Ralph Bakshi's Lord of the Rings (1978) Part 1

[Ectomiel]

Loved it when Gandalf actually twirled while reciting the inscription (or lack thereof) on the Ring.

[richardfps123]

the animation is one of the best animating i have seen in a long...long time

[Myshkin1980]

Stop comparing the two equally. P. Jackson had 95 million dollars to play around with, highly doubt Ralph Bakshi had even a tenth of that, even taking into consideration inflation. NOT EVEN CLOSE. So appreciate it for what it offers, which is wonderful atmosphere and quite decent voice acting for an animated film. nuff said.

[kipptumor]

@Myshkin1980 You need to also take into consideration that in the 70's computer animation was non-existent. Traditional 2D was the only way to attempt to bring this story to the big screen. That said - it was a huge undertaking on Bakshi's part and is why the story was considerably abbreviated.

[transformersloverjon]

7:50 Gandalf LOOKS LIKE HE'S TRIPPING BALLS!!!

[NeroAlan]

its incredible how similar the film is to this version. i mean i know theyre based on the same book, but the similarity is uncanny

[LokitheCajun]

@NeroAlan I love this movie and all, but that one sword blow at 1:13 was pretty...... weak.

[kipptumor]

@NeroAlan Peter Jackson was inspired by this version. The scene in which the four Hobbits first encounter the black rider hiding under the hill is nearly identical in both versions.

[Bunnyhop777]

3:05 - "Oh my..! Oh hooRAY!!!"

[TheBishamon]

A new age is upon us, a new power is rising. Nothing that Elves or Men or Wizards can do will avail against it. Its enemies are utterly doomed, but its friends ah...

[haeddus]

highly fascinating, thanks for the upload, loads of jackson scenes seem to be copied.

[shamwow56]

I have this on VCR, I'm just too much a pussy to go in the attic to get it out.

[LokitheCajun]

@shamwow56 Mine's across the room in the cabinet, I just don't want to get out of my chair......

[GeonTheDayDreamer]

First LOTR movie I saw before Peter Jackson's. It's still an interesting movie, but I still wished they would've continued Return of the King in the same Bakshi style.

[Metaphysicist]

@GeonTheDayDreamer I'd bet the Peter Jackson likely saw this in his youth.

[gentlerat]

He says he did, but he denied being influenced by it except in the "proudfeet!" scene (Honestly I'd say the influence goes a lot further. Bashki's elimination of "Erkenbrand" at the battle of helm's deep was pretty commonsensical, and Jackson copied it).

[GratefulVince]

If you are comparing this version to Peter Jackson's live-action films you are retarded and don't know shit about movies. They are two totally different artistic adaptations of the same story. That's all they have in common - would you compare a painting or a poem based on LOTR to the Jackson movies? Take each of the works of art for what they are and appreciate the value in each one. What kind of dope compares shit anymore? grow up

[ScarletRacconian]

I can appreciate this film for what it is... the only things that really drag it down are the hasty, glazed over plot and the portrayal of Sam as a bumbling sidekick (still pisses me off to this day).

[philipazzo81]

The narration is made by Alec Guiness right?

[HarryBillyBobGeorge]

MY GOD THIS SUCKS COMPARED TO THE LIVE ACTION ONE

[toxicitzi]

@HarryBillyBobGeorge Why would you even bother watching it then?.

Please leave and return when your mind is matured, thank you..

[HarryBillyBobGeorge]

@toxicitzi I'm not saying it's bad. I'm saying I like the live action one better. And I bothered watching it because I was curious. Still cool, just not as good.

[toxicitzi]

@HarryBillyBobGeorge Ralph Bakshi's movie was never meant to be compared to the Peter Jackson one.

And then again, comparing Peter Jackson's movies to the version which inspired him to make his trilogy, that's not very reasonable.

Still, I can see problems as well with the movie, but I wouldn't compare it to that trilogy.. :)

[AkademicDesignLabs]

@HarryBillyBobGeorge You're a dumbass for even comparing a '78 cartoon to a hollywood superproduction. I love PJ's films but you're just a dumbass.

[HarryBillyBobGeorge]

@AkademicDesignLabs You have a point, but I still have the right to have an opinion.

[AkademicDesignLabs]

@HarryBillyBobGeorge i understand you have an opinion, i'm just pointing out it's wrong, buddy.

[gentlerat]

@HarryBillyBobGeorge Bashki himself had regrets about it, so it's reasonable to say that.

[FoKTank]

@HarryBillyBobGeorge Even not compared to Peter Jackson's movie this one sucks.

[GreenAshR47]

Can anyone help me - I need to provide a physical description of Frodo as he appears in this film to someone (long story), but am not good with words myself.

[gasparddm]

@GreenAshR47 Short, hairy feet, curly dark hair. What more?

[spinasweetness]

this video has the greatest info section of all time. thank you friend. thank you.

[loljustice31]

Ah, the '70s. They just don't make stuff like they used to <3 Thanks for uploading, you rock~

[DarthRushy]

A-Peter Jackson totally copied almost everything from this.

B-Rotoscoping looks great.

[kaushulya]

thanks for uploading this, been looking for it for years - well played!

[wroteforbadluck]

amazing upload, thanks



[Dominick7]

While this seems to be heavily drawn from for peter Jacksons lord movies how are you comparing a well animated movie from the 70s with a live action movie with a humongous budget and todays tech. Totally different things. Both great on their own. Loved this as a kid and pjs movies r my favorite!

[MrWarCraft3Fan]

acctualy peter jacksons film s based on this cartoon

[lukethedukea380]

@MrWarCraft3Fan no i believe it was based on the books

[MrWarCraft3Fan]

@lukethedukea380 they only told it was based on the books

[MrWarCraft3Fan]

@lukethedukea380 they only told it was based on the books

[AnnaS1n]

*first 3 minutes* yawn. Please stop with the red screen with the talking guy, please please please! I wanna see something! *4 minutes* Wow, what a great way to introduce everybody, and really, Frodo's hair is... is... is *screams from how stupid it looks* Bilbo, I just loved how you showed your hands before you dissappered! Now he's waving a sword, just great Ralph, you really captured the spirit of LotR! It just snowed... -_- The only thing I liked out of all of this so far was the damn bridge!

[Ronni0]

Thumbs up if you played the DOS version of this game!!!

[DarthRushy]

@Ronni0 What game? TELL ME!!!

[Ronni0]

You can find it here on youtube. Just look up Lord Of The Rings DOS

[DarthRushy]

@DarthRushy Oh... THAT game. I've played some floppy version of it and it was great, but now I can't play it properly for some reason(everything works besides trading and dropping stuff).

[loljustice31]

@Ronni0 forever alone...

[Ronni0]

@loljustice31 hahaha yes. I am coming to realize this

[GuntherHaas]

Can't stop laughing at Gandalf's eyes at 7:57!

[GreenAshR47]

Until you can provide an exact passage, I still maintain it.wasn't in the books. Maybe you're confusing the books with Jackson's films.

[akiko303]

wth...why is the animation so good in 1978??? the movements are so...fluid and human-like. it's almost...creepy <:- /

[craftyactivist]

@akiko303 that is called rotoscoping. they drew the frames over actors who were filmed. i love the way they move. no one is ever still.

[RodimusFilmsnThings]

link to the Part One edit:

/watch?v=13kcUUkTyKg&

no Saruman/Aruman, yay!

[Corrol132]

THE MASTA RING

[Roddog61]

The Riders of Rohan look like an army of Robert Plants. Still, it's a horrible shame that a sequel was never made. This is WAY better than those unwatchable, IMO, movies. I simply could not sit through any of them. I watch this all the time. Thanks for posting.

[BenFosterism]

This is to hasty

[mOsherfr3ak99]

i love how Bilbo throws a bitch fit at gandalf!

[gasparddm]

8: 51 look at how gandalf hugs himself.

[MegaPoone]

Disney was negotiating with Tolkien to film LOTR but Tolkien turned them down when he saw that Disney was going to fuck around with the story and the characters. Plus, he hated Disney's depiction of Legolas as a pretty elf boy. with pointy ears. That got into Peter Jackson's movie.

[BenFosterism]

@MegaPoone But tolkines description of elves were that their faces were so fair there were no word to describe and that their ears were indeed pointed. what is your point.

[gtglolrofl]

Plus, the narration in this shows some laziness.

In Peter Jackson's: Yes he had more money, and he used it wisely, made the emotions very strong, and a good cast of characters, and NO NARRATOR:)

And speaking of characters: what in god's name is up with Sam in this one?!?!

Along with Gollum! Gollum doesn't even look threatening in this!

Summary: P.J's movie is better than this one because it just had more money, more time, and a lot more emotion. Is this one bad? no. But just not as good as P.J

[GreenAshR47]

@gtglolrofl Yes I don't know what Bakshi was smoking when he decided to depict Sam as a fat ugly retard. That's the only thing that keeps this from being a masterpiece imo. He needs to go back & rotoscope Sean Astin into this one.

[RodimusFilmsnThings]

@GreenAshR47 i think it was kinda interesting for Bakshi to portray Sam like that, because by the time ''Part Two'' was supposed to realese, imagine this Sam, no one will have faith of him in doing anything, because he is a great retard, killing Shelob, beating the shit out of Gollum,saving Frodo from cirith ungol, and guiding Frodo through Mordor, that would be one heck of a character development!

[RodimusFilmsnThings]

@GreenAshR47 i dont know where exactly because i only own an Portuguese copy of the book, but i think is in the Shelob chapter when sam is fighting Gollum

[gentlerat]

@GreenAshR47 The Sam of the book is somewhere between the two versions I think.

[GreenAshR47]

@gentlerat I like to imagine him like Sean Astin's portrayal, except I don't know what gave people the idea that Sam was fatter than the other hobbits. This is never stated in the books.

[gtglolrofl]

okay, peter jackson's is better because he went more in depth with certain scenes that made the film(s) good.

take the scene where bilbo is hesitant to give Gandalf the ring: in this, it's about 2 minutes..

in peter jackson's: it's alteast 5, clearly giving more emotion in it.

Then again, this probably didnt have such a major budget, and they used real people for the animation.

But then again, there could have been more emotion and explanation in this, the narration is annoying at times...

[mewshkin]

I will admit to owning this on Betamax. Also, I don't remember it being so remarkably succinct, I'm so used to the luxuriant extended Jackson editions. While I realise there is (particularly in the US) a tendency to rate something according to how high-tech it is (by which logic, were there a youtube in 1978, the people now cussing would be creaming their pants), I seriously think this film is quite beautiful.

[SilkySkillsUnited]

This is the worst thing Ive ever seen

[Godzilla2456]

I would rather skin my penis than watch this.

[TheSnowballEarth]

@Godzilla2456 Film it. Post it. Or at least rotoscope what it would look like were you to actually skin your own penis. Fascinating.

[OneCrayGuy89]

Bakshi is a boss!

[TheJboy88]

In many ways, I actually consider this version of the story to be far more faithful to Tolkien's original books, as well as being a better film overall than the Peter Jackson trilogy.

The story is far better paced and much less dependent on action scenes, which is closer to the spirit of the book.

The animation is very impressive, especially considering the era it was made.

And the voice acting is some of the best I've ever heard, especially from John Hurt.

A very good film.

[Ronni0]

@TheJboy88 Though, the completely left out The Return of the King

[annoythefish]

YAEAHS LATEAH

[negolatak]

@annoythefish Exactly!! Ha love it, the old dignified English Lord-accent.

[Octavius0]

Loved this as a kid, it got me into LOTR as an adult.

[squamish4244]

This is hilariously bad.

[ohverrmynd]

I lovee the description hahahaha

[AdamWest4life]

Frodo looks like an ugly version of the kid from Liar Liar

[CartoonBabe96]

Omg... I used to watch this in my VCR all the time :)

Brings back AWESOME memories!

[ancalites]

Gandalf has the freakiest fucking eyes I swear to God ...

[Humbledingify]

7:40 -Frodo:" Penis goes WHERE!?!"

[BaronVonKenny]

Uhhhhh. The last alliance failed? And Isildur snuck up on Sauron? wth.

[annaec2020]

amazing how this is the only movie that acknowledges the fact that Frodo left 17 friggin years after Bilbo left...

[Afroxec]

@annaec2020 yes the movies make it seem like it all happened in a fortnight when in fact it was saga-like in length

[MattG60173]

bilbo never looked at the ring;... he found it in the dark and just put the object he didnt know what was in his pocket...... GOD! haha

[Josh10193]

you know its going to be bad whe you cant make a silhouette look realistic

[Afroxec]

@Josh10193 plz stfu

[kennal46]

"My love"? I hope Smeagol was referring to to the ring and not Deagol...

[ScoTTishN1NJA]

@kennal46 supposedly they were gay lovers xD

[apos82]

This is VERY good for a 1978 film! Well done!

[JennyHMS]

this movie was so dark and synyster that it really left me exhausted and well...scared:DD

[Loshia2002]

I saw this when it came out and sorry folks but I was beyond disappointed. Bakshi's an animation pioneer but by the time this was made, his artistry was taking a radical downward spiral. I dunno if it was due to budgeting problems or laziness but he'd come to depend on "rotoscoping" so much that all he ended up making were very badly drawn "live action" movies that were unintentionally funny and uttery boring. Needless to say the proposed sequel to his version of LOTR was never made

[gothboy195]

@Loshia2002 Budgeting was the issue, the production companies that funded him kept cutting him off. It's sad that he couldn't fully animate this. It had potential to be even better than Jackson's version if he had the funding. There's so many scenes in this version that have more impact emotionally, and several of the characters (particularly Frodo) are done much better in this version.

[Loshia2002]

@gothboy195 Yeah, that was a really dark time for animation and Bakshi's work suffered greatly because of it. Don't get me wrong...I've always been a huge fan of his but this could've been so much better even with the limitations that forced him to use the techniques he did. Instead of something inspirational and groundbreaking he created one of the most cringeworthy animated features I've ever seen. If done right, rotoscoping can be truly beautiful and a very useful tool, but if not...ick.

[RodimusFilmsnThings]

@Loshia2002 a really good example of BAD rotoscoping, Princess Oriana in the Felix the Cat movie.

[gentlerat]

@Loshia2002 Even he didn't like the movie that much, which is why he never went ahead with a sequel (as per wiki).

[Loshia2002]

@gentlerat Not a surprise in the least. Really too bad considering this project had so much potential, and I've no doubt that he knew that when he initially made plans to do this film. As said, animation was going thru a very dark period at that time...nobody, not even the House that Walt Built were willing to create anything of substance simply because they didn't think it was worth the risk to shell out all that money for something that had no hope of earning any profits.

[ScoTTishN1NJA]

smeagol is freaking hilarious in this,Sam looks like the IT from the goonies,Aragorn is Indian,legolas has a man-crush on him,Boromir is a Viking,gandalf speaks with his hands,elrond looks like ceaser,the rohan army wears short shorts,and the black riders have gold heads.yep,pretty much the whole movie

[anythingnew]

@ScoTTishN1NJA Aragorn LOL 

[nfinn42]

overall: this movie is a part of my childhood, but as a tolkien fan and, now, as an adult, I have to admit how badly it sucks. I mean, I love it, but in the same embarrassed way that I love Tranformers and other corny things from my childhood. Doing LotR as a *single* movie, barely more than 2 hours in length? There was no way to do that without simply *gutting* Tolkien's story. The rotoscoping IS way cool, and the music is dated by our standards but was great for its time. Still, I wince. >_<

[nfinn42]

4:36 Wow, Frodo is waaaay too drunk to respond to that, Gandalf. :P

[TheScarharo]

haha,

 i love your description

[pleasantnightmare21]

i love the sheer novelty of this movie. its not perfect but its so classic. I love the Peter Jackson films as well

[Hessianoct]

Gandalf was fucking scary in this one.

[SNB222]

5:35 is gandalf gonna have to smack a bitch ? lol

[dladymuse]

I grew up with this film. It's a classic. <3 Thank you for posting it!

[cornflowrbluetie]

omg

[jdpearson71]

HE DOES FAVOR PAUL ALITTLE IF HIS HAIR WAS DARKER LMAO



[PsychopathUltimate]

Lol, remember when "Dark Lord" referred to Sauron and not Voldemort?

[legofellow132]

@PsychopathUltimate what about Darth Vader

[marmik961]

@PsychopathUltimate If they got in a fight who would win?

[KlingKlang13]

stuck on an island for the rest of my life with only one version to choose from I would take this one over the peter jackson version. This film has such a great feel to it. The ring wraiths are so much cooler in this one. There are scenes in peter jackson's film where you can tell he set up the shot with this movie in mind.

[MrPrice2U]

@KlingKlang13 totally agree with the Nazgul. Jacksons pacing was rushed at the first ring wraith encounter. I liked the fact that they seemed crippled and "twisted" with tortured souls. Jackson just turned the wraiths into mighty warriors of some sort.

[fatmandrag001]

Bilbo looks like Paul McCartney

[MatOnRS]

why is aragorn a fucking indian ? >.< and boromir a viking ? lolwut ..

[gentlerat]

@MatOnRS Why not? Honestly I pictured Strider as black.

[SuperJackjack13]

7:40 - the weirdest thing I've ever; even Mr. Bean couldn't pull a face like that!

[animeharu]

i was waiting for the "Do not take me for some conjurer of cheap tricks"

[animeharu]

They're taking the hobbits to Isengard

[hintonjonat]

This is just....BAD lol...Movie is 12839279487319478947 times better

[mrmatthewleigh]

Its MAH birthday LOLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL

[littlemisshedgehog]

You are looking at a huuuge LOTR fan right here.

Love the Peter Jackson version. Read the books a million and one times.

Not a huge fan of this one.... but Frodo's swagger just won me over! 6:38 I'm in!

[redfighter479]

6:40 ... That's one hell of a swagger xD

[dragooned123]

wow cant believe im watching this though it is legend

[TimoWikstrom]

OMG!!! I've been looking for this adaptation for a very very VERY long time, but I never found out the exact name (and maker) of this and now just by a chance... I find it here! Thank you!

[359lillian]

Gandalf, Now that is what i call a REAL wizard.

[allwalledup]

@anon4th lol okay.

[brandrider12]

yeah thats it bilbo.. wave your sword around like an idiot... someone rode the short wagon to hobbit school didnt they...

[allwalledup]

@anon4th what the shit are you talking about? the voice acting is superb and the animation is by ralph fucking bakshi...you cant get any better than that. i see that you wouldnt know shit from gold.

[TheHague67]

7:49 "Have you seen my eyelids, FRODO!!???"

[HUNimaginary]

Someone has to make a video about the Gandalf dances... 8:45 :D

[FreakDaMIghet]

I like Gandalf's voice in this. Its kinda like Obi-wan from ep 4. But still, live action Gandalf will always be my fav.

[siverwolf18]

i do not think a wizder such as his self should thogh up a fist at the frist sign for one his got magic so why do that i think this sence could have been better done but not all is bad for a old fim not bad but could use help.

[SamiasCaesar]

@siverwolf18 What did you just say?

[mrsgollum]

The opening looks like something out of Monty Python and the Holy Grail

[gentlerat]

@mrsgollum Same time period, so a similar aesthetic.

[TheJboy88]

I love this version of the movie.

Everyone I talk to about it always say that they hate it because it's too long and slow.

To which I say to them, "have you read the books?"

This film is far more in-keeping with the spirit of the original novels than the Peter-Jackson remake.

Not to say that the Jackson version is nay less of a good film, just that this one is perhaps the more faithful.

[nswick1]

the hobbits strut like cocker spaniels in this one 

[Sbrff]

7:40! HAHAHAHHAH XD

[mrsanimal0lover]

Dude when I first saw this it was at my cousin's house a billion years ago! And we were watching this late at night! That was a smart idea on our part.

[cmhawk84]

This is retarded...PJ movies so much better,...

[MsDisneyObsessed]

LOL pause at 7:40!!

[luigirox22]

I used to wach this as a kid, and never got scared or had nightmares

[ojima510]

i think that if Bakshi had more money, this movie could have been better than PJ's one. The story is in some points better, but the techniques arent...

[BoyofmanyNames]

I could hear him saying "Ringwraith" all day.

[NikoKun]

I remember The Hobbit animation from when I was a kid, but I don't remember this.

Doesn't mean I didn't see this, cause I DO faintly remember some of it, just not sure.

Either way, this is a very interesting style, I love the way they've used Live Action scenes, and then overlay the animation. I think that's a neat way to do it.

It's also rather eerie seeing this version, because there are a few shots/scenes here and there, which are VERY eerily similar to the recent live action version.

[landondonovanify]

and i thought Bilbo looked retarded in the animated version of The Hobbit!

[lioncircleantilope]

lmfao!!!! "Not Bilbo!"

[PolishSniper96]

@mOsherfr3ak69 just kiddin' dude :P the only one similiar thing is the heigh of them :D

[pwngeeves]

this fuckin blows

[SkinoReturns]

In this version gandalf touch the ring, isnt that impossible?!

[vitamindark1123]

This is pretty boring

[cujo9]

this is the best film version of lord of the rings there is . especially bakshis version of the RINGWRAITHZ

[PolishSniper96]

This Bilbo looks like my grandmom :P

[rob41593]

Hey if you guys like Lord of the Rings and Game of Thrones check out my video Game of Thrones Dancing Arrows!

[myKyuubischild]

peter jackson kicks the crap out of this adaption!

[MinirampMeltdown]

@myKyuubischild duh, but bakshi's version is still great. in fact, i'm pretty sure this movie introduced jackson to the lord of the rings. and he even lifted a bunch of scenes from this film

[surfingbananas]

this is terrible!