Hobbit Deluxe Edition DVD9) [DVD]

Even after I saw the recent 2012 version, I still felt this animated one from the 70s was better. First, I'll bring up the DVD issues that others have raised. I did encounter some problems with the DVD. It does skip in a few places. (Such as when Bard of Laketown presents himself to the dwarves.) Slightly annoying, yes. But nothing that really hampers the enjoyment of the film. Not seriously anyway. The other complaint people raised is that sometimes the whole image is dark, and it's hard to make out what's happening. This was true when I played it on a standard DVD player. But when I put it on my upgrader, the image was much better. Onto the material at hand. The main reason I prefer this version is because this 1977 animated version sticks to the story of what "The Hobbit" is. The new 2012 version has tried to make this story into a "Lord of the Rings" saga full of war. "The Hobbit" was more the story of a Hobbit's journey that involved SOME violence. I'd rather not go through a whole synopsis. Chances are that if you are on this site, you probably already know the story. But I will say that this 1 1/2 hour (maybe a little less) film captures the story in a most beautiful manner. We have Bilbo's somewhat forced journey to help the dwarves reclaim a treasure they consider theirs. Gandalf is certainly heroic and benevolent. But he hasn't quite become the Christ like figure he will eventually become in "The Two Towers." The dwarves are great in their roles as 'supposed good guys.' But we are allowed to wonder. They seem to manipulate poor Bilbo a lot, even where matters 'not in the original bargain' are concerned. And they are quick to forget about certain bargains. (IE The men of LakeTown help Thorin, feed him and his friends; and they 'trust to his gratitude.' Biblo flushes out Smaug trying to help the dwarves get their gold back; in a rage Smaug burns LakeTown; later Bard tells the dwarves that Laketown has been destroyed and must be rebuilt, and that they can thank him by sharing their fortune; and the dwarves aren't so gracious. Never mind the fact that Smaug destroyed LakeTown as a result of the dwarves trying to get their gold.) What a contrast how the dwarves refuse to share. And when Bilbo entered Smaug's cave, Smaug says: "Well thief, I smell you, I feel your air, and I hear your breath. Go on. Help yourself. There's plenty and to spare." Even poor Smaug isn't so 2D if we think about it. He had left the people in LakeTown alone for many years. And he didn't attack until Bilbo flushed him out in an attempt to get the dwarves their gold. I don't want to go through the whole story, but the events of the story alternate in a most beautiful manner between the events of the story and the narration. (Be the narration from Gandalf or Bilbo.) Also, the voices are so perfect. Orson Bean is the sweet and innocent Bilbo Baggins; John Huston is great as the heroic and benevolent, but not quite yet the Christ like Gandalf; Otto Preminger is memorable as the Elf King; Richard Boone is convincing as the dangerous, but possibly not all evil Smaug; and John Stephenson seems well suited for his roles as the Goblin King and Bard (the eventual King of LakeTown). Many of the songs are also beautiful and memorable. All in all this is a great DVD that I still prefer over the 2012 version.

When comparing this version to the new, and hopefully more complete, version as yet in the process of being relieased, it can, at times, seem a bit brief and choppy... The speed with which it moves through the story is, by comparrison, remarkably quick, and can seem to lack Lots of backstory... but for 1977, and for decades afterward, This Was the deffinitive version of the hobbit! As someone who grew up with it, I found the brevity to only inspire my own imagination as to the possible reasons, and even now, certain phrases, images, and sounds Stick in my Subconscious in ways I've never really completely appreciated... A level of subtlety which I've only recently come to realise when noticing a handfull of 'sound effect omissions' from This Version... For instance, while the 'sound' is made elsewhere, there's something about that weird 'dying scream' noise that the spiders originally gave time and again that has haunted me for Years... I can remember as a kid, wondering just why they spun around and around (when they died) and the sound has never left my mind... Other similar sounds, such as the arrows bouncing off of Smaug's chest during the battle, I am also comming to realise, have become Strong Memories in my mind... made most conspicuous in this version by the one or two omissions... Indeed, Visually, but More So, AUDITORALLY This Is the one that marks my memory So Well. Sound Effects aside, the MUSIC of this version is Stunning, Deffinitive, and So Completely Perfect in Every Way, I find myself Continually Disappointed and Underwhelmed by Any Other Interpretation! Tolkien is known for using song in his work, and essentially ALL of the musical lyrics come directly from the text, yet Every Single Version of the songs presented here have become, in essence, the ONLY Versions of their work which I can Really Totally Enjoy. Indeed, much of the story is presented in abbreviated form Through the Use of Song, and thus, part after part I find myself not only singing along with, but remembering afterward. The animation too is intriguing in that it is familliar also to those who went on to watch 'the thundercats' and similar animation from later years, which - in my mind - can be seen to SLOWLY Morph into the sorts of Deffining Styles of Anime to come some 20 years later... Backgrounds, costumes, voices, music... the Essential Materials of This version are, in my opinion, the BEST Possible interpretations... Indeed, the Only Fault I find later on is the brevity and quickness with which it runs through the story we have all now discovered to be so very much deeper and more complicated... Nevertheless, to my mind, and indeed perhaps to all children who grew up with this version alone, This Marks the deffining backdrop of sound, texture, and tone which has come to underpin All of my future experiences with Tolkien... While the second of the series is conspicuous most in its failure to so completely do so, This version is, without a doubt, one to Never Be Left Out of the overall story... While I'd love to get the Truely Complete and Original version with ALL the sounds I remember, and the wish to see a more in depth telling, in the same style, may never come to fruition... the ability to purchase a copy in Digital form that I can both easily replay, and quickly scan for my favorites, nevertheless makes the purchase price well worth it to my mind. Years from now, I may just Begin my children's introduction to Tolkien with it... as a more textured, mystical, and quintessential version, to my mind, does Not Exist!!

Rankin/Bass’s 1977 animated adaptation of J.R.R. Tolkien’s “The Hobbit” hews fairly close to the original novel, both in plot and in tone. Certain elements are omitted for time, including the scene with Beorn. The art for the backgrounds and landscapes uses watercolors to evoke Tolkien’s own original artwork, capturing the fairytale beauty of the story. It also resembles David T. Wenzel’s later artwork for Eclipse Comics’ 1989 adaptation. Jules Bass ensured that Tolkien’s songs from the book appear in the film, further contributing to its overall tone. The only original song, “The Greatest Adventure” performed by Glenn Yarbrough, fits well with the rest and acts as a recurring motif throughout the story. Rankin/Bass produced this film for television and many of the commercial breaks are obvious, but they don’t detract from the story. The 78-minute film foreshadows the animated fantasy films of the 1980s and, like the novel, will entertain both children and adults. In this 1977 animated musical, Arthur Rankin, Jr. and Jules Bass crafted a far more faithful adaptation of Tolkien’s book than Peter Jackson’s 2012-2014 film trilogy. The bonus features summarize Tolkien’s work along with that of Rankin & Bass. Perhaps most oddly, the film includes three Bugs Bunny cartoon shorts: “Knight-Mare Hare,” loosely inspired by Mark Twain’s “A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court,” “Knighty Knight Bugs,” also based on King Arthur stories & the only Bugs Bunny cartoon to win an Oscar, and “Rabbit Hood,” which features a great Robin Hood cameo. Though they display all the creativity of the classic Merry Melodies cartoons, the only connection these seem to have with “The Hobbit” is that Warner Brothers owns the rights to both and the stories in the cartoons take their inspiration from medieval fantasy.

Awesome movie and best version of the hobbit

While it makes a few very odd choices, such as the Elvenking looking like a goblin, most of the spider sequence, and Gollum’s design, I really enjoyed this film. Generally speaking, I found it hewed closer to the spirit of the book than the more recent trilogy did (Although there were certainly other things that they did better), and was a very faithful telling of a classic novel. It is interesting to see how Tolkien’s world was imagined before the Jackson films, and this is certainly an interesting and delightful take. As with Tolkien’s books, music is found throughout, and in many cases, his own lines are used, either directly, or for inspiration, in creating the songs of this film. I listen to the warg-song on its own sometimes, it is so good. “Misty Mountains” is also very good. The animation is very visually appealing, outside of the spiders and wood-elves. The Shire, Smaug, and the Company all look especially good. Gandalf’s voice actor, while not McKellen, fits the role very well. The film is very unwilling to show violence, which is good for young viewers, but in a story with battles, I personally don’t find spinning-effects a suitable replacement for sword-strikes. I was not a fan of Gollum’s voice actor, but making him essentially a frog-thing, larger than Bilbo, rather than a withered and worn creature that had once been a hobbit himself, really ruined the riddles scene for me. Overall, this movie has some major flaws, but it is a very fun viewing experience, and I would strongly recommend anyone who likes the Hobbit or the Lord of the Rings see it at least once.

My brother had an LP with storybook when we were little ( in the late 70s early 80s). Listening to it with big 70s style headphones was a treat for us. It was on HBO max for a while but is no longer, so I purchased it digitally. I love the story, music, voices, & classic Rankin Bass animation. It was originally on tv as a special in 1977, but it was on past my bedtime. It was one of our favorite Christmas presents and sometimes when I’m having trouble falling asleep, I will listen to it as I drift off. It never gets old. I love Tolkein, even if it isn’t 100% accurate to the book. I LOVE Gandalf’s voice & Bilbo’s. It’s a classic. A perfect introduction for young kids- exciting but not TOO intense/scary. Wholesome family entertainment.

Love this movie. Traumatized me in my childhood and now I own it to get back at my bro for showing it to me, I'm gonna introduce his kids to it. Lol! In all seriousness tho, it's a fun one. It aged... Interestingly. Lots of creepy stuff for kids to freak out at. My biggest complaint would be that the audio on it seemed so quiet, but I was watching it on a college classroom monitor so that could have been a huge factor. If you know the book, you'll notice they changed a few things for time/conscience purposes. It didn't but me at all but some of my hyper obsessed friends were a little distraught by it. We had fun joking and laughing at some of the odd choices in the film. Some lines are historical now. Highly recommend. It's a good time, just don't take it too seriously.

Perfect. Came sealed in plastic like new! Disc played perfect! Audio was good! This is the good version of the animated Hobbit you remember.

Buena película a buen precio.

Awesome film, but no booklet or anything special

Filmen funkar inte ens då den är låst på en "annan region"!

Pues parece clon, pero no se, se ve bien pero bueno todo bien.

Bin mit der Zeichentrick-Version von Der Herr der Ringe aufgewachsen, bevor dann später die Der Herr der Ringe und dann noch etwas später, die Der Hobbit Filme von Peter Jackson raus gekommen sind. Auch das Der Hobbit PC Spiel von Sierra Entertainment (glaube das gibt es auch für PS2 & den GBA) mit der Stimme von Sebastian Pastewka, kann ich sehr empfehlen. Aber ich schweife vom Thema ab haha. Entsprechend dem angesprochenen Herr der Ringe Zeichentrickfilms, konnte ich es mir nicht nehmen, auch die Zeichentrickversion des Hobbits anschauen und kaufen zu wollen (man möchte seine Sammlung schließlich vollenden). Es handelt sich im übrigen um eine remasterte DVD Version, sieht man ja auch auf dem Cover. Gesagt getan, mit der Qualität bin ich ganz zufrieden, aber es handelt sich eben nur um eine schlichte DVD mit entsprechender Verpackung, leider gibt es keine Bluray, auf welche ich gerne zurückgegriffen hätte. Der Film ist auf englisch, es gibt leider keine deutsche Sprachausgabe, aber wenn man englisch beherrscht, sollte dass kein Problem sein. Man sollte noch erwähnen, dass der Film aus dem Ausland versandt wird, dementsprechend fällt auch Zoll an (ca. 10€). Ansonsten kann ich diesen Film sehr empfehlen (vor allem für Sammler und Fans!). Um die Sammlung zu komplettieren, empfehle ich diesen Film (aus dem Jahr 1977), sowie Der Herr der Ringe (Zeichentrick, als DVD oder Bluray, aus dem Jahr 1978, mit deutscher Sprachfassung) und The Return of the King (DVD, aus dem Jahr 1979, ebenfalls leider nur auf englisch) zu kaufen.