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Re: CT 2012 French Language Article/Interview in Le Monde

Subject: Re: CT 2012 French Language Article/Interview in Le Monde
by Khamûl on 2012/7/12 9:13:02

In terms of the movie tie-in covers, I think The Tolkien Estate probably doesn't have a great deal of leverage here. I would think it's HarperCollins who have (historically & presently) pushed the movie covers. Are the Estate really going to start arguing with their publisher?; probably not recommended. Plus, it looks from papers in the public domain that both GA&U and Tolkien had certain "rights" to future movie adaptations i.e. cuts of profits (--although never artistic interference.) HarperCollins presumably can exercise these rights independent of the Estate i.e. arrange movie covers. Interestingly, the article quotes "£100,000" (or perhaps it said $, I haven't re-read it) as the 1960's figure Tolkien sold for. I've never heard it quoted as this high before.

I think CT is quite entitled to suggest that the "message" (whether you're talking about philosophical, or otherwise) is in danger of being lost, in the public's general understanding of Tolkien. However, those who have not read the books, never understood this anyway. Although, clearly, they may now be under the misapprehension that they do "understand" Tolkien; when in fact they merely understand Jackson's vision of Tolkien.

BH