The Hitch-Hiker's TV series what can I say? This is one of those things that can't really be thought of as a separate entity. Which context to put it in though: the BBC 60's-90's sci-fi production line, TV adaptions of BBC Radio(4) series, the sprawling Hitch-Hiker's legacy, British Comedy, and believe it or not, innovative (or at least hyped) special effects...
What I don't think it is, is a 'film' and it seems to me a lot of the comments on here seem to be referring to a roughly 3-hour long movie with no breaks. I think if I'd originally see this series like this I would have to agree with the comments. However I saw it as it was intended as six episodes of a TV series on at roughly the same time as the peak of Blake's 7 viewing (14 million viewers an episode!). In that sense it is good solid subversive entertainment although a bit of a let down to all of us versed in Hitch-Hiker lore.
Somehow the Hitch-Hiker's narrative style doesn't quite feel at home on the TV screen. Maybe it's because that fast info-rich style of the guide (precursorNetwork 7 anyone, MTV) doesn't really sit right with the standard BBC drama template. Maybe it's because the TV production crew didn't really get what Hitch-Hiker's was. Maybe, as Peter Jones once said, they didn't really understand what was going on. Whatever the facts, it feels like someone's trying to fit a whale into a flower-pot with mixed results.
Also, I admit it, the special effects look lame by today's standards. I believe the special effects unit had quite a budget most of which was spent on Zaphod's inactive prosthetic head (I remember there was quite a lot of hype about this at the time). Don't forget that those graphics were done in 1981, all hand-drawn animations (not on a computer) and pre-date the WWW by a decade. Quite visionary in their own way.
This TV series was influential. It's the missing link between Monty Python and Red Dwarf. It's where the budget for the post-Tom Baker Doctor Who's went. How much of Arthur Dent is in Sam Lowry in Brazil?
Although this is moderately good (especially if you're a fan on things like Blake's 7, Doctor Who & Red Dwarf), I advise everyone to get the original radio series on CD. Then read the books. Now watch the third seris of Blake's 7. Now watch the TV series in nice 30 minute chunks.
There, isn't that better.
What I don't think it is, is a 'film' and it seems to me a lot of the comments on here seem to be referring to a roughly 3-hour long movie with no breaks. I think if I'd originally see this series like this I would have to agree with the comments. However I saw it as it was intended as six episodes of a TV series on at roughly the same time as the peak of Blake's 7 viewing (14 million viewers an episode!). In that sense it is good solid subversive entertainment although a bit of a let down to all of us versed in Hitch-Hiker lore.
Somehow the Hitch-Hiker's narrative style doesn't quite feel at home on the TV screen. Maybe it's because that fast info-rich style of the guide (precursorNetwork 7 anyone, MTV) doesn't really sit right with the standard BBC drama template. Maybe it's because the TV production crew didn't really get what Hitch-Hiker's was. Maybe, as Peter Jones once said, they didn't really understand what was going on. Whatever the facts, it feels like someone's trying to fit a whale into a flower-pot with mixed results.
Also, I admit it, the special effects look lame by today's standards. I believe the special effects unit had quite a budget most of which was spent on Zaphod's inactive prosthetic head (I remember there was quite a lot of hype about this at the time). Don't forget that those graphics were done in 1981, all hand-drawn animations (not on a computer) and pre-date the WWW by a decade. Quite visionary in their own way.
This TV series was influential. It's the missing link between Monty Python and Red Dwarf. It's where the budget for the post-Tom Baker Doctor Who's went. How much of Arthur Dent is in Sam Lowry in Brazil?
Although this is moderately good (especially if you're a fan on things like Blake's 7, Doctor Who & Red Dwarf), I advise everyone to get the original radio series on CD. Then read the books. Now watch the third seris of Blake's 7. Now watch the TV series in nice 30 minute chunks.
There, isn't that better.