The Hobbit (1967 film)
From The Art and Popular Culture Encyclopedia
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The Hobbit is a 1967 fantasy animated short film by Gene Deitch and the first attempt to adapt J.R.R. Tolkien's novel The Hobbit (upon which it is loosely based) into a film. At less than twelve minutes, it is also one of the shortest films based on Tolkien's work.
Gene Deitch supposedly worked with Czech animator Jiří Trnka on a feature-length animated film adaptation of The Hobbit, but Trnka's contribution could not have been more than some concept drawings.
Producer William L. Snyder of Rembrandt Films had the film rights to Tolkien's work from 1964 to 1967, and intended to make a feature-length animated film of The Hobbit, working with animator Deitch and writer Bill Bernal. A proposed deal with 20th Century Fox fell through, so Snyder asked Deitch to make a 12-minute version, quickly and cheaply.
The short is not really a fully animated film; it is mostly camera movements over still pictures, with some cut-outs moving on the screen.
Rushing through production, Snyder "premiered" the film on June 30, 1967 — the last day before his film rights would expire. He paid people a dime to give back to him, and then come and watch the film in a small Manhattan projection room. He had them sign statements that they'd paid to see a Hobbit film, which allowed Snyder to retain the film rights. He then sold the rights back to Tolkien for approximately $100,000.
The film has many differences with the original novel, including many name changes and the addition of the original character of Princess Mirka of Dale. The princess was added to the story to "tone down Bilbo Baggins' bachelor status." The film also calls Smaug "Slag", and has Gandalf stay behind, with Bilbo leading the quest.
The film was unknown to Tolkien fans until 2012, when Deitch posted on his blog about the film's history. He posted that the film was produced and released in 1966, but subsequent document discoveries confirmed that the date was 1967.
It has no connection to the 1977 animated film or Peter Jackson's 2012-2014 three-part live-action film.
See also
