1977’s Gollum: The Underrated Take on Tolkien’s Monster Fans Missed

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Summary

  • Serkis’ groundbreaking performance as Gollum redefined mo-cap performances.
  • The first Gollum portrayal in a 1977 animated adaptation deserves recognition.
  • Brother Theodore’s voice work as Gollum in 1977 brought a different but effective take.

The portrayal of Gollum by Andy Serkis in the Lord of the Rings films is one of the most exceptional instances of an actor and character merging in modern film history. His pioneering motion-capture work revolutionized the concept of what such performances can achieve, adding depth and nuance to a role that blended live action and CGI in ways previously unseen. Over two decades since the trilogy’s release, Serkis’ portrayal of Gollum has become so iconic that it’s challenging to envision another actor stepping into those shoes.

To date, no other actor has dared to delve as deeply into the character as Andy Serkis did when he reprised the role in “The Hobbit” (2012) and will again in the upcoming “The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum.” However, it’s essential to acknowledge that Serkis wasn’t the first to give life to Tolkien’s monstrous creation. Over two decades before Serkis’ on-screen debut as Gollum, a strikingly different portrayal of the character graced our televisions, one that warrants far more recognition than it has received.

Gollum’s Earliest Onscreen Incarnation

A Different Look Brings A Different Energy

In essence, the initial screen portrayal of “The Hobbit” dates back to 1967, through a 12-minute animated film by Gene Deitch. This production was primarily aimed at safeguarding the movie rights and deviated significantly from the original narrative. A full-length adaptation followed ten years later in 1977, with a Rankin/Bass animated TV special. Notably, this studio is renowned for producing classics such as the 1967’s “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” and the 1974’s “The Year Without a Santa Claus.” However, this adaptation marked a shift in direction for the studio, as they were predominantly recognized for their holiday-themed animated specials prior to this production.

Although it received generally favorable reviews initially, the 1977 “Hobbit” film is not widely appreciated by Tolkien fans nowadays. The decision to reduce the book’s content to fit within an 80-minute runtime led to significant story omissions, and the period-specific folk/pop soundtrack by Glenn Yarbrough gives it a somewhat outdated feel today. Nevertheless, the film effectively covers most of the key aspects from the novel, and the detailed and expressive animation from Topcraft Studio, which later evolved into Studio Ghibli, is commendable.

In the book “The Hobbit”, Gollum serves as a significant yet small character, presenting challenges for Bilbo Baggins during his heroic adventure. Unlike the version portrayed by Serkis in later adaptations, the animated version of Gollum had a more amphibian-like appearance, with loose skin, a wide mouth, and a hunched back. This might seem unusual to those who have only seen the live-action version, but it’s crucial to recall that at that time, there was no agreed-upon image of the character, allowing the animators to design Gollum according to their own creativity.

Gollum’s Stellar Voice Performance

Brother Theodore Brought His A-Game

Indeed, while the aesthetic portrayal of Gollum is crucial, it’s the exceptional vocal performance by Theodore Gottlieb, or Brother Theodore as he was more famously known, that truly elevates this adaptation. This man was nothing short of extraordinary, with a life story just as captivating. Having survived the Holocaust and emigrated to the United States, he made his screen debut in the late 1940s, but it was on stage where he truly shone. New York City was home to his regular show, where he would deliver rambling, surreal monologues he dubbed “stand-up tragedy.” In the ’50s and ’60s, these shows garnered a devoted following, and in the ’80s, he became a recurring guest on Late Night with David Letterman, bringing his unique brand of humor to late-night television.

As a movie critic, I found Brother Theodore’s portrayal of Gollum in “The Lord of the Rings” to be strikingly distinct from Andy Serkis’ version, yet equally captivating. His voice was deep, gravelly, and almost syrupy, adding a unique flavor to the character that resonated with me.

He masterfully infused elements of his renowned stage madness into Gollum, making Bilbo’s escape all the more intense as the character’s insanity unfolded. As a child watching the movie, I remember being genuinely terrified by Gollum, and I believe that much of this fear can be attributed to Brother Theodore’s mesmerizingly unhinged vocal performance.

In short, Brother Theodore brought an enchanting layer of madness to Gollum, showcasing the character’s depths of insanity and the ring’s ironclad grip on him. A truly remarkable achievement that added a memorable dimension to the iconic Middle-earth saga.

Andy Serkis’ portrayal of Gollum has left such a profound impact on the character that its influence extends beyond his motion capture performances, causing earlier interpretations to be compared against it. Despite any issues with the film itself, the 1977 version of Gollum, particularly Brother Theodore’s vocal performance, is worthy of recognition in its own right. For those who hadn’t read the book, this portrayal might have been their first encounter with the character, and it should be recognized alongside the groundbreaking interpretation that followed.

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2025-03-02 01:34