Adapting The Book For Hollywood
From a rec.arts.books.tolkien posting by David Salo <dsalo-aaaaaaat-usa-dawt-net>, dated 15 September 1997.
TO: Miramax Studios
FROM: Storyline Editor
RE: 'Lord of Rings' story
Ok, Jack -- I read this grossly oversized book, and I think we can handle it, but we have got to slim-n-trim this one big time to get it into our 2:07 frame. Luckily, 2/3 of this book is just dead weight. Proposed cuts:
Merry and Pippin, or at least one of them. Too easy to confuse. Too many Hobbits.
Sam. Sure, he's got the supporting role, but isn't Frodo's lone struggle against impossible odds twice as heroic without him?
Faramir. Wussy, non-heroic character - all he does is to get shot and lie around in agony. A waste of scenes. Better to keep Boromir alive, use him in later scenes.
Imrahil. Who cares?
Saruman. Needless duplication of a villain.
Kingdom of Rohan & its inhabitants. Needless duplication of a kingdom.
Ents. Talking trees? Makes me think of 'The Wizard of Oz'.
Nine Black Riders. Reduce to three.
Some general critiques:
Dividing up the plot into two lines after they come down the Big River. No good. Keep the plot straight, have them all go to Minas Tirith, then all go to Mordor.
This reverse-psychology business with the Ring -- no good. Confuses the audience. Suggest new ending: Frodo takes the ring, then fights duel with Sauron. Big fight on Mount Doom. Sauron blasts him with electric bolts from his fingertips. Frodo lies dying on the mountain. Suddenly the Chief Nazgul says 'I am your father, Frodo,' picks up Sauron and throws him down the volcano. Big eruption. Segue to final ceremony scene. Whaddaya think?
P.S. Can we get some submachine guns in this story? Maybe studded with spikes all over to give them a medieval look?
