The HitchHiker's Guide to the Galaxy

The TV series

Review

The TV series was made for peanuts, and it does show; but the 'home made' quality was always part of its charm. Douglas Adams, apparently, was involved at all levels of the production, which is probably the explanation for Zaphod's second head - it was pathetic, and should have been ditched.

But I'm guessing that Adams insisted on this continuity from the radio, despite the fact that not one line of the plot depends on Zaphod being bicranial.

The tale is a universe wide epic, and only the BBC would dare use such cheap special effects as we see here, and only the BBC (in those days) could make it work. The acting also had certain elements of am-dram about it; actors more used to radio performance looked a little nonplussed as they struggled with the real world of television.

It was fun; I recommend it.

Cast

Peter Jones as The Book
Simon Jones as Arthur Dent
David Dixon as Ford Prefect
Sandra Dickinson as Trillian
Mark Wing-Davey as Zaphod Beeblebrox
Stephen Moore as Marvin the paranoid android, Whale, and Frankie Mouse
Steve Conway as Barman
Michael Cule as Vogon Guard
John Dair as Rich merchant
Timothy Davies as Fook
Peter Davison as Dish of the Day
Terry Duran as Workman
Valentine Dyall as Deep Thought
Jon Glover as Management Consultant
David Grahame as Sandwich-Board Man
Colin Jeavons as Max Quordlepleen
Douglas Adams as Man in pub/Man in ocean
David Learner as Marvin the paranoid android
David Leland as Majikthise
Bill Barnsley as Man listening to radio
Jack May as Garkbit the waiter
Charles McKeown as Vroomfondel
Joe Melia as Mr. Prosser
Aubrey Morris as B-Ark captain
Gil Morris as Gag Halfrunt
James Muir as Vl'Hurg Soldier
Andrew Mussell as Alien
David Neville as Number Two
Geoffrey Beevers as Number Three
Colin Bennett as Zarquon
Martin Benson as Vogon captain
David Prowse as Bodyguard
David Rowlands as Hairdresser
Matthew Scurfield as Number One
Marc Smith as Bang Bang
Eddie Sommer as Magrathean
Adam Tandy as Young Conservative
David Tate as Voice of Eddie
Steve Trainer as Man in Pub
Steve Trainer as Man in pub
Richard Vernon as Slartibartfast
Barry Frank Warren as Hotblack Desiato
Matt Zimmerman as Shooty
Rayner Bourton as Newscaster
Antony Carrick as Lunkwill
Laurie Goode as Jogger
Zoe Hendry as Co-pilot
Lorraine Paul as Handmaiden
Beth Porter as Marketing girl
Cleo Rocos as Alien
Susie Silvey as Handmaiden
Nicola Critcher as Handmaiden

Series credits and details

• Director: Alan J.W. Bell
• DVD's are region-specific, and may not be viewable in other countries.
• Format: Color
• Aspect Ratio(s): 1.33:1
• Audio Encoding: Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo, Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono
• Studio: BBC Video
• DVD Release Date: April 30, 2002
• Run Time: 180

DVD Features

• Available subtitles: English
• Available Audio Tracks: English
• The Making of The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy
• Don't Panic!
• Douglas Adams Omnibus (tribute program)
• Recording of the radio series
• Optional on-screen production notes
• Deleted scene from episode 2
• Photo gallery
• Peter Jones introduction
• Pebble Mill at One
• Tomorrow's World sequence
• Number of discs: 2
• Feature may vary from region to region.

The TV series on DVD:

Buy it at Amazon.