The Lord of The Rings [Archive] - BeatleLinks Fab Forum

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Clark Kent

Jul 25, 2002, 10:42 AM

Did you know that the Fabs wanted to buy up the rights to Tolkien's "Lord of the Rings" and make the movies? It was one film project that all 4 were keen on but they ended up with "Yellow Submarine" and "Let It Be"? It's a shame really because wtih LOTR under their belts, they would have been legends of the silverscreen(as if they weren't already). The Fabs almost pipped Hollywood by 30 years.

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HeyBeatle

Jul 25, 2002, 06:53 PM

I had heard about that. I'm actually happy they didn't embark on doing the Lord of the Rings because not only did they not have the necessary special effects to make it seem really real, but also they could have potentially bombed the movie and end their career together in critical disgrace. Let's face it even though some of the actors that eventually brought LOTR to life aren't even close to Oscar quality, the Beatles save for Ringo and maybe George couldn't do much more than schtick type humor.

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Always remember you're unique, just like everyone else is.

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Jul 25, 2002, 07:46 PM

they were probably high on something really freaky, then...
that would have beeen soooooo cool
no esp effects. imagine john as sauron!!!

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SF4-EVER

Jul 26, 2002, 02:53 AM

If I recall correctly, John would have been Gollum; Paul, Frodo; George, Gandalf; and Ringo, Sam.

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HMVNipper

Jul 26, 2002, 02:02 PM

Sorry, I just can't imagine this -- not without groaning inwardly, anyway...http://www.beatlelinks.net/ubb/smilies/afraid4.gif

Ugh, the very concept just does NOT sit well with me...I'm really glad they didn't do it!

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lilsamharrison

Jul 26, 2002, 04:46 PM

<BLOCKQUOTE>Quote:<HR>Originally Posted By AmandaLennon:
they were probably high on something really freaky, then...
that would have beeen soooooo cool
no esp effects. imagine john as sauron!!!

<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

LOL!!!!!!!!!!!1

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lilsamharrison

Jul 26, 2002, 04:47 PM

<BLOCKQUOTE>Quote:<HR>Originally Posted By SF4-EVER:
If I recall correctly, John would have been Gollum; Paul, Frodo; George, Gandalf; and Ringo, Sam.

<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Paul would have made the cutest Frodo!! *pets*

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Do you wear wigs?

John: If we do they must be the only ones with real dandruff.

biglou114

Jul 27, 2002, 04:45 AM

<BLOCKQUOTE>Quote:<HR>Originally Posted By SF4-EVER:
If I recall correctly, John would have been Gollum; Paul, Frodo; George, Gandalf; and Ringo, Sam.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Actully John and George's parts were swiched

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Beatlesgal

Aug 06, 2002, 06:40 PM

JDanRyan

Sep 03, 2002, 06:47 PM

Can anyone recomend a citation for this? (i.e., an article or book chapter or interview) There's some interest in this, possibly as something to offer Ye Editor... http://www.beatlelinks.net/ubb/smilies/cool2.gif

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beatlegirl9977

Sep 03, 2002, 07:07 PM

<BLOCKQUOTE>Quote:<HR>Originally Posted By JDanRyan:
Can anyone recomend a citation for this? (i.e., an article or book chapter or interview) There's some interest in this, possibly as something to offer Ye Editor... http://www.beatlelinks.net/ubb/smilies/cool2.gif

<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

The book "Beatles at the Movies" by Roy Carr (Harper Collins, 1996) has a few pages about film ideas that never came about, including a quote from Paul about doing Lord of the Rings.

"John wanted us to buy the film rights to Lord of the Rings. It was very much his idea. We talked about it for quite a while, but then I started to smell a bit of a carve-up because immediately John wanted the lead, and started to be a bit kinda 'ooh, dear wait a minute.' But things started to become difficult when somebody has taken the lead without consulting the others and then second lead goes and so you suddenly end up with Zeppo!...The strength of the other films which we made is that we're all equal. I'm not sure what the problem was, but I think that Tolkein's estate who control Lord of the Rings wouldn't sell us the movie rights or maybe they'd already sold them to someone else--so that solved that problem."

The chapter also just mentions that in those pre-ILM/special effects days, the movies were considered basically unfilmable.

I know there were a few other mentions of the Beatles doing the film in news articles around the same time Fellowship of the Ring came out last year. Basically they all say what has been said above...

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JDanRyan

Sep 04, 2002, 04:10 AM

<BLOCKQUOTE>Quote:<HR>Originally Posted By beatlegirl9977:
The book "Beatles at the Movies" by Roy Carr (Harper Collins, 1996) has a few pages about film ideas that never came about, including a quote from Paul about doing Lord of the Rings.

"John wanted us to buy the film rights to Lord of the Rings. It was very much his idea. We talked about it for quite a while, but then I started to smell a bit of a carve-up because immediately John wanted the lead, and started to be a bit kinda 'ooh, dear wait a minute.' But things started to become difficult when somebody has taken the lead without consulting the others and then second lead goes and so you suddenly end up with Zeppo!...The strength of the other films which we made is that we're all equal. I'm not sure what the problem was, but I think that Tolkein's estate who control Lord of the Rings wouldn't sell us the movie rights or maybe they'd already sold them to someone else--so that solved that problem."

The chapter also just mentions that in those pre-ILM/special effects days, the movies were considered basically unfilmable.

I know there were a few other mentions of the Beatles doing the film in news articles around the same time Fellowship of the Ring came out last year. Basically they all say what has been said above...

<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Thanks, Tina. I'll give it a look. http://www.beatlelinks.net/ubb/smilies/images/icons/smile.gif

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"Gentlemen, you can't fight in here, this is the War Room!" - Dr. Strangelove

"Democracies die behind closed doors" - Judge Damon J. Keith