Score one for the little guys

Hobbits at the heart of Tolkien's epic tale

Friday, 14 December 2001

NEW YORK -- It all started with those little folk the Hobbits, or specifically The Hobbit, a children's fantasy adventure novel published by J.R.R. Tolkien in 1937.

Thus the tale began. The success of that book had his publishers clamouring for more and they inspired the South African-born, English professor and author to focus his energies, root around in his earlier fantasy manuscripts and bring a lifetime of writing and research together in a magnificent work of fantasy literature, The Lord Of The Rings.

On Wednesday, after a six-year odyssey, the first live action movie based on Tolkien's 1954-55 novel debuts worldwide. The Lord Of The Rings: The Fellowship Of The Ring is the first instalment in what will be, like the book, a trilogy.

Of course, Hobbits are in on the action. In Tolkien's world, the furry-footed Hobbits are also known as little folk and little people. They stand three-foot-six to four-foot-two, are modest, provincial and of the earth in Middle-earth. Humility reigns. Yet they are capable of the most extraordinary acts of courage.

In Peter Jackson's movie, the key Hobbits are played by American Elijah Wood, starring as the unlikely hero Frodo Baggins, and Englishman Ian Holm, as his 111-year-old uncle Bilbo Baggins. There are also three other crucial Hobbit characters who join Frodo on the quest that is at the core of the saga: Berlin-born British actor Dominic Monaghan, 25, plays impish Meriadoc (Merry) Brandybuck; Scottish actor Billy Boyd, 33, plays Peregrin (Pippin) Took; and American Sean Astin, 30, plays Sam Gamgee.

For both Monaghan and Boyd, getting cast as Hobbits was a career breakout, says Astin, a veteran actor and son of John Astin and Patty Duke. "They won the lottery, basically."

Monaghan found himself absorbed into Hobbit life on set. "It's something that infects your life and you can't not be washed up by the whole excitement. And we are now experts in the book and we love what Pete did with the movie. It's something that we are just so positive about and so keen for the rest of the world to feel as much (as we do)."

Both Monaghan and Boyd knew Tolkien's work as youths -- Monaghan grew up in a household brimming with Middle-earth artifacts, including a statue of heroic Gandalf -- and both were eager to be part of Tolkien's world. But not Astin.

"I had never even heard of The Lord Of The Rings," Astin admits. "It was just a huge gap in my learning. I guess the word 'Hobbit' (was familiar) but it was a new discovery for me." Now Astin, who put on 30 pounds to play the pudgy Sam, is as hooked on Tolkien as his fellows, in large part because of the universal themes in the story.

"I like that he talks about the importance of the stewardship of the environment," says Astin of Tolkien's writings.

"The dark forces in Middle-earth just pillage the natural resources. The ideal, utopic race is these little meek Hobbits, people-like creatures who like nothing more than tilling the earth and eating good and enjoying the fellowship of their friends and family. There is a real note of warning, a cautionary thing, and Peter really responded to that."

For Boyd, the Rings trilogy is an emotional journey and he responds to what he calls: "Very strong feeling in the depth of the story. One of the main themes of it, I think, is friendship." Friends of different races, and sizes, must band together in the Fellowship to battle evil, so The Lord Of The Rings can be seen in terms of racial tolerance, says Boyd.

Audiences are not obliged to look at Tolkien and, now, the film trilogy as socio-political commentary, however. At least not according to Monaghan.

"It's complete escapism," he says, "and it's something that (audiences) have never seen before and it doesn't necessarily have anything relevant in terms of nowadays. It's a mythical fantastical tale with monsters and goblins. Hopefully, people will love it and it will make people happy."

By BRUCE KIRKLAND - Toronto Sun | Friday, December 14, 2001