The Hitchhiker’s Guide To The Galaxy [DVD] [1981]
The Hitchhiker's Guide To The Galaxy [DVD] [1981]
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Product Description
The original BBC radio adventures of Arthur Dent (an ape-descendant whose anger at the apparently inexplicable destruction of his home planet Earth, situated in an obscure corner of the outer spiral arm of the galaxy, is expressed in frequent irritation at friendly automatic doors and vending machines) and his travelling companions, Ford Prefect (an itinerant towel-carrying hitch-hiker originally from a small planet somewhere in the vicinity of Betelgeuse), Zaphod Beeblebrox (the notorious ex-Galactic President and patron of Eccentrica Galumbits, the triple-breasted whore of Eroticon Six) and Marvin the Paranoid Android (who's still suffering from that terrible pain in all the diodes down his left side) proved to be such a success for the BBC that its transition to TV was (almost) inevitable. In 1981 several key members of the radio cast made the move to the small screen. Simon Jones' bewildered Arthur Dent remains the central character, shambling around in his dressing gown (a fact easy to forget on radio); Mark Wing-Davey's Zaphod Beeblebrox is the same as his boastful radio persona, even if the second head utterly fails to convince. Unfortunately, newcomers David Dixon (as Ford Prefect) and the irritating Sandra Dickinson (as Trillian) are no match for their radio predecessors.The problem here is not so much the low-budget look as the script itself, which is lovingly faithful to the radio series in a way that Douglas Adams' novels aren't. The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy was a lucid, satirical, occasionally profound, utterly unique comic invention on radio. As such, it has nothing to gain from TV. The script needs no visual elaboration--that's best left to the listener's own imagination. Only the animated renditions of the Guide itself enhance Peter Jones' wonderfully dry narration; otherwise--paradoxically, perhaps--by supplying images the concept is oddly diminished here.On the DVD: A suitably eclectic not to say eccentric collection of extra features makes this a wholly satisfying two-disc set, neatly packaged in a fold-out slipcase. On the second disc there's an hour-long "making of" documentary from 1992 featuring contributions from the cast and crew, including Douglas Adams; and then there's even more in a 20-minute section entitled "Don't Panic!". A fascinating behind-the-scenes peek at filming as the clock runs out on studio time and a look at the recording of the original radio series complete the first part. Then navigate to the "Outer Planets" to find outtakes, a deleted scene, Zaphod's animatronic second head on Tomorrow's World and Peter Jones's witty and shambolic introduction to the first episode, plus more besides. The series itself is presented in standard 4:3 ratio and Dolby stereo. --Mark Walker
Details
No features available.
Rating
Perhaps it could never be as vivid as our own imaginations of the Hitch-hikers guide multiverse, but a worthy and essential edition to any sci-fi fantasy or comedy collection. Douglas Adams unique creation brought to life by some excellent work from Simon Jones and the radio hitch-hikers gang. Forgive the cheap special effects just as you would first original Star Trek series – the story shines out despite them. Watch out for Douglas Adam’s own cameo appearence! We all miss him. Highest points for me are the vogon captain skit and ‘meet the meat’. Watch, listen read and enjoy – there is NOTHING like genuine 5* Douglas Adams!
Rating
The two discs in the DVD set are one for the six parts of the show, three of which have been extended. There is a choice of English sub-titles or, more interestingly, on screen production notes which carry lots of interesting information, on locations etc, including the recipe for “Hagra Biscuits”.
The second has all the other bits, such as “The Making of the Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy” and other documentaries, and appearances on shows like “Pebble Mill at One” & “Tomorrow’s World”, there’s even a deleted scene as well as the ubiquitous out-takes.
Yes the effects aren’t up to modern standards, but we are talking of 1980, very much pre modern day computer graphics. Remember the “computer” graphics in H2G2 are actually dam good back lit amimations.
So sit back grab your towel (I’ve get one of the special towels) and enjoy.
Rating
This DVD double pack is a Great buy for all hitch hiker fans. I was impressed with the transfer and happy that the episodes are complete and not joined together like the last Video release some years back. All the episodes are on disc one and on disc two you have all the extras.
There are some extra scenes included that were left out to fit the time slot on TV so the length of each episode will differ.
The extras include over 9 minutes of out-takes plus a documentary or two and even a clip
about the famous Zaphod Beeblebrox’s second head.
The menus on both discs are wonderful and well thought out and praise to the BBC for getting this title on the shelves.
Rating
The episodes themselves are great although I haven’t been able to get the production notes displaying on a PC. However, the real greatness lies in the 2nd DVD. There is a load of good stuff about the Hitch-Hikers Guide, including a 1 hour documentary and the original BBC2 trailer. It also has an easter egg (see if you can find it) that shows the entire opening titles without and of the cast etc.. A must-buy and an excuse to invest in DVD if you already haven’t.
Rating
It was this video adaptation of the Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy which introduced me to the comic genius of Douglas Adams. I saw the series before I ever read the books, so it is rather special to me (though by no means does it succeed as well as the actual written word). You have to love the campy, cheap feel to the whole production because it really seems to fit Douglas Adams so well. Some of the special effects are almost absurd, and Zaphod’s second head is just horrible and completely unreal. The sound quality is unfortunately rather poor at times, especially in the scenes involving the super computer Deep Thought. The presentation of the restaurant at the end of the galaxy, though, was well-done and quite memorable. Trillian, whom I thought was gorgeous in my younger days, is rather different than she is described in the books. Marvin the paranoid android is rather unimpressive in appearance but constantly steals the show for me with his incredibly depressed and often amazingly witty statements. David Dixon is terrific as Ford Prefect, but the true standout performance here is that of Douglas Adams’ old friend Simon Jones as Arthur Dent. I cannot imagine anyone ever picturing Arthur differently than he appears in this series; Simon Jones is Arthur Dent.
The story basically takes you through the experiences related in the first two books of the Hitchhiker’s Trilogy. The video is really amazingly faithful to the books, particularly in terms of the dialogue of the characters. Naturally, there are a few differences between the books and the video, but by and large the two go together hand in hand. It is unfortunate that the series ends where it does; the ending is something of a let-down and feels woefully incomplete, largely because it is woefully incomplete. Arthur Dent’s story is really just beginning by the time the video comes to an end. As a young teenager accidentally discovering this series on PBS, its effect on me was significant, opening up a whole new world of science fiction and comedy before my very eyes. I doubt that the series can have such a profound effect on anyone in today’s more modern world, and I fear that many will see the cheap special effects and dismiss the show out of hand. The genius of Douglas Adams is timeless and rests in the characters and amazingly witty dialogue; the special effects are basically unimportant. Adams will live forever, and this video is just one of his many delightful guises; may many watch it, delight in the foibles of the human race Douglas satirizes so well, and discover the magic of true comedy in its purest form.
Rating
After reading the Hitchhiker’s guide to the galazy I couldn’t wait to see if the Tv series was any good, and it is. I laughed so much! and even though the special effects are a bit out dated, the costumes are great (especially Marvin!) This dvd comes with some really good extras as well which I also throughly enjoyed watching. If you the like the books watch this.
P.s. Watch this before going to see the film!
Rating
I have to disagree with the review which cites the new audio track as being superior to the original mono track.
I found the stereo mix on this DVD to have been very badly done – the levels are all over the place with dialogue often lost in SFX, and the stereo field is so often misplaced that it becomes very disorienting.
I absolutely loved the TV series, and despite the fact that Douglas has gone on the record as saying that this was his least favourite adaptation of any, I have always found it to be the truest in spirit to the book.
The new film may have the special effects, but having read the books as a 70′s kid, this TV series then brought to the screen characters closer to I had imagined from the books than I would have thought possible. All four principal characters are spot on (even Trillian as a blonde american rather than a brunette home counties girl as Douglas intended).
I’ve stuck to the original mono audio, and the series loses nothing for that. If your appetite has been whetted by the film, buy this DVD as there’s a whole lot more from the books in this version, and the story goes beyond the end of the first book.
Rating
Haveing first read the books, I was happly suprised at how true the show stays to the story (even if the order is scwery). Anyone who has seen the movie and hated it (myself being one) should love this, like doctor who and other BBC shows it proves british do it best!
the DVD extra’s could have been better, but the menu screens make up for it!
Rating
Well I wasnt after seeing this, taken from the Douglas Adams trilogy (of I think 5 books now) this series covers the first three books. I recall seeing this at about the age of 16-17 and liking it then. I had read the book previously, which i think is always better than seeing the film first. I made this mistake with Stephen Kings IT. But neither the books or the series are disappointing. This is incredibly witty and just seems to keep all the important bits from the book in it. As most people do I find Marvin the Android one of the funniest characters who makes me laugh every time I watch this series ‘Life! don’t talk to me about life’
The two disc DVD has some great extras, such as ‘The late Dent Arthur Dent’ revisiting the home the series started off, a pseudo interview with the voice of the book, and some great easter eggs. A worthwhile purchase for classic british humour in space.
Rating
I have been fortunate enough to encounter classic Hitchhikers in all three of it’s famed incarnations: radio, book and television. (Not counting the much more recent modern film version.) And I must say that I feel to be rare in thinking that all three are good. Most people I speak to seem to say the prefer it in whichever medium that they came across first. Maybe that’s human nature.
This being the “full presentation” of the television series (which finales at around the end of book 2 of the series), it is well put together. There are a lot of special features and a lack of cuts to the main feature (common in TV slots for broadcasting) is welcome.
This is a rare gem in that despite obviously low budget effects (even for it’s time!), and a very eccentric and eclectic production… the quality of the source material is so superb that a classic it is.
Calling it a “science fiction comedy” is like calling the Star Wars series a “mildy profitable franchise”. But be warned, these two are almost polar opposites in sci-fi.
Summary: A great and funny program, that benefits from having a couple of brain cells to rub together. And maybe a hot cup of tea.