The Hobbit (BBC dramatization)

Inevitably, I compare his listening of this dramatization to the recent Pete Jackson movies. Personally, I think this 1968 BBC Radio 4 dramatization hold up quite well. The various voice actors seem to exude even a joy with bringing to life this English language classic. It is really only fair to compare the dialog and audio features of the two adaptations. This BBC adaptation for me meets or exceeds the Jackson films on key scenes and even surpasses for charm and entertainment in two places: (1) the overture-like character introduction when Bilbo has unexpected company in a hobbit hole-full of Dwarves and (2) when Gandalf goes Scheherazade telling stories to Beorn while introducing the company slowly by twos.

The book itself good like listening to a tall tale in an ale house. But I found the BBC production hard to follow and had to keep adjusting the volume.

A delightful adaptation, though I never quite got used to the voices, coming from the later BBC dramatization of the Lord of the Rings and the much more recent film adaptations. It feels much older for sure, but there's a charm to that, too.

The Hobbit itself- 5 stars
This recording- 2.8 stars

If you are looking for a high quality dramatization, just wait for Andy Serkis' version to come out and buy that. This one is not worth it- it is abridged and was recorded around 30 years ago. Several of the voice actors weren't too bad, but others were difficult to listen to (combination of the recording quality and the voice they chose for that character). If you can get this for free, try it and see what you think. But definitely do not spend money on it.

I've read The Hobbit but when I saw that it was available as an audiobook with a full cast from the BBC I couldn't resist it. I'm pretty sure that parts were left out but the essence of the story remains. Lots of fun to listen to this short version.

Bilbo Baggins is a hobbit living in Bag End and enjoying his quiet life. Then a band of dwarves and Gandalf the sorcerer descends on him and they recruit him to go with them to the Lonely Mountain, the ancestral home of the dwarves, which is being held by a dragon named Smaug. There is a huge treasure trove in the mountain and Bilbo is promised a one-fourteenth share of it. Off they go into the wilderness. Many adventures ensue the most famous of which is Bilbo's encounter with Gollum, a show more goblin who promises to show Bilbo out of the underground labyrinth if Bilbo can answer all his riddles. Bilbo does so but when Gollum reneges he puts on the mysterious ring he found which confers invisibility. Bilbo helps the dwarves many times on their journey to the Lonely Mountain and he negotiates a settlement between the Lake People and the dwarves when the Lake People come to claim some of the treasure for killing Smaug. Eventually the adventure concludes and Bilbo reaches his comfortable home again.

It's a great work to either read or listen; especially with a child along for the ride. show less

I didn't realize this was an abridged version when I borrowed it from the library but it was really enjoyable. I felt like I was listening to the movie.
The audio though was all over the place. I can forgive the original but I feel like the new release could have edited the sounds better.

Abridged 1968 BBC dramatisation of The Hobbit.

The BBC abridged dramatisation unfortunately doesn't deliver, as it doesn't get the tone or the voices right.