The Lord of the Rings
by Gavin J. Grant

Did you see the big film? Did you want to join The Fellowship of the Ring? Can't wait until next year for part two? -- and until 2003 for The Return of the King...groan. When the film was over, I left -- like everyone else, I'm sure!-- thinking, "Quick, read the books!"*

In the meantime, here are a few pages we've gathered with information on the film, the books, the people of the Middle-earth, and a few odd things about the story that everyone will be talking about this holiday season.

~ J.R.R. Tolkien ~ The Actors ~
~ The Director ~ Behind the Scenes ~
~ Words into Pictures ~ New Zealand: Middle-earth in Our Time ~
~ The People of Middle-earth ~

Handpicked from Around the World: A New Generation of Stars

The actors and actresses who portrayed the peoples of The Lord of the Rings definitely knew how lucky they were. Despite a long shoot -- sometimes in the worst of weathers -- in faraway New Zealand, no complaints have been heard. And who would complain? New Line's Lord of the Rings films (beginning with The Fellowship of the Ring, released on December 19, 2001, will no doubt be some of the biggest films ever. Millions will flock to them, buy the video, the DVD, and, eventually, the Lord of the Rings collection (I know I will!). Which actor would turn down a job like that?

Not Viggo Mortensen, who plays Aragorn. He immediately felt a strong personal connection to the project: "I'm Celtic and Scandanavian, so I was raised on the myths Tolkien used to inspire The Lord of the Rings. It's part of my heritage."

Mortensen was also intrigued by his character's primal, self-reliant brand of heroism. "He can survive in nature, live from it, read its signs and live happily, not needing anyone, not relying on anything but his own knowledge and discoveries," he observes. "But now he has to take on more responsibility, and it's not clear where it will lead him."

Liv Tyler, who at first seemed like an unlikely choice, seems to have bloomed into the role of the brave she-elf Arwen, who falls in love with Viggo Mortensen's Aragorn. Tyler said she was drawn to Arwen, the immortal Elven princess: "To me, Arwen brings a real touch of feminity to the tale of Middle-Earth," says Tyler. "In the midst of a war, she has fallen in love and become the backbone and motivation for Aragorn's flight."

The strength her character -- powerful, soul-probing Elf Queen Galadriel -- possesses had a deep appeal to Academy Award nominee Cate Blanchett. "I loved playing Galadriel because she is so iconic, and she is the one in The Fellowship of the Ring who truly tests Frodo," Blanchett says. "I also think she has a profound message to give about taking responsibility for ourselves and our actions. And finally, I have to admit I have always wanted to have pointy ears!"

How popular is the Lord of the Rings? Try entering The Lord of the Rings into a search engine and you can see for yourself. Google brings up over 500,000 pages for Lord of the Rings and over 100,000 for any of the major characters. You'd have to dig pretty deep to check them all out, although some are no more than simple mentions of the book in recommended book lists. Besides, the important one is just below:

 

What Meg said about the film: "Poor Frodo! Fighting orks while barefoot!...I'm moving to New Zealand. The light is gorgeous! But before I move, I'm breaking into the New Line vault to get the next film!" ...and her most passionate comment: "I was swept away...by Viggo!"

Celebrating the 45th Anniversary of The Lord of the Rings! October 21, 2001 marked the 45th anniversary of the original U.S. publication of the first book of the Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring. Only 15 months later, in January 1956, the third volume, The Return of the King, was published and the book was complete. That's very different from present-day science fiction and fantasy or mystery series where if it's only 15 months between books readers consider themselves lucky!
Original publication dates:	U.K.	U.S.
The Fellowship of the Ring	July 21, 1954	October 21, 1954
The Two Towers	November 11, 1954	April 21, 1955
The Return of the King	October 20, 1955	January 5, 1956