When did The Return of the King 1980 film air on television?
The Return of the King aired on ABC on the 11th of May 1980, a Sunday. Both critics and fans responded to the broadcast with indifference at the time.
Questions about The Return of the King (1980 film)
Short answers, pulled from the story.
Who directed The Return of the King 1980 animated film?
Arthur Rankin Jr. directed The Return of the King, working alongside producer Jules Bass at Rankin/Bass Productions in New York City. Development began soon after their 1977 special The Hobbit aired on NBC, under the working title Frodo, The Hobbit II.
Who voiced Gandalf and Frodo in The Return of the King 1980 film?
John Huston voiced Gandalf and Orson Bean voiced both the older Bilbo Baggins and Frodo Baggins, all reprising their roles from The Hobbit (1977). Roddy McDowall voiced Samwise Gamgee and Theodore Bikel voiced Aragorn.
Is The Return of the King 1980 film a sequel to Ralph Bakshi's Lord of the Rings?
No, The Return of the King is a sequel to Rankin/Bass's own 1977 special The Hobbit, not to Ralph Bakshi's 1978 animated The Lord of the Rings. The two films are often confused because Warner Bros. later marketed them together, with Bakshi's film placed as the middle chapter of an animated Tolkien trilogy.
What lawsuit threatened The Return of the King 1980 film's release?
The Tolkien Estate and Fantasy Films sued Rankin/Bass, claiming the studio had never secured U.S. and Canadian television rights to Tolkien's novel. The dispute was settled amicably, allowing the special to air as planned in May 1980.
Why was Cyril Ritchard replaced as the voice of Elrond in The Return of the King?
Cyril Ritchard, who voiced Elrond in The Hobbit (1977), had died before production began on The Return of the King. Paul Frees, a Rankin/Bass regular, stepped into the role of Elrond instead.