The Story of J.R.R. Tolkien: Master of the Rings

The Story of J.R.R. Tolkien: Master of the Rings (or simply J.R.R. Tolkien: Master of the Rings) is a documentary about J.R.R. Tolkien and his most famous novel, directed by Stephen Grant and produced in the United Kingdom by Eagle Vision and Bob Carruthers' Cromwell Productions Ltd. It is hosted, written, and narrated by American scholar Robert DiNapoli, and spans an hour and 50 minutes.

The Story of J.R.R. Tolkien was released in 2001. A Special Edition was released including a booklet of art by the Brothers Hildebrandt and a CD of Rick Wakeman's instrumental album Landscapes of Middle-earth. Where accessible online, the documentary is divided into three episodes: "Master of the Rings" (the first hour and 20 minutes), "Perspectives on J.R.R. Tolkien", and "Tolkien Music". It is not the same as The Master of the Rings: The Unauthorized Story Behind J.R.R. Tolkien's 'The Lord of the Rings, another documentary by Stephen Grant made around the same year.

Synopsis
The documentary gives a thorough tour of Middle-earth (in the Third Age) and its peoples, with 3D map graphics, illustrations, and some acted depictions. It then recounts the important stages of J.R.R. Tolkien's life and the development of The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings, with interviews of many scholars and enthusiasts, including John and Priscilla Tolkien, Rayner Unwin, and footage of one with Tolkien himself from a 1968 BBC interview. The plot of The Lord of the Rings is summarized, as are the effects of stories' inspiration seen in the fantasy genre and in music. In this section Ken Hensley of Uriah Heap, Rick Wakeman of the band Yes, and Bryan Josh and Heather Findlay of Mostly Autumn are guest appearances. At the end, a performance by Mostly Autumn is shown, playing pieces inspired by Tolkien's fantasy.

External link

 * Watch on Amazon Prime Video