The Hobbit (1977)
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A humble hobbit is swept into a grand adventure with a company of dwarves seeking to reclaim their stolen treasure from a dragon.
The story
A hobbit named Bilbo Baggins lives in his hobbit-hole in The Shire. The wizard Gandalf suddenly arrives and informs him he is looking for someone to share an adventure, and introduces thirteen dwarves led by Thorin Oakenshield. They invite themselves in, eat dinner, and play music. The magic in the music makes Bilbo suddenly long for adventure. Thorin explains Bilbo is to be a lucky number fourteen for them, and tells how his dwarves were driven out of the Lonely Mountain by the dragon Smaug, who killed their people and stole their treasure. Gandalf accepts the mission for Bilbo before the hobbit can speak.
Full plot (contains spoilers)
Bilbo Baggins, a hobbit from The Shire, joins thirteen dwarves led by Thorin Oakenshield on a quest to reclaim their treasure from the dragon Smaug at the Lonely Mountain. Along the way, the company faces trolls, goblins, and giant spiders. Bilbo discovers a magic ring that grants invisibility and meets the creature Gollum. After traveling through the Misty Mountains and Mirkwood, the group reaches Laketown and eventually the Lonely Mountain. Bilbo enters the mountain alone and confronts Smaug, discovering a weakness in the dragon's scales. Smaug attacks Laketown, but is defeated by Bard the Bowman. A battle ensues between the dwarves, elves, and men against an incoming goblin army. The Eagles intervene, securing victory. Bilbo returns home with some gold and his dagger, knowing his adventure is only beginning.
- First release year
- 1977
- Runtime (minutes)
- 78
- Production countries
- United States; Japan
- Original languages
- English
- Directors
- Arthur Rankin Jr.; Jules Bass
- Writers
- Romeo Muller · writer
- Cast and characters
- Orson Bean · Bilbo Baggins; Richard Boone · Smaug the Dragon; Hans Conried · Thorin Oakenshield; John Huston · Gandalf / Narrator; Otto Preminger · The Elvenking; Cyril Ritchard · Elrond; Brother Theodore · Gollum; Paul Frees · Bombur, Troll #1; Jack DeLeon · Dwalin, Fíli, Kíli, Óin, Glóin, Ori, Nori, Bifur, Bofur, Troll #2; Don Messick · Balin, Goblin, Lord of the Eagles, Troll #3; John Stephenson · Dori, Bard, Great Goblin; Glenn Yarbrough · the balladeer
- Genres
- Fantasy; Musical
- Themes
- Adventure; Greed; Bravery
- Tone and mood
- Whimsical; Epic
- Premise and plot tags
- Fantasy; Musical; Adventure; Animation
- Source material / true-story basis
- The Hobbit by J. R. R. Tolkien
- Franchise connections
- The Hobbit film series (live action)
- Reception
- The film received mixed reviews, with some critics praising its effective moments and others criticizing the animation style and adaptation choices. It was noted for being 'curiously eclectic' and was criticized by some Tolkien scholars for being 'execrable' and an 'abomination'.
- Reported review scores
- IGN · score: 7 · scale: 10
- Awards and nominations
- Peabody Award · teleplay · win; Christopher Award · film · win; Hugo Award · Best Dramatic Presentation · nomination
- Production trivia
- The animation studio Topcraft was the predecessor to Studio Ghibli.; The visual style took its cue from the early illustrations of Arthur Rackham.; The film was made possible because it was still in the public domain at the time.
Film metadata comes from the open sources listed in Credits & Contact. Catalogue details may be incomplete.
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