BBCDVD 1092 The hitchhiker's guide to the galaxy by Douglas Adams


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Release pictures

Front cover
Picture of BBCDVD 1092 The hitchhiker's guide to the galaxy by artist Douglas Adams from the BBC records and Tapes library
Rear cover
Picture of BBCDVD 1092 The hitchhiker's guide to the galaxy by artist Douglas Adams from the BBC records and Tapes library

BBC records label code
BBC DVD label

Label
BBC DVD label


Release details

DetailValue
Catalogue numberBBCDVD 1092
TitleThe hitchhiker's guide to the galaxy
Artist(s)Douglas Adams
Cover conditionNear mint
Record conditionNear mint
BBC records label codeA
Item deleted?Yes
Released1981
Distributed / printed byBBC Worldwide Ltd
Country of originUK UK flag
Media typePrimary
Media genreComedies - Situation
View all other tracks listed as Comedies - Situation.
Run-off codes / Shop bar codesA0100389925-A912 16 A 2
A0100387453-A922 16 A 1
My rating*****
Guest rating*****

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Number have1
What type of seller was used?Other online shop
Where can I buy this release?You may be able to purchase this release from the following websites (others are available!)
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All release pictures

Below is all the cover (front, back, middle and inserts if applicable) and label pictures I have for this release.
Front cover
Front cover of BBCDVD 1092
Back cover
Back cover of BBCDVD 1092
Middle of cover
Middle of cover of BBCDVD 1092 Middle of cover of BBCDVD 1092 Middle of cover of BBCDVD 1092
Label
Label Label

Tracks

Below is a list of tracks for this release.
Side & trackTrack and ArtistLength
A1Episode 132.52
A2Episode 234.55
A3Episode 331.02
A4Episode 432.21
A5Episode 5 - The restaurant at the end of the universe32.52
A6Episode 635.44
B1The making of The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy58.34
B2Don't panic! - Further material not used in the Making of ...26.03
B3Introduction by Peter Jones for episode 18.28
B4Communicate! - BBC education programme of the making of the radio show10.38
B5Original trailer2.33
B6Deleted scene - From episode 22.13
B7Behind-the-scenes - From episode 27.20
B8Tomorrow's world - Zaphod Beeblebrox's second head2.27
B9Pebble Mill at One - Animator Rod Lord and Producer and Director Alan J. W. Bell6.36
B10Out-takes9.14
B11Photo gallery
Total length of media 5:33:52.

Reviews

Below is my review for this release and the ratings.
A good entry, I will include a full review asap!
Ratings
My rating3
Guest ratingCurrent average value is 3.

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Extra notes on cover, middle (gatefold sleeve) and any inserts


Starring


Peter Jones - The Book (narrator)
Simon Jones - Arthur Dent
David Dixon - Ford Prefect
Sandra Dickinson - Trillian (Episodes 2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
Mark Wing-Davey - Zaphod Beeblebrox (Episodes 2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
David Learner - Marvin (costume) (Episode 2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
Stephen Moore - Marvin (voice) (Episode 2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
David Tate - Eddie the Computer (Episodes 2, 3, 4, 5, 6)

Joe Melia - Mr Prosser (Episode 1)
Terry Duran - Workman One (uncredited) (Episode 1)
George Cornelius - Workman Two (uncredited) (Episode 1)
Cleo Rocos - Alien (girl) (Episode 1)
Andrew Mussell - Alien (guy) (Episode 1)
Douglas Adams - Man at end of bar (uncredited) (Episode 1)
Steve Conway - Barman (Episode 1)
Steve Trainer - Barfly (uncredited) (Episode 1)
Martin Benson - Prostetnic Vogon Jeltz (Vogon Captain) and Vogon Guard (uncredited for the latter) (Episode 1)
David Grahame - Sandwich-board man (uncredited) (Episode 1)
Bill Barnsley - Irritated man hitting radio (uncredited) (Episode 1)
Douglas Adams - Unhappy man (uncredited) (Episode 2)
Martin Benson - Vogon Captain (Episode 2)
Michael Cule - Vogon Guard (Episode 2)
Ralph Morse - Young Smartarse (uncredited) (Episode 2)
Rayner Bourton - Newscaster (Episode 2)
Jennifer Goble - Bikini Girl In Commercial For Sirius Cybernetics Corporation (unredited) (Episode 2)
Gil Morris - Gag Halfrunt (Episode 2)
John Austen-Gregg - Spaceman (uncredited) (Episode 3)
Zoe Hendry - Spacewoman (uncredited) (Episode 3)
Nicola Critcher - Handmaiden One (uncredited) (Episode 3)
Jacoba - Handmaiden Two (uncredited) (Episode 3)
Lorraine Paul - Handmaiden Three (uncredited) (Episode 3)
Susie Silvey - Handmaiden Four (uncredited) (Episode 3)
John Dair - Rich Merchant (uncredited) (Episode 3)
Richard Vernon - Holographic Magrathean
Richard Vernon - Slartibartfast (Episodes 3, 4)
Stephen Moore - Voice of the Whale (Episode 3)
David Tate - PA Voice (uncredited) (Episode 4)
Antony Carrick - Lunkwill / Loon-Quall (latter uncredited) (Episode 4)
Timothy Davies - Fook / Phougg (latter uncredited) (Episode 4)
Valentine Dyall - Deep Thought (Episode 4)
Richard Reid - Guard (uncredited) (Episode 4)
David Leland - Majikthise (Episode 4)
Charles McKeown - Vroomfondel (Episode 4)
Eddie Sommer - Alien Robot (uncredited) (Episode 4)
Eric French - G'Gugvunt Leader (uncredited) (Episode 4)
James Muir - Vl'Hurg Leader (uncredited) (Episode 4)
David Tate - Benjy Mouse (Episode 4)
Stephen Moore - Frankie Mouse (Episode 4)
Marc Smith - Bang Bang (Episode 4)
Matt Zimmerman - Shooty (Episode 4)
Jack May - Garkbit (Head Waiter) (Episode 5)
Mary Eveleigh - Girl on stairs (uncredited) (Episode 5)
Barry Frank Warren - Hotblack Desiato (Episode 5)
Dave Prowse - Bodyguard (Episode 5)
Colin Jeavons - Max Quordlepleen (Episode 5)
Peter Davison - Dish of the Day (Episode 5)
Colin Bennett - The Great Prophet Zarquon (Episode 5)
Rayner Bourton - Newscaster (Episode 6)
Matthew Scurfield - Number One (Episode 6)
Geoffrey Beevers - Number Three (Episode 6)
Aubrey Morris - B Ark Captain (Episode 6)
Beth Porter - Marketing Girl (Episode 6)
David Rowlands - Hairdresser (Episode 6)
Jon Glover - Management Consultant (Episode 6)
David Neville - Number Two (Episode 6)

Music by


"Journey of the Sorcerer" by The Eagles (Bernie Leadon)
Radiophonic music and effects by Paddy Kingsland (BBC Radiophonic Workshop.)

Written by


Douglas Adams

Produced by


John Lloyd
Alan J W Bell

Directed by


Alan J W Bell

Synopsis


Episode 1
Episode 1 begins with a pre-credits sequence, the only one of the TV episodes to have one. A countdown to the end of the world is displayed through animation, and the narrator begins telling the story of the Guide and Arthur Dent's connection to it as the sun rises over the English countryside for the final time. Arthur wakes, discovers the threat to his house from a yellow bulldozer by looking out the window, and the camera pulls back to the titles. This episode closely follows the plot and dialogue of the first episode of the radio series, cutting the speech by Lady Cynthia Fitzmelton. It ends at a slightly earlier point than the radio episode, after Ford's line "he might want to read us some of his poetry first", and on a cliffhanger that Arthur and Ford are about to be discovered in a Vogon storeroom, but before the Vogon poetry is actually read.
Episode 2
The episode opens with a recap of the story, with Ford and Arthur about to be captured. After being read Vogon poetry, they are thrown out of an airlock and improbably rescued by the Starship Heart of Gold, which has been stolen by Ford's semi-cousin Zaphod Beeblebrox, accompanied by Trillian, a young woman who Arthur once met at a party. Ford and Arthur are escorted to the bridge by Marvin the Paranoid Android and meet Zaphod and Trillian. The episode ends after they are introduced, with no cliffhanger.
Episode 3
The episode opens with a guide entry explaining the legendary planet of Magrathea, which manufactured planets millions of years ago, until the galactic economy collapsed. Zaphod has been explaining to Ford that he has found the legendary planet of Magrathea, whilst Trillian tends to a pair of white mice. Zaphod orders the computer to land on the planet surface.

Before long, they receive a transmission from the commercial council of Magrathea, informing them that the planet is closed for business and asking them to leave. They ignore this and later receive another message, noting that nuclear missiles have been sent at the ship. Attempts to evade the missiles fail, and Arthur uses the ship's infinite improbability drive, which ends up turning the missiles into a very surprised looking whale and a bowl of petunias. Trillian discovers that during the chaos, her mice escaped.

The five characters go onto the surface, where they find it desolate. Zaphod suggests that the Magratheans lived beneath the surface of the planet. They split into two groups Trillian, Zaphod and Ford explore a tunnel, whilst Arthur and Marvin remain on the surface. Trillian, Zaphod and Ford's thread ends on a cliff-hanger, with them seeing something alarming at the end of the corridor.

Meanwhile, Arthur and Marvin watch the sunset. Eventually, Slartibartfast arrives, and asks Arthur to come with him. He explains that the Magratheans were in hibernation for the last five million years. They get into his air-car, and descend deep into a tunnel.

A guide narrative intervenes, explaining that whilst humanity had always assumed that it was the most intelligent species on Earth, in fact the dolphins were more intelligent, and had left the planet some time before. However, both the dolphins and humans were less intelligent than the mice.

Meanwhile, Slartibartfast shows Arthur the vast tract of hyperspace that acts as the Magrathean's factory floor, and that they have been brought out of hibernation for a special commission "the Earth Mk 2, we're making a copy from our original blueprints". The Earth was originally made by Magrathea for mice; and it was destroyed five minutes too early. The episode ends here.
Episode 4
Slartibartfast shows Arthur the archive tapes of Deep Thought being given the Search for the Ultimate Answer and of the result reported by the computer seven and a half million years later. After learning that the Earth was set up to search for the Ultimate Question, Slartibartfast and Arthur join Ford, Trillian, Zaphod, and Trillian's mice, who had guided them to Magrathea.

The mice dismiss Slartibartfast, then express their desire to determine the Ultimate Question by first extracting Arthur's brain. While the mice attempt to strike a deal, the galactic police arrive, and Ford, Arthur, Trillian and Zaphod flee the dining hall, only to be cornered by the police in a large bay. After a misunderstanding, the police open fire on a computer behind which the four are hiding, causing it to explode and ending the episode on a cliffhanger.
Episode 5
After an initial period of confusion, the four travellers find they have been transported forward in time to just before the end of the universe. They are in Milliways, the Restaurant at the End of the Universe, which was built on the ruins of Magrathea. So, as Arthur says, they have travelled through time but not through space. Waiting for them is Marvin the depressed robot, whom they left on Magrathea 40 million years ago. He's now an attendant at the car park, and still depressed. Just before the universe ends, Zaphod and Ford get Marvin to help them steal a supercool all-black spaceship, which turns out to be the property of a very loud rock band called Disaster Area. The episode ends on the cliff-hanger as the black ship is about to start a dive into the sun of Kakrafoon.
Episode 6
The series' final episode.

Just before the supercool all-black ship crashes into a sun, Zaphod, Trillian, Ford, and Arthur escape in a teleport module that they convince Marvin to stay behind and operate. He is still on the ship when it heads into the sun. Ford and Arthur arrive without Zaphod and Trillian on a spaceship carrying millions of people in cryogenic pods. The ship's inhabitants are from Golgafrincham; they are unskilled workers in apparently pointless jobs, the people that the clever Golgafrinchams, the thinkers and the doers, back home wanted to get rid of.

The ship lands on pre-historic Earth. Ford realises that the Golgafrinchams, not the primitive cave dwellers already on the planet, are the ones that will evolve into the human race. The episode ends with the two friends lamenting the eventual destruction of the Earth. The regular theme music follows the song "What a Wonderful World" by Louis Armstrong.

Background


Douglas Adams' six-part radio series The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy received huge critical acclaim when it was first broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in 1977. The first 'Hitchhiker' novel was published in 1979 and launched Adam's lucrative writing career (to include another four 'Hitchhiker' books). A Christmas Special episode of 'Hitchhiker's' was written for radio in 1978, with a second full series of five radio episodes being broadcast in January 1980.

The BBC then decided to commission Douglas Adams to do what many fans thought would be impossible, and that was to write a television series based on the radio show. The resulting series drew heavily upon the skills of many of the crew and actors involved in the original radio show, coupled with BBC television's own experience in making futuristic dramas such as Doctor Who and Blake's 7. Produced and

Directed by

Alan J. W. Bell, the series was an immediate success and a rebuff to those who had thought it an attempt at filming the 'unfilmable'. Its success lay in the memorable extracts from The Guide itself, illustrated with graphics from Rod Lord's, Pearce Studios, and narrated in a typical bemused style by Peter Jones. The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy went on to win two BAFTA awards in 1981 : to Rod Lord form the graphics and to Michael McCarthy for the sound.

Douglas Adams died suddenly in May 2001 at the age of only 49. The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy stands as a testament to his creativity, humour and vision.
 

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BBCBD 42The hitchhiker's guide to the galaxy

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Further information

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