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

Length: 4 hrs and 35 mins

Publisher's 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

Great dramatization, but read the book first!

I read The Lord of the Rings twice as a teenager, and watched the movies more than once. When I found this dramatization I thought it would be nice to experience the story again, but in a new way. I was a bit sceptical as I read the reviews, but decided to buy it anyway. And I'm glad I did! I spent most of yesterday with my headphones on, and the story made my Saturday cleaning and laundry quite enjoyable this week.

I listen to a lot of audiobooks and wasn't sure if I'd enjoy a dramatization, but I really did. My boyfriend listened to the beginning of the story with me and was annoyed with how the story wasn't exactly as it is in the book, but I didn't mind. It's a very short version of the story, and they do skip a lot of things that are hard to fit in the "story-told-by-dialogue-and-sounds" style of a dramatization, and for the same reason you miss a lot of details because you can't see anything and no one is explaining what's going on in the action-sequences (but the result of the action is mentioned after by the characters). I still enjoyed it as I could imagine everything based on my memory of the story from the book. I think they did a great job making this, and the narrators/cast are really good.

DON'T buy this if you want the whole book and the whole detailed story, because then you will be disappointed (there are audiobooks available...). Buy this book if you love the story and want to experience it again, but don't mind if it's a short version or that Tom Bombadil is still missing. I loved it, and have already bought Two Towers:-)

Wonderful

All three of the titles in the trilogy are most excellently performed as a radio drama for the BBC. The actors do a splendid job, the effects are realistic. I felt as is I were watching the performance in my mind. Highly recommend this audio program.

Great adaptation for a fan of the book to have

I was nervous about this title when I downloaded it from Audible. As a fan of the books who reads them at least once a year, I can say that this dramatized version was very well done. Yes parts of the books have been removed and certain lines were changed but the performances from the actors help you to forget this. This dramatization is a great way to introduce the story to younger kids who may not want to 'read' a book this long. Worth every penny.

Dramitization

For what it is, it is brilliantly done. I'm just too fond of this story (the whole story) to be fully content with an abridged rendition.

That said, I take less exception to what was cut/changed (text and content-wise) in this version than some of the things done in the 2001 film. One of my favourite moments is the Fords of Bruinen as it was written, and that spirit is kept in this dramatization.

Five stars for dramatization, but only four as 'The Fellowship of the Ring' since it is missing so very much. It seems 'Fellowship' is usually the part of the trilogy that is cut down the most for dramatization.

Worth buying a second time

I already have this dramatisation on CD, but I bought it from Audible so I could listen on my mobile device. It has been welll worth the extra money. The acting is credible, drawing you into the story. Not all the incidents from the books are included, so the plot moves along faster. The songs embedded in the story enrich the performance. Having listened to the whole trilogy on CD, I can thoroughly recommend all three books, though I haven't bought the other two from Audible yet.

The LOTR dramatisation

i love this adaptation of the LOTR. all the actors do justice to the characters in this beloved classic. i especially enjoyed the voice of ian holm (who plays bilbo in the movies) giving life to frodo. i highly recommend all three (TLOTR, TTT, and TROTK) dramatisations from BBC.

At last, for young kids

My 8 yr-old has bugged me about LoTR, the movies (too scary) and books (high school reading level). Enter the BBC radio plays: an abridged version of the books, chock full of adventure enhanced by the full cast, music, and effects. We listened to all three in the series.

Well done but lacking

I am a fan of the Lord of the Rings series. I have read the books, seen the movies, and bought the T-Shirt. THis audiobook was professionally made, and was an easy listen. It is nice to hear distinct characters in the dramatized versions.

I am disappointed in the this version in the following ways. It is missing a full section with Tom Bombadil. Well, the Movie was missing him too. I guess I was expecting something a little less abridged. There are several specific things lacking in this version that to me, caused me to not buy the remaining books.

Heavily Abridged and Sound Needs Fixing

Sound levels all over the map. Story heavily Abridged. Full.Cast my Anus; sounds like two guys and a couple of helium balloons

As wonderful as I remember...

I loved it. I listened to it every night as I was going to bed and finished it in less than a week. Starting. The Two Towers tonight. Happy Reading.

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.

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.

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.

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!

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.

Missing section of the book

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

Cut

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

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.

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.

A beautiful way to enjoy something so classic

I have read the books, watched the movies and enjoyed pretty much everything there is to enjoy about LOTR over the years and this is just a marvellous addition to the set.

Professor Tolkien was primarily a researcher, not an author, so even though his world is vast, inventive and revolutionary (for the time it was written in) it can be hard reading, especially for a modern audience who are accustomed to a fast paced turn around and a narrative that drives ever forward. This beautiful dramatisation allows new listeners to experience Tolkien's remarkable world and delve into the fantastical stories, while existing fans get to enjoy the adventures of their favourite characters in a new and exciting way; enhanced with the richness of excellent acting, phenomenal music and captivating sound effects. Whether you enjoyed this series on the radio back in the day, or this is a first time outing for you, it's most certainly worth listening to!

Just be warned, it is an adaptation, a very faithful and close adaptation, but not a verbatim reading of the source material none the less. If you haven't already read the LOTR you still will not have done so at the end of this, but it's worth it all the same. An amazing auditory experience.