JRR Tolkien on Film

[@CROGrof]

His brain is working faster than his mouth Wow

[@whynottalklikeapirat]

The word will always be a trundling polish tractor compared to firing synapses ...

[@geokaker9630]

and his mouth's already pretty fast

[@LeeshaHarvey]

You get the feeling that he had 50 more stories bubbling in his brain at that moment... brilliant man.

[@BigIdeaSeeker]

Dude has things going on in his brain, big time.

[@impendingdoom7920]

Gotta remember this was before the Silmarilion was published

[@criticaldanthemovieman9657]

Duh, he died before it finished

[@dragonsoul897]

But it's when he was working on the book or books.

[@jacopogrisolia2691]

Tolkien didn't invent languages for his imaginary world, he created an imaginary world as a background for his languages.

[@rhcp4565]

its like he lived this life in a parallel universe, and he has brought this knowledge to our universe

[@Zerlono1]

I'd be generous if I said I understood about 25% of what he said here, very difficult to understand him

[@vaninushka]

I found this :) www.tolkienlibrary.com/press/814-Tolkien-1968-BBC-Interview.php

[@lilywojciechowski9906]

Interesting.. I understand almost everything

[@peterbneto]

Yep.. i don't get much either. Sometimes he pauses and then starts everything at once mixed up with his mumbling sounds like "hummm".

[@Obiwannabe]

This is utterly genius on so many levels...The man has created thousands of years worth of history, lore, languages, dogma. The list goes on. His sociological observations, hopes and dreams, desires, fears. All manifested through these giant works of literary art.

[@NecroLust1349]

This man is an inspiration to what I represent and I'm proud to speak elvish and write poetry and music based on this. Some say it's taking it too far, but can it be any farther than thinking up you own language and world such as this great man did. Forever I will honour my Tolkien tattoo and proudly say that his work influenced me. Hail JRR\m|

[@CarlaMcCarthyPomegranate96]

One of my favorite authors! A true inspiration you are Mr. Tolkien!

[@samdaboy5]

Although Tolkien is popular, not too many people really appreciate the true genius of his writings. He is one of my favorite authors, along with H.P. Lovecraft. Sad to know most people are only fans of Lord of the Rings because of the movies :(

[@alexandernagel8205]

I wish Lovecraft would have lived long enough to have read The Lord of the Rings. I think he would have loved it Have you read any Clark Ashton Smith?

[@ivorkovac303]

I've always wondered what happened with the Avari, who are not counted as part of the Eldar, and who aren't able to go to Valinor. Mostly what I've gotten from reading the letters and expanded lore is 1) their choice to remain in Middle Earth is irrevocable, and 2) they don't enter into these tales. I get the impression that he was setting them aside for later use, and that more tales were planned. It's too bad that he didn't live for very long, but he also seemed to have major issues with staying focused.

[@yo4never]

This man has made a world through the years of his life.I'm very happy that i have lived between these years to read his masterpiece and watch after that the incredible movie.

[@lnsullivan422]

I have read all of the books (except for Silmarillion) and watched all of the movies. I understand why the movies did what they did, and I think that they were portrayed beautifully based upon their novel counterparts. Tolkien would've understood Jackson's direction as well.

[@johnschortgen2003]

In what way would have Tolkien understood Jackson's direction?

[@lnsullivan422]

+John Schortgen He would've respected the landscape, and the faithfulness to the source material. I think the translation from book to screen is the most direct a film could ever have done to Tolkien's books. The changes that were made were needed to make it a proper film, and even Tolkien acknowledged that when they were trying to get a script together in the late 60s-early 70s.

[@johnschortgen2003]

+SullinatorAndBenj well then, in my opinion it shouldn't have become a movie if that is the best they could do for a movie translation. I absolutely agree that the landscape was pristine, perfect even. But really, not showing that almost 10 years had past before Frodo even went on the journey to rivendell, no Tom bombadil and many other things. You can always do better and the hobbit was much worse. Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed the movies as movies, but the adaption was okay at best.

[@AngelSuicide]

i don't even whant to think about the value of this material...i bet it's very rare finding an interview with tolkien himself

[@JoeMazzolaTheFirstPersonCook]

@whereeaglesdontdare Since he was a writer talking about his own writing, naturally he would be both serious and excited.

[@Peter_1986]

I agree. Whenever I hear someone mention the name Tolkien, they almost always start talking about Frodo and the Rings, and don't mention anything whatsoever of Fëanor, the Silmarils, Beren and Lúthien or Eärendil, which is very sad. They truly are Lost Tales, lost and unknown.

[@cloudvol7]

I could spend hours just listening to Tolkien break down the great Symbolism in the LOTR's.

[@AxMxM1]

I love reading his books and poems.

[@aliciasanchez6699]

I cried hearing him talk

[@Leo_on_Drums]

I wonder how the student feels whose exam paper was the original canvas of The Hobbit.

[@edejan]

I love JRR Tolkien's prose and consider him one of the great masters of the English language. But I can't understand a word he's saying here. Rather funny and surprising. But I still love his mind, his works, his vision. Thanks for this great opportunity to see the master in person.

[@thehh5118]

Thank the person who took that exam and left a blank page!!!! Without them Tolkien would've not had a spark of imagination to create the first words of the Hobbit, henceforth the creation of Middle Earth! (If I'm not mistaken...)

[@jhibbitt1]

he actually created middle earth before the hobbit believe it or not, at least according to what I read. the hobbit wasn't intended to be part of middle earth and was meant to be just a high fantasy children's story. same goes for lord of the rings, but after several first attempts at lord of the rings of which he all hated, he finally saw a way that the story could make up the final bit of history of his middle earth that he still hadn't yet completed the chronology of yet and so both the hobbit and lord of the rings became part of the bigger history of this world he had been writing about since he was in something like his 20's. still, it's still a good thing he got inspiration for the hobbit as that would become a key book in completing his world in later years so you're right about that bit

[@annebaskerville6062]

No. You are not mistaken. You are completely right. 😊

[@mattball7074]

He was pure genius

[@Kudiz]

he made them to express his craftmanship or something like that, hence they are awesome craftsmen

[@Peter_1986]

Take a look at Book of Lost Tales 1 and 2, they contain lots of short stories from the First Ages. Another sweet book is The Silmarillion, which is based on Tolkien's old stories and written more or less like a novel. You should be able to find these books in normal book stores or in the library.

[@ForbiddenFollyFollower]

I would like to see an anime of the gods fighting Melkor in various points in time.

[@hi-si1rd]

this part isn't in the BBC version they released right?

[@gmdinformation]

I'm afraid it's been so long since I put this video up that I don't recall where it came from. Sorry.

[@Lythya]

@scatmanwfm He did it for his own amusement. He began the Silmarillion during first world war. While on the battlefield he began to think out the first stories. He definitely was not lonely. Actually, the entire elvish society is inspired by his wife, Edith.

[@gmdinformation]

Yes.

[@kheldara]

is that judi dench narrating at the end?

[@finnyliverpool89]

Is that Dame Judi Dench at the end? Aka "M" from the Bond??

[@user-qs6uu5xo3t]

In one of his letters (I can't remember which right now) he says that the most important point in the whole Lord of the Rings, is when Smeagol/Golloum sits alone keeping watch. In the novel, Sam wakes and speaks "harsly" to Smeagol..."Why are you spying...". But Tolkien felt, that had Sam spoken kindly to Smeagol at that time, even his soul might have been saved.

[@ladydawn1973Eternity]

Why do I feel he was shy? I read he was recluse somewhere and hated his popularity in the media. but i see the shyness. ... In the 60's many musical bands have sang about motives included in Tolkien's book. Rowling who wrote Harry Potter took MANY many motives from other fairy tales authors and also from LOTR... Always nice to see the author talking. Tnx for vid! :)

[@lanas.2093]

I can't understand a word.. too fast. I need a written transcription

[@Zack0Amizuki]

i love him

[@gmdinformation]

Yeah, that's her. It's from a DVD on Tolkien that came out in 1992. "J.R.R.T.: a study of John Ronald Reuel Tolkien". A Landseer production for the Tolkien Partnership; directed by Derek Bailey; written & produced by Helen Dickinson; narrated by Judi Dench.

[@Sareth987]

Best author ever..

[@holycow818181]

In answer to those who are wondering if he actually spoke like this or if the sound it just odd: I've been reading a biography of Tolkien recently, and apparently he did have a habit of mumbling, as well as talking too quickly for people to follow. Apparently, this was common among academics at the time. Obviously, this doesn't mean he was a bad person. It just means he was a bit of a nerd, as are most quirky and intelligent people.

[@king_tutankhamun]

They’re most likely referring to the Humphrey Carpenter biography

[@TallisKeeton]

In some of his biographies it is said that his way of talking was due to the fact that he got his nose broken while playing in a students team of rugby. :)

[@mkeysou812]

imagine how much that old exam paper would be worth now

[@gmdinformation]

@RulerL0rd You know what though, look on YT for some audio of him reading excerpts from books and he sounds just fine. I don't know why he's so rushed here.

[@gmdinformation]

@RulerL0rd I actually wonder if he might have been on some kind of medication for an ailment during this interview. After all, he was pretty old by then and probably suffered from one thing or another. Old age might have had something to do with his slurred speech as well. I believe that the audio of him reading that you'll find at other channels was recorded when he was a bit younger, so I think age is a definate factor.

[@wannabedesi]

The original geek, all hail his nerdy name! This man was truly brilliant. Pure genius.

[@GodHammer227]

An amazing man with a mind like clock-work. If only he could have spoken a little slower. But still the words I did pick up resinated with me.

[@bb1111116]

Tolkien at first is talking about the origins of Elves and the story of the Silmarillion.

[@antoriamemphis]

Yes its very sad. But even the movies miss out a lot of the great parts in the book.

[@gmdinformation]

@RulerL0rd Just put the following in YT's search box: J.R.R. Tolkien reads The Eagle's Song or J.R.R. Tolkien reads The Song of Durin

[@zombieninja28]

When people mention Tolkien I think of Numenor and Gandalf, I have no idea why though

[@derpynerdy6294]

Well if you focused on imagining a world and creating languages, it changes your previous stuff too

[@Signifer82]

@ladydawn1973Eternity I do not know if he was shy or not, but that he hated his popularity in the media I think it's because he was wise and authentic. So are his works, too. Their true meaning being distorted by all those reporters and misunderstood by most people, even (and maybe most) by those who adored them... Well, that's how I see it.

[@DasoPanda]

You're absolutely right. If Motte-Fouque's tale was worth anything it would be very popular now, but it didn't stand to the waves of time or just wasn't very interesting at all. *nod*

[@zlognorpbrimbio4252]

He reminds me of the Emperor.

[@TomorrowWeLive]

Which one?

[@dylanhoke8991]

@@TomorrowWeLive star wars

[@westonfranz3439]

I'm confused

[@vercingetorixavernian8978]

Can any Englishmen/wmn translate this hobbit accent for me please? I'm only catching words here or there.

[@Harriet-Jesamine]

Tolkien Dramatisations are better to suited to Audio rather than Visuals. The visuals have to be self-created in our minds-eye.

[@Wedneswere]

Dwarves not the children of God - hmmm.... Fascinating! I am a great fan of Tolkien, have been since 4 years old. It is fascinating to wonder how Dwarves may fit into the Big Picture. Any comments on this?

[@ProjectFlashlight612]

Jesus Christ, that man could write. He left behind such a massive body of work in books and notes and drafts, you wonder if he ever had time to eat. The rest of his time was presumably spent on brushing his teeth, smoking that pipe of his, and yelling at the hordes of stoned hippies who'd turn up on his doorstep in the late 60s babbling about how he's God etc. He...didn't like hippies very much. :)

[@toddswanson9549]

This missing 'uncertain word' here is 'demiurgic': "...exiled elves who once knew what it was to see the [uncertain word] gods in person..."

[@MrAcarine]

According to Thomas Shipley, the name "Hobbit"appears as the name of a fairy in the folklore compilation known as The Dedham Tracts. The book doesn't say anything else about them, so even if Tolkien found the name there, he should be credited with creating Hobbits.

[@misterkefir]

best of the best

[@KakashiTemari]

@DareYouNotToClick1 J.R.R. Tolkien wrote the Lord of the Rings.. Peter Jackson directed the films.

[@4672-m9f]

Papa!

[@Jarnor23]

Amusing you should say that. "The Lord of the Rings is of course a fundamentally religious and Catholic work; unconsciously so at first, but consciously in the revision. That is why I have not put in, or have cut out, practically all references to anything like 'religion', to cults or practices, in the imaginary world. For the religious element is absorbed into the story and the symbolism." - J.R.R. Tolkien

[@jlarsena]

Any man who can create a world we can believe existed at one time is a genius. He invented the elven language.

[@Lythya]

@corratecxverts01 You can never speak out against a man with a pipe. Universal truth.

[@downeybill]

he would have hated the Jackson films!

[@omnomnombrainsss]

downeybill Oh well. That's artistic interpretation and expression for you. You can't please everyone. I love the books and the movies for their own separate reasons. I understand that they're nothing like the books, but that doesn't change the fact that they were entertaining, beautiful, enthralling, and contained a magnificent film score.

[@Ennio444]

+omnomnombrainsss He would have hated the films, for a very specific reason, regardless of their quality (which they do have, plenty in fact): Tolkien's work was super subtle. Jackson, on the other hand, is as subtle as a brick to the gonads. Tolkien loved the hidden meanings, the soft foreshadowing, the references to things entrenched between the lines of chapters a book ago, the not-so-evident effects of previous actions and he especially liked to pretend he was an omniscient narrator when in fact he was a biased one. This means that almost everything that happens in the books has double meaning, and can be read in several ways. And many things happen "backstage", not outright described. What's Gandalf's power? We hardly see him doing any sorcery, except for jester tricks like lightmaking, fireworks and the like. His power comes from deeper within, the power of hope and an inner fire that makes him inspiring. He can cast light, because light gives hope. He can make fire because fire drives the darkness away. But he never shoots lightning or Force-fights Saruman. When he fight the Balrog, it's a battle of the body but also of the mind. Jackson, on the other hand, had the difficult task of visually explaining these displays of power, and this power of hope, which is once or twice mentioned in the books, but hardly ever commented on and we never explicitely see its effects (although we can read between the lines), is damn hard to convey on film. Besides, we've got all the decades of baggade on what a wizard does. Why, magic! And throwing lightning and force fields! That's what Gandalf does in the film after all. Movie Gandalf is book Gandalf on steroids and with a topping of D&D. In the case of Saruman is even worse, since Saruman's only magic in the books is convincing people through his voice. His greatest power, in the films, is relegated to the extended cut. The Ring itself, and its influence, are very subtle and insidious in the books, but very obvious and glaring in the movies. Sauron's Eye is downright a phisical eye on top of the Tower in Jackson's film (one of the things I lament the most about the films, especially when it starts to work like a lighthouse, very childish in concept). I've written much more than I wanted to, but anyway, my point is that, good as the movies might be, they kill most of the book's atmosphere, they fail to convey most of the half-explained issues of the books (let alone its messages of corruption, pacifism and the allure of easy power, which are diluded by the light adventure tone Jackson introduces in some parts of the movies), and they don't keep the book's subtlety. Tolkien would think it's a play for children, because in his time, his reference books were all complicated and cumbersome critically-commented editions of Dark Ages mythological tales. That's what he wanted to write in the end. The movies are not that. The movies are fantastical, wonderful, master-crafted adventure tales of epic battles, the doom of civilization, the fight against darkness and how the small can beat the great if they're good enough and strong enough. They missed the books, but in doing so, they created something new and wonderful. SOmething Tolkien would probably despise. But who cares, right? The man's dead.

[@MrChickennugget360]

Tolkien sold the rights so he would have to accept what they did with it. I he would have a hard time in general with our world, he was a man born in the 19th century, very different world. However i think the movies are a lot better than they could have been- Jackson fail in many areas but it could have been much much worse to the point of changing the entire story and making it unrecognizable.

[@gmdinformation]

@peacecanhappen27 Personally, I'm not a big Tolkien fan, but he did invent hobbits and a few other creatures. He also invented his own language among other things. So, while he did borrow from bygone days, he also was very original in certain ways.

[@CarlBewley]

p.s How many languages have you invented btw? I'd call that on its own 'creative' wouldnt you?

[@ivorkovac303]

So interesting. I wish it were possible to talk with him, but of course he died before I was born and now Christopher Tolkien is also dead.

[@zombieninja28]

He talks really fast and mumbles quite alot, but hes still clear about what hes trying to get across

[@edualym]

@ChairmanBlimp i was thinking that just now!!!! ITS SO COOL!

[@JoeMazzolaTheFirstPersonCook]

The greatist irony of the writer is that out brains go faster than our hands and mouths, so here Tolkien has the Silmarillion in his head but to actually say it verbally takes an effort since he has to slow down his thoughts to match his speech. It's why our handwriting and spelling can be so dismal.

[@gmdinformation]

@finnyliverpool89 Yes.

[@urpaderpa]

Tolkien IS fantasy. He basically re-invented it, then mastered it, and now he is the god of it.

[@FlashMob22]

earendil means love of seas. and tolkien did not direct his influence of religion in his wrighting directley to the charecters in the books but more of the ideas witch are unraveled in the silmarillion witch i do not dought you read.

[@Zack0Amizuki]

by all the blazes i cant even understand my own god...

[@jjobie]

As I posted on a different video (where you also posted a similar comment), neither Tolkien nor anyone else has a monopoly on fantasy stories involving magic rings. And as I also said elsewhere, most forgotten works are forgotten for a reason. If Motte-Fouque's trilogy was worthy of being remembered as Tolkien's works are, it would be. But it isn't. Being first does not automatically mean being better. Not that Motte-Fouque was first, either, for that matter.

[@user-qs6uu5xo3t]

I feel, therefore that Tolkiens final/ultimate message is not one of war or peace or protestatism or catholism; but one of hope. Of ever forgivness, ever hope and good. Which is christan, is it not?

[@JackCalico]

...I was very, very drunk.

[@ProjectFlashlight612]

Lovecraft is not a hack, compared to Tolkien or anyone! What a strange insult. Their styles were completely different. HP's atheism was not a limiter on his works at all! Tolkien himself wrote a creation myth that, on the face of it, would be sacriligeous. And why pick on poor HP as a comparator? Why not any of the hundreds of GENUINE hacks who have basically ripped off Tolkien to this day? All that nearly indentical swords and dragons rubbish that contain none of JRR's beauty and elegance?

[@MFobe]

Wish I could of asked him questions about middle-earth x 🤔 & maybe do some drawings for him😏.. my autism & learning difficulties dyslexia struggle with things.. but visuals & art 🎨 I succeed..

[@italianadventurer1157]

what kind of english dialect is

[@LazyFilmsify]

might be becouse well you know he was old and he was smoking at the same time. smoking can ruin a living mans voice same with the age.

[@juresaiyan]

oh shit, I can't understand him a thing. :(

[@whatever678]

Haha, "genuine hacks," what an odd choice of words!

[@gmdinformation]

@Livvy24601 You say that now, but wait till you get a few drinks down a hobbit.

[@CarlBewley]

And you've never read the Magic Ring or else you would know the difference between Tolkiens whole mythology (including the Silmarillion) and this. The Magic ring is itself based on Icelandic/Germanic tales of old, Tolkien was a major student of Icelandic and never refuted his ring trilogy was inspired somewhat by these tales. Dont be so keen to debunk greatness just because you feel it may earn you some pedantic brownie points - it wont. At least know what you're talking about.

[@grishy8203]

It's almost like all he wants to do is think and that speaking is a waste of his time

[@TomorrowWeLive]

Exactly what I thought. It's like he gets fed up with answering the questions halfway through.

[@godsgrace7777]

Did all of you LOTR worshippers know that the fantasy trilogy The Magic Ring was written by Motte-Fouque 80 years prior? He just added more material to Motte-Fouque's trilogy and called it his own. I don't call that very creative at all....

[@giggabyt78]

what the hell is he on about

[@westonfranz3439]

What is he talking about God makes mistakes our creator or is he talking about something else

[@bilbobaggins5938]

He said, 'Everybody, including divine spirits under God, makes mistakes in this mythology.' He didn't say God makes mistakes.

[@gmdinformation]

Yeah, his brain was on a race. I would have hated to be one of his students though trying to take notes at his lectures. There's not enough coffee in the world....

[@Lythya]

@scatmanwfm Ah, okay xD

[@user-qs6uu5xo3t]

oh, bugger...read my comments from bottom up, or they might make no sense whatsoever.

[@camthejock]

Wasnt he a Christian?

[@BlizzyFoxTF]

jrr tolkien on film. huh. How proud would he be to see his brainchild transit into the stunning beauty of filmcraft, Peter Jackson's LOTR trilogy, 9 hours long, standing shoulder to shoulder with his original novel series. I'd be shedding tears of joy if I were him, smiling from heaven.

[@seanmoran6510]

I really don’t think so and neither did the child who carried on his work It was a good stab but Jackson can’t do suspense worth a damn and it got excessively cgi for no reason. I give it 7 out of ten for effort We are lesser people now and don’t understand his way of thinking

[@assyrianking4]

He was SERVING JESUS CHRIST, HE IS CHRISTIAN

[@fjordland]

And they all went across the Western Sea and eventually ended up in New Zealand... Where the Story of Middle Earth will once and for all be put to bed... When Royd Climbs Mount Tolkien and Claims it for eternity.

[@bosszeroboss]

Did Tolkien ever learn to speak English?

[@CarlBewley]

Bollocks. He was a Catholic man of faith yes- but not everyone feels the need to ram religion down our throats. Not once in 30 years have I read anywhere that Tolkien said he wrote his books in service of Jesus Christ. Any kind of allegory was obviously abhorrent to him (becuase he said that several times) so do a bit of homework instead of talking out of your biased hole.