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davem · 12-20-2007, 05:13 PM

Anyone who took the time to look into it throughout the '50's & '60's would have known that Tolkien was working on the Silmarillion from the immediate post LotR period & planned to publish it - its mentioned in 'Tolkien & the Critics' - a collection of essays edited by Isaacs & Zimbardo & published in 1968 (p/b 1969) - that he was working on it, & that's not the only source of such information. Right from the appearance of RotK interest was expressed by fans of the book in this other work (read the Letters).

Thus, whether it was UA, or Saul Zaentz, if they didn't take the time to find out that this reference in RotK to 'The Silmarillion' was to an actual work in progress they are entirely at fault. I'm sure, given Tolkien's reasons for selling the film rights to TH & LotR, that if UA had offered to purchase the future film rights to The Sil Tolkien would probably have sold them too.

Whatever, when UA bought the rights to LotR & TH they could have asked about The Sil. They didn't. When Zaentz bought the rights from them he could have asked whether The Sil was likely to appear & made the decision on whether to buy the rights from UA based on that. Caveat emptor.

Now, unless you believe that Tolkien deliberately mislead UA, or UA deliberately mislead Zaentz reegarding the future appearance of The Sil I don't see what your case is.

If we're talking about 'ethics' here, can I ask whether you believe Zaentz has ever consulted the Tolkien family/Estate before he flogged the licence to produce any kind of Tolkien related trash to the highest bidder?

Sorry, but all this talk of 'ethics' is a joke - Zaentz is a businessman who made a very good deal &, while I'm sure he would be happy to play the 'ethics' card to get his mitts on the movie rights to Tolkien's other works that's all it would be - if you honestly think Zaentz would enter into an equal partnership with the Estate, or surrender part of his absolute control over the film rights to them, well, all I can say is I have the deeds to Buckingham Palace which I can let you have cheap....

12-20-2007, 05:13 PM	#91
davem Illustrious Ulair Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: In the home of lost causes, and forsaken beliefs, and unpopular names,and impossible loyalties Posts: 4,240	Anyone who took the time to look into it throughout the '50's & '60's would have known that Tolkien was working on the Silmarillion from the immediate post LotR period & planned to publish it - its mentioned in 'Tolkien & the Critics' - a collection of essays edited by Isaacs & Zimbardo & published in 1968 (p/b 1969) - that he was working on it, & that's not the only source of such information. Right from the appearance of RotK interest was expressed by fans of the book in this other work (read the Letters). Thus, whether it was UA, or Saul Zaentz, if they didn't take the time to find out that this reference in RotK to 'The Silmarillion' was to an actual work in progress they are entirely at fault. I'm sure, given Tolkien's reasons for selling the film rights to TH & LotR, that if UA had offered to purchase the future film rights to The Sil Tolkien would probably have sold them too. Whatever, when UA bought the rights to LotR & TH they could have asked about The Sil. They didn't. When Zaentz bought the rights from them he could have asked whether The Sil was likely to appear & made the decision on whether to buy the rights from UA based on that. Caveat emptor. Now, unless you believe that Tolkien deliberately mislead UA, or UA deliberately mislead Zaentz reegarding the future appearance of The Sil I don't see what your case is. If we're talking about 'ethics' here, can I ask whether you believe Zaentz has ever consulted the Tolkien family/Estate before he flogged the licence to produce any kind of Tolkien related trash to the highest bidder? Sorry, but all this talk of 'ethics' is a joke - Zaentz is a businessman who made a very good deal &, while I'm sure he would be happy to play the 'ethics' card to get his mitts on the movie rights to Tolkien's other works that's all it would be - if you honestly think Zaentz would enter into an equal partnership with the Estate, or surrender part of his absolute control over the film rights to them, well, all I can say is I have the deeds to Buckingham Palace which I can let you have cheap.... __________________ “Everything was an object. If you killed a dwarf you could use it as a weapon – it was no different to other large heavy objects."