The Hobbit movie that never was

[calimac]

While you're dreaming about Guillermo del Toro's version (if you are dreaming about it), and trying to forget the one with Orson Bean ...

Somewhere in the screenwriter's filing cabinet the full script for this still exists.

I had introduced a series of songs, changed some of the characters' names, played loosely with the plot, and even created a girl character, a Princess no less, to go along on the quest, and to eventually overcome Bilbo Baggins' bachelorhood! I could Hollywoodize as well as the next man...

Click here, if you dare, to go straight to the shuddersome character design sheets.

And if that isn't enough, read there also about the 12-minute version made hastily in a month to secure the rights, and which was actually shown in public. Once.

I ran downstairs and stopped people on the sidewalk, asking them if they would like to see a preview of a new animated film, for only 10¢ admission. I handed each willing customer a dime, which they handed back. After the screening, the few, puzzled audience members were asked to sign a paper stating that on this day of June 31, 1966 [sic], they had paid admission to see the full-color animated film, "The Hobbit."

Comments

[milwaukeesfs.livejournal.com]

I wonder if he could be talked into providing a copy of the screenplays for the Marquette Archives? I wonder whatever happened to that one-reeler, surely the rarest of Tolkien ephemera?

[kip-w.livejournal.com]

Deitch (father of two undeground cartoonists) was a pretty interesting guy, and his collaborations with Trnka were pretty productive. No way to know if he could have done anything good with Snyder over him, but if it was my choice between him and, say, Disney, I'd hand it to the creator of "Tom Terrific" in a hot second.

[marykaykare.livejournal.com]

Well, the currently bruited one may not get made. The Tolkien estate is suing New Line because they (the Tolkien estate) haven't received any royalties *at all*. As I recall Peter Jackson had to sue New Line as well.

MKK