This is an auction for a VHS-NTSC copy of the best documentary on Tolkien.

Miss it, miss out!

A Film Portrait of J R R Tolkien

I'll second that! If you don't have this - buy it!
(Christopher Tolkien is interviewed at great length.)

Interestingly, Hammond had the following to say about this documentary when it was aired in US on the discovery channel:

[...] In fairness to the program's producers, the original cut was fifteen minutes longer. The version on American television was cut for the sake of commercials, and unfortunately it's this same version that is available (at $100+) on videocassette. I saw the complete version (the producers made a copy available to The Tolkien Society in the U.K.), and the extra fifteen minutes made a difference. There was also to be a still longer version commercially available (though oddly enough, with some material in the broadcast version deleted!), but this has never materialized. The producers have had enough trouble selling the broadcast version (which I believe still has not aired in Britain).

(Mon, Mar 20 1995 3:24 pm) on rec.arts.books.tolkien

I'm sure it never was aired (on TV) in the UK. From what Hammond states the US version has some material omitted. The UK version I have says 'approx. Total Running Time 110 minutes'.

BH

I think it would make a great commercial DVD and it would sell very well over the next couple of years because of the Hobbit films.

I asked David Brawns from Harper Collins last year if they would consider releasing this on DVD and he said that HC would consider it.

Beren, with your contacts at HC could you give him a gentle reminder.

Thanks Khamul for that tidbit from Wayne. Does anyone here have a copy of the UK version?

I have a copy - PAL-VHS