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"The Hitch Hikers Guide to the Galaxy" (1981)
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Overview
User Rating:
Seasons:
Release Date:
30 October 1982 (USA)
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Tagline:
Don't panic!
Plot:
An Earth man and his alien friend escape Earth's destruction and go on a truly strange adventure as space hitchhikers. full summary
Plot Keywords:
Meaning Of Life
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Space
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Alien
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Time Travel
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Planet
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Awards:
4 wins
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User Comments:
Classic British satire mixed with absurdist humour
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Cast
(Series Cast Summary - 12 of 14)| Peter Jones | ... | The Book (6 episodes, 1981) | |
| Simon Jones | ... | Arthur Dent (6 episodes, 1981) | |
| David Dixon | ... | Ford Prefect (6 episodes, 1981) | |
| Sandra Dickinson | ... | Trillian (5 episodes, 1981) | |
| Mark Wing-Davey | ... | Zaphod Beeblebrox (5 episodes, 1981) | |
| Stephen Moore | ... | Marvin / ... (5 episodes, 1981) | |
| David Learner | ... | Marvin (4 episodes, 1981) | |
| David Tate | ... | Eddie / ... (3 episodes, 1981) | |
| Martin Benson | ... | Vogon Captain (2 episodes, 1981) | |
| Richard Vernon | ... | Slartibartfast (2 episodes, 1981) | |
| Rayner Bourton | ... | Newscaster (2 episodes, 1981) | |
| Douglas Adams | ... | Man in Ocean / ... (2 episodes, 1981) |
Additional Details
Also Known As:
The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy (USA) (video title)
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Runtime:
Australia:32 min (6 episodes) | Germany:152 min (2 parts) | USA:25 min (7 episodes) (original release) | USA:33 min (6 episodes) (subsequent syndication) | 33 min (6 episodes)
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Language:
Colour:
Aspect Ratio:
1.33 : 1 more
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Filming Locations:
Fun Stuff
Trivia:
At the time of production, BBC policy required all television comedy to have a canned "laugh track". Before its broadcast debut, episode 1 was screened to 100 science fiction fans (with laugh track and a rather amusing introduction by Peter Jones). Armed with the fans' feedback, Douglas Adams and Alan J.W. Bell were able to convince BBC executives to change the policy, and the laugh track was removed before broadcast.
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Goofs:
Continuity: In the first episode, when Ford and Arthur are in the pub, there is an outside shot of the pub. The pub is illuminated by a low evening sun; whereas in other outside shots, and on the pub clock, it is clearly nearer mid-day with bright sunshine.
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Movie Connections:
Featured in The Making of 'The Hitch-Hiker's Guide to the Galaxy' (1993) (V)
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Soundtrack:
Journey of the Sorcerer
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FAQ
This FAQ is empty. Add the first question.more (75 total)
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| The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy | "Doctor Who" | Spaceballs | Star Wars | Mars Attacks! |
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In the early eighties Arthur Dent awakes to find the council is preparing to bulldoze his home to make way for a by-pass. Arthur is determined to sop them but is distracted by his friend Ford Prefect who is sure the world is about to be destroyed by the Vogons. Arthur is shocked to find that Ford is not from Gilford but really from another planet and that he is correct in his assertions. The two escape by hitching a ride on the Vogon ship and thus begins an adventure that will see them meet old friends and see places in new ways thanks to the guidance of the Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy.
Based on the radio show, this was what made Douglas Adams. The plot is pretty thin but is matched by the observations from the aforementioned book itself. The is allows one half of each show to be moving things forward and making the show actually go somewhere and for the other half to be absurdly funny. The story is good enough to be amusing by itself but with the sly wit of the guide taking swipes at things in a sideways fashion it becomes even better.
It is rarely laugh out loud funny, and I've yet to meet an American who gets the satire/wit of the thing (although there are some!). Simply because this is a witty thing rather than a silly, hilarious thing. The plot does require some leaps of faith as our characters escape death in several unlikely ways but this is sci-fi and more importantly we always have the book to put it all in focus. The guide's comments show that the galaxy, like earth, is an insecure place that is really quite meaningless at the end of the day.
Jones is perfect as the book he always sound slightly unbelieving of what he was saying, as if he was taken aback by the sheer amazement he was feeling! Simon Jones is likable as Arthur but I always found Dixon a little too cocky for Ford. Likewise I was never a real fan of Wing Davey but I must admit the two heads were good for the time. The rest of the cast are very good but really the two Jones's are carrying the two separate elements of the show.
Overall those who know the books and the radio show will feel some material is missing, but really these 6 episodes cover the basic material very well and are very true to the source. The wit may go over the head of some people but this is absurd British wit of the finest sort.