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Amazon.co.uk Review
The original BBC radio adventures of Arthur Dent (an ape-descendant whose anger at the apparently inexplicable destruction of his home planet Earth, situated in an obscure corner of the outer spiral arm of the galaxy, is expressed in frequent irritation at friendly automatic doors and vending machines) and his travelling companions, Ford Prefect (an itinerant towel-carrying hitch-hiker originally from a small planet somewhere in the vicinity of Betelgeuse), Zaphod Beeblebrox (the notorious ex-Galactic President and patron of Eccentrica Galumbits, the triple-breasted whore of Eroticon Six) and Marvin the Paranoid Android (who's still suffering from that terrible pain in all the diodes down his left side) proved to be such a success for the BBC that its transition to TV was (almost) inevitable. In 1981 several key members of the radio cast made the move to the small screen. Simon Jones' bewildered Arthur Dent remains the central character, shambling around in his dressing gown (a fact easy to forget on radio); Mark Wing-Davey's Zaphod Beeblebrox is the same as his boastful radio persona, even if the second head utterly fails to convince. Unfortunately, newcomers David Dixon (as Ford Prefect) and the irritating Sandra Dickinson (as Trillian) are no match for their radio predecessors.
The problem here is not so much the low-budget look as the script itself, which is lovingly faithful to the radio series in a way that Douglas Adams' novels aren't. The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy was a lucid, satirical, occasionally profound, utterly unique comic invention on radio. As such, it has nothing to gain from TV. The script needs no visual elaboration--that's best left to the listener's own imagination. Only the animated renditions of the Guide itself enhance Peter Jones' wonderfully dry narration; otherwise--paradoxically, perhaps--by supplying images the concept is oddly diminished here.
On the DVD: A suitably eclectic not to say eccentric collection of extra features makes this a wholly satisfying two-disc set, neatly packaged in a fold-out slipcase. On the second disc there's an hour-long "making of" documentary from 1992 featuring contributions from the cast and crew, including Douglas Adams; and then there's even more in a 20-minute section entitled "Don't Panic!". A fascinating behind-the-scenes peek at filming as the clock runs out on studio time and a look at the recording of the original radio series complete the first part. Then navigate to the "Outer Planets" to find outtakes, a deleted scene, Zaphod's animatronic second head on Tomorrow's World and Peter Jones's witty and shambolic introduction to the first episode, plus more besides. The series itself is presented in standard 4:3 ratio and Dolby stereo. --Mark Walker
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
50 of 50 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
This DVD double pack is a Great buy for all hitch hiker fans. I was impressed with the transfer and happy that the episodes are complete and not joined together like the last Video release some years back. All the episodes are on disc one and on disc two you have all the extras.
There are some extra scenes included that were left out to fit the time slot on TV so the length of each episode will differ.
The extras include over 9 minutes of out-takes plus a documentary or two and even a clip
about the famous Zaphod Beeblebrox's second head.
The menus on both discs are wonderful and well thought out and praise to the BBC for getting this title on the shelves.
25 of 25 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
The two discs in the DVD set are one for the six parts of the show, three of which have been extended. There is a choice of English sub-titles or, more interestingly, on screen production notes which carry lots of interesting information, on locations etc, including the recipe for "Hagra Biscuits".
The second has all the other bits, such as "The Making of the Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy" and other documentaries, and appearances on shows like "Pebble Mill at One" & "Tomorrow's World", there's even a deleted scene as well as the ubiquitous out-takes.
Yes the effects aren't up to modern standards, but we are talking of 1980, very much pre modern day computer graphics. Remember the "computer" graphics in H2G2 are actually dam good back lit amimations.
So sit back grab your towel (I've get one of the special towels) and enjoy.
33 of 34 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
I have never understood the reasons for producing updated versions of classic films. Here we have the definitive version of the Hitchhikers Guide. Ok the special effects are not up to current standards, the actors were for the most part not well known and many still are not, but it has a script. It is funny, although in a thinking person's kind of way. Marvin still has the capacity to make me grin even after 25 years. Go on watch it!
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Classic Comedy
This is the original TV series - the special effect are terrible (Zaphod's second head sits on his shoulder and is rarely given a line, when it does speak its lip don't move) but... Read more
Published 1 month ago by Mr. S. M. Berry
A Great Name!
My Wife and I first saw this 20 years ago, I think it was. My schoolboy Son always insisted in watching the series. It is sci-fi with a new twist. Read more
Published 1 month ago by H. C. Merrick
The original, and still the best!
It might be over 30 years old now, but it beats the recent film hands down!
Yes, it's slightly camp. Yes, it looks incredibly dated. Read more
Yes, it's slightly camp. Yes, it looks incredibly dated. Read more
Published 1 month ago by Mike N
Superior to the recent film in almost every respect
Low Budget, no CGI, some stock company British actors (Sandra Dickinson excepted whose not that good I'm afraid)and witty dialogue with lots of cutural references. Read more
Published 2 months ago by Barry Wom
Extras! Extras! Read All About 'Em
I was introduced to Douglas Adams's Monty Python-meets-Doctor Who creation through this BBC TV series when it was first aired in 1981. (I was sixteen years old. Read more
Published 2 months ago by Nicholas Casley
Adam's was talking about the Thirty Somethings(Phone Sanitizers and...
I Honestly believe Douglas Adams was aluding to the thirty somethings ,their sense of entitlement and over all uselessness this is the Best of the series as it does all three books... Read more
Published 2 months ago by Larry Tobias
Memories
Having watched this as a child with fond memories, I was apprehensive on watching it again. Although the FX might be outdated now the quirkyness and quality of writing makes this a... Read more
Published 3 months ago by Fastrack
excellent product
hello good quality 80s bbc comedy with a lot more going on than the film first saw this series in the 80s first time around this is a brilliant dvd highly reccomend from the... Read more
Published 4 months ago by bos1
TV series Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy
Just as funny as I remembered it to be - Peter Jones is brilliant as The Book, and the graphics really add something to the radio and book versions. Read more
Published 6 months ago by Wells Weaver
Hitchhiker's Guide
A Great copy of the TV programme, Knocks 40 years of one's age and is a good introduction to the wacky humour of the age.
Published 6 months ago by ASP
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