I think it has just the right balence of including things and leaving things out.

The performances were pretty good. Ian Holm really steals the show a bit. Frodo, Sam and Aragorn are all done well. Some of the other characters could be done better, and Merry and Pippin sound a bit too posh for hobbits, but once you get used to it, they're alright.

My biggest critisim is that sometimes the editing can be a bit odd. They might cut from a dramatic moment to the narrator saying what happens the next day, followed by casual chatter. It can be a bit jarring sometimes. Also, sometimes it's as if Frodo is telling the story years later, but most of the time it's a different narrator. I have to say that I don't think the main narrator is that great.

Also, I'm sure anyone who has seen the films can't help but imagine Ian Holm as Bilbo. It's weird to hear him play Frodo, though I know this came before the films. At first I had to keep reminding myself that it was Frodo everytime I heard his voice.

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8 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Enjoyable Tolkien

This is a wonderful dramatisation of Tolkien. For me travelling long distances in NZ it turns a great drive into a fantastic experience. The charaters are wonderfully portrayed and I loved it about to play the next book.

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6 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

Good but I stay hungry

It would be great to listen complete story (as it is written in the book)

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4 people found this helpful