Microphones in Middle-earth...the BBC Lord of the Rings - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

Mithalwen · 04-19-2008, 03:18 PM

Rather belated again... big week on the Archers... this isn't totally random, there is a link between Ambridge and Isengard. I knew that Jack May was the much missed Nelson Gabriel (I do try hard not to think of Grima as Shane ) but I didn't realise that Peter Howell was the Bishop of Felpersham!!! Now that is a little surreal. His voice is quite wonderful ... while I thought Christopher Lee gave one of the stronger performances in the films and has a wonderfully powerful voice, his Saruman had was a commander who expected to be obeyed; Howell's is a seducer, plausible and hypnotic. He is so subtle, seems so plausible portrays hismelf as the victim, that Gimli's interjection is needed to remind that Saruman is the aggressor, who had given specific orders that Theodred be slain at all costs - the son of his neighbour and friend.

I don't have a problem with Pippin and the Palantir - I think it is quite in character that even an encounter with the Dark Lord doesn't get him down for long.
That bit was wonderful - I can't work out quite if it is Jon McAndrew's voice when he is "being" Sauron - if so it is a great bit of acting.

Robert Stephens performance is for me quite uneven. When he is good he is very good, and he is far better as the king in waiting than as the Ranger ...at other times ...well lets say he brings out Aragorn's pompous, priggish side very well!!!

I love the Herbs and Stewed Rabbit scenes - presumably Tolkien was fond of it since it is one of the scenes he recorded. There is the tension underlying the bickering between Gollum and Sam but then a brief glimpse of normality while they enjoy their meal. Frodo sounds almost like the hobbit that left Bag End. But they relax ot much and we finish on the nice contrast of the hobbits with drawn swords and another wonderful voice, with the tantalising glimpse of Faramir.

I too am glad of Halbarad even though I miss Bombadil not at all. He is one of those characters one cares about even though he only has a few lines - though the courage of his words at the Door to the paths of the dead are very striking. Imrahil, I think does have a role in the book, where both in leadership in the city and in rescuing his nephew Faramir he shows how Denethor should be, however I can see how confusing he would be to include and he has little actual dialogue - though again his realisation that Eowyn is alive is very memorable. The sons of Elrond again say little and have some symbolic significance but are not vital to the plot.. so again while I love them in the books, I can't really criticise their absence.

Mithalwen · 04-19-2008, 03:19 PM

Shall we hang fire on the next episode for a day or so? I had a bussy week and we might get a few more comments?

Brian Sibley · 04-19-2008, 04:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mithalwen

Rather belated again... big week on the Archers... this isn't totally random, there is a link between Ambridge and Isengard. I knew that Jack May was the much missed Nelson Gabriel (I do try hard not to think of Grima as Shane ) but I didn't realise that Peter Howell was the Bishop of Felpersham!!! Now that is a little surreal.

Yep, that is worrying - or an ironic comment on the power of the Church maybe...? Another Ambridge connection: Hugh Dickson (Elrond) played the late Guy Pemberton.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mithalwen

His voice is quite wonderful ... while I thought Christopher Lee gave one of the stronger performances in the films and has a wonderfully powerful voice, his Saruman had was a commander who expected to be obeyed; Howell's is a seducer, plausible and hypnotic. He is so subtle, seems so plausible portrays hismelf as the victim, that Gimli's interjection is needed to remind that Saruman is the aggressor, who had given specific orders that Theodred be slain at all costs - the son of his neighbour and friend.

I quite agree...

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mithalwen

I don't have a problem with Pippin and the Palantir - I think it is quite in character that even an encounter with the Dark Lord doesn't get him down for long.

That bit was wonderful - I can't work out quite if it is Jon McAndrew's voice when he is "being" Sauron - if so it is a great bit of acting.

Yes, it was John McA - with a little radiophonic treatment to the voice.

Mithalwen · 04-22-2008, 06:43 AM

Thank you - there was a lot of appreciation of the recent cameo by Alex Jennings on the Archer's website which roused memories of golden voices of the past. Howell was ..well virtually deified in some quarters (maybe the CofE should have appointed him to Canterbury!) but though HD was mentioned they didn't mention the role. I do remember Guy and his dreadful son but of course they never broadcast the cast and I wasn't addicted enough to scour the Radio Times in those days,

davem · 04-23-2008, 12:01 PM

Yet again I haven't been able to post the intro for the next episode. Unfortunately, 'personal commitments' (mainly a six month old one) keep on intruding, so....

This is either going to have to be an occasional thread, where I post intros to each episode when I can get round to doing so, or some kind soul is going to have to take over the task of doing so. I still haven't got around to listening to the next episode & it will be at least next Sunday before I do so. If no-one takes up the gauntlet before then (i& f I can find the time to do it myself) I'll do it then.

Mithalwen · 04-23-2008, 12:07 PM

This has a lot of the lovely Faramir and it is high time I took my turn ..... so I will do an intro in the next day or so....

Mithalwen · 04-23-2008, 12:32 PM

I meant to say before I ran out of lunchtime yesterday that whatever sterophonic magic they did on John McAndrew it was great and certainly hasn't dated.

One of the things that struck me about this episode is just how good Michael Hordern is as Gandalf - even if he didn't understand what was going on!!! I have to say I am not a huge fan of Ian McKellen in the role and perhaps the reasons are similar to why I am not so keen on Robert Stephens ..it all seems a bit too "actorly", bit too Stratford... it just seems a little less natural. Overall though it is a wonderful ensemble cast who you can completely believe in as their characters, and though there are household names and names only the hardcore Radio 4 listener will find familiar it is usually quite seamless.

It is strange that even though I have listened ot these tapes so often, it never struck me before how close Frodo's threat to command Gollum to throw himself in to the fire was to realisation at the Cracks of Doom. Slightly chilling.

ArathornJax · 04-25-2008, 07:37 AM

Sorry I haven't posted. I have had a severe case of food poisoning this week and until last night I haven't been good at all. I'll post my thoughts later today.

davem, I can't PM so if you want, I am willing to alternate weeks on the initial post if you want, or we can go every other week. That would give more people time to reply and after all, it is the quality not the quantity that matters, right? Anyway, just my thoughts on that subject.

BTW, on a side note, I found my BBC adaptation of The Hobbit (well, my daughter found it for me)! I forgot what a nice map of the wild is included in my edition, and the music CD at the end.

04-19-2008, 03:18 PM	#1
Mithalwen Pilgrim Soul Join Date: May 2004 Location: watching the wonga-wonga birds circle... Posts: 9,460	Rather belated again... big week on the Archers... this isn't totally random, there is a link between Ambridge and Isengard. I knew that Jack May was the much missed Nelson Gabriel (I do try hard not to think of Grima as Shane ) but I didn't realise that Peter Howell was the Bishop of Felpersham!!! Now that is a little surreal. His voice is quite wonderful ... while I thought Christopher Lee gave one of the stronger performances in the films and has a wonderfully powerful voice, his Saruman had was a commander who expected to be obeyed; Howell's is a seducer, plausible and hypnotic. He is so subtle, seems so plausible portrays hismelf as the victim, that Gimli's interjection is needed to remind that Saruman is the aggressor, who had given specific orders that Theodred be slain at all costs - the son of his neighbour and friend. I don't have a problem with Pippin and the Palantir - I think it is quite in character that even an encounter with the Dark Lord doesn't get him down for long. That bit was wonderful - I can't work out quite if it is Jon McAndrew's voice when he is "being" Sauron - if so it is a great bit of acting. Robert Stephens performance is for me quite uneven. When he is good he is very good, and he is far better as the king in waiting than as the Ranger ...at other times ...well lets say he brings out Aragorn's pompous, priggish side very well!!! I love the Herbs and Stewed Rabbit scenes - presumably Tolkien was fond of it since it is one of the scenes he recorded. There is the tension underlying the bickering between Gollum and Sam but then a brief glimpse of normality while they enjoy their meal. Frodo sounds almost like the hobbit that left Bag End. But they relax ot much and we finish on the nice contrast of the hobbits with drawn swords and another wonderful voice, with the tantalising glimpse of Faramir. I too am glad of Halbarad even though I miss Bombadil not at all. He is one of those characters one cares about even though he only has a few lines - though the courage of his words at the Door to the paths of the dead are very striking. Imrahil, I think does have a role in the book, where both in leadership in the city and in rescuing his nephew Faramir he shows how Denethor should be, however I can see how confusing he would be to include and he has little actual dialogue - though again his realisation that Eowyn is alive is very memorable. The sons of Elrond again say little and have some symbolic significance but are not vital to the plot.. so again while I love them in the books, I can't really criticise their absence. __________________ “But Finrod walks with Finarfin his father beneath the trees in Eldamar.” Christopher Tolkien, Requiescat in pace

04-19-2008, 03:19 PM	#2
Mithalwen Pilgrim Soul Join Date: May 2004 Location: watching the wonga-wonga birds circle... Posts: 9,460	Shall we hang fire on the next episode for a day or so? I had a bussy week and we might get a few more comments? __________________ “But Finrod walks with Finarfin his father beneath the trees in Eldamar.” Christopher Tolkien, Requiescat in pace

04-22-2008, 06:43 AM	#4
Mithalwen Pilgrim Soul Join Date: May 2004 Location: watching the wonga-wonga birds circle... Posts: 9,460	Thank you - there was a lot of appreciation of the recent cameo by Alex Jennings on the Archer's website which roused memories of golden voices of the past. Howell was ..well virtually deified in some quarters (maybe the CofE should have appointed him to Canterbury!) but though HD was mentioned they didn't mention the role. I do remember Guy and his dreadful son but of course they never broadcast the cast and I wasn't addicted enough to scour the Radio Times in those days, __________________ “But Finrod walks with Finarfin his father beneath the trees in Eldamar.” Christopher Tolkien, Requiescat in pace

04-23-2008, 12:01 PM	#5
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	And another apology... Yet again I haven't been able to post the intro for the next episode. Unfortunately, 'personal commitments' (mainly a six month old one) keep on intruding, so.... This is either going to have to be an occasional thread, where I post intros to each episode when I can get round to doing so, or some kind soul is going to have to take over the task of doing so. I still haven't got around to listening to the next episode & it will be at least next Sunday before I do so. If no-one takes up the gauntlet before then (i& f I can find the time to do it myself) I'll do it then. __________________ “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."

04-23-2008, 12:07 PM	#6
Mithalwen Pilgrim Soul Join Date: May 2004 Location: watching the wonga-wonga birds circle... Posts: 9,460	This has a lot of the lovely Faramir and it is high time I took my turn ..... so I will do an intro in the next day or so.... __________________ “But Finrod walks with Finarfin his father beneath the trees in Eldamar.” Christopher Tolkien, Requiescat in pace

04-23-2008, 12:32 PM	#7
Mithalwen Pilgrim Soul Join Date: May 2004 Location: watching the wonga-wonga birds circle... Posts: 9,460	I meant to say before I ran out of lunchtime yesterday that whatever sterophonic magic they did on John McAndrew it was great and certainly hasn't dated. One of the things that struck me about this episode is just how good Michael Hordern is as Gandalf - even if he didn't understand what was going on!!! I have to say I am not a huge fan of Ian McKellen in the role and perhaps the reasons are similar to why I am not so keen on Robert Stephens ..it all seems a bit too "actorly", bit too Stratford... it just seems a little less natural. Overall though it is a wonderful ensemble cast who you can completely believe in as their characters, and though there are household names and names only the hardcore Radio 4 listener will find familiar it is usually quite seamless. It is strange that even though I have listened ot these tapes so often, it never struck me before how close Frodo's threat to command Gollum to throw himself in to the fire was to realisation at the Cracks of Doom. Slightly chilling. __________________ “But Finrod walks with Finarfin his father beneath the trees in Eldamar.” Christopher Tolkien, Requiescat in pace Last edited by Mithalwen; 04-23-2008 at 12:55 PM.

04-25-2008, 07:37 AM	#8
ArathornJax Haunting Spirit Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Out West near a Big Salty Lake Posts: 76	Post Sorry I haven't posted. I have had a severe case of food poisoning this week and until last night I haven't been good at all. I'll post my thoughts later today. davem, I can't PM so if you want, I am willing to alternate weeks on the initial post if you want, or we can go every other week. That would give more people time to reply and after all, it is the quality not the quantity that matters, right? Anyway, just my thoughts on that subject. BTW, on a side note, I found my BBC adaptation of The Hobbit (well, my daughter found it for me)! I forgot what a nice map of the wild is included in my edition, and the music CD at the end. __________________ "At any minute it is what we are and are doing, not what we plan to be and do that counts." JRR Tolkien in 6 October 1940 letter to Michael Tolkien