There’s no question that JRR Tolkien’s fantasy written in the 20th century. Though Peter Jackson’s film adaptation is often considered the ultimate screen version, it’s important to that long before Jackson, the animated film director Ralph Bakshi created his own version.
While it does make some changes to the original source material, it is actually a remarkably faithful interpretation of Tolkien’s book, and for a long time it was considered by Tolkien fans to be the go-to screen version of this famous tale of hobbits and magical rings.
Differ: The Omission of Tom Bombadil
One of the most notable changes that the film makes to the book is the absence of Tom Bombadil. To some degree, this omission is understandable, since Bombadil was and remains a rather divisive character, even among Tolkien enthusiasts. Furthemore, given that Bakshi was dealing with the constraints imposed by a feature film running time, it’s understandable that he would have chosen this small plotline to be one of those that’s excluded (though one does wonder what an animated Bombadil would have looked like). Art by joaoMachay.
Kept The Same: Bilbo’s Farewell
One of the funniest ages in the book occurs near the very beginning, when Bilbo is preparing to take his leave of the Shire. He gives a rather long and windy speech thanking the hobbits (and slyly poking fun at many of them) for all of the years that they have shared together. In particular, there is mention of one “Proudfoot,” a character who does indeed appear in Bakshi’s version, his large feet very prominently displayed on the table.
Differ: Substituting Legolas for Glorfindel
Anyone who has read The Lord of the Rings knows that there are quite a few characters and, since Tolkien was a master of languages, many of them have rather difficult names. In the novel, Aragorn and the hobbits are met near Rivendell by Glorfindel. In the film version, they are instead rescued by Legolas.
This is another case where condensation is probably a good thing, particularly for those viewers who may not be familiar with the original work.
Kept The Same: The Attack Near Weathertop
In the novel, Frodo, Aragorn, and the other hobbits are attacked by the Ringwraiths while resting near the lookout place known as Weathertop. It is one of the most chilling incidents in the novel, for when Frodo puts on the Ring he sees the true nature of these powerful servants of Sauron. Bakshi’s adaptation nicely captures the menacing sense that these creatures are indeed something beyond the human, utterly corrupted by the power of Sauron and the one Ring.
Differ: Saruman’s Robes
When Gandalf goes to see the powerful wizard Saruman, he notices that, where once his superior’s robes were white, he has now switched them out for a set that seems to shift in color depending on how he moves. It’s a powerful visual symbol of Saruman’s fall from grace. Though the character in the film does call himself “Saruman of Many Colors,” the robe that he wears is not color-shifting but instead a solid red.
Kept The Same: The Rehabilitation Of King Theoden
Viewers of Peter Jackson’s films will recall that the scene in which Gandalf saves Theoden from Saruman’s grip is similar to an exorcism, in that the evil wizard seems to have literally inhabited the old king’s body. This version, by contrast, is much more similar to the novel. Theoden is not possessed, but is instead a frail old man who has been led astray by his counselor Wormtongue.
Gandalf’s freeing of him is thus much more subdued.
Differ: The Omission of Farmer Maggot
As Frodo and Sam flee the Shire in the company of Pippin, they come to the property of a hobbit named Maggot. Though he comes across as rather gruff at first, he soon warms to his visitors. It’s a rather charming part of the novel, a reminder of everything that Frodo is leaving behind. Bakshi, no doubt for reasons of narrative economy and keeping the film moving at a suitable pace, chose to omit this character altogether.
Kept The Same: The Balrog
The Balrog is one of the most fearsome of Tolkien’s many creations. A creature of shadow and flame, these beings are from an older age of Middle-earth, and in fact are of the same order as characters such as Gandalf and Saruman. In the novel, Gandalf has a fateful duel with one of these beasts during the Fellowship’s time in the Mines of Moria. It’s one of the most haunting and powerful scenes in the entirety of the first part of the novel, and Bakshi’s version keeps this confrontation largely intact.
Differ: The Incidents At Bree
When Frodo, Sam, Pippin, and Merry reach Bree, they find that things there are not as safe as they had hoped. Indeed, the power of the dark forces in Middle-earth has reached even here, and they meet a number of unsavory characters that are in league with the enemy, including a man named Bill Ferny. Almost all of these characters are removed from the film, no doubt because, for the typical viewer, they would no doubt get lost in the sea of new names.
Kept The Same: The Incidents With Gollum
Gollum is, arguably, one of Tolkien’s most compelling and tragic creations. Tormented and twisted by his many years possessing the Ring, Gollum is a future version of what Frodo might become, a reminder of the Ring’s relentless evil and toxic influence. Bakshi manages to capture most of what the novel tells the reader about Gollum, and for the most part his interactions with Frodo and Sam follow what happens in the book, including a notable incident in which one of the Ringwraiths flies overhead, silhouetted against the moon on its fearsome steed.
