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IMDbPro

The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy

  • TV Series
  • 19811981
  • TV-PGTV-PG
  • 2h 32m
IMDb RATING
8.0/10
11K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
3,958
167
The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy (1981)
Arthur Dent and his friend Ford Prefect escape the destruction of Earth only to face incredible trials, tribulations and adventures in space and time.
Play trailer1:28
1 Video
99+ Photos
AdventureComedySci-Fi
Arthur Dent and his friend Ford Prefect escape the destruction of Earth only to face incredible trials, tribulations and adventures in space and time.Arthur Dent and his friend Ford Prefect escape the destruction of Earth only to face incredible trials, tribulations and adventures in space and time.Arthur Dent and his friend Ford Prefect escape the destruction of Earth only to face incredible trials, tribulations and adventures in space and time.
IMDb RATING
8.0/10
11K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
3,958
167
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Stars
      • Simon Jones
      • David Dixon
      • Peter Jones
    Top credits
    • Stars
      • Simon Jones
      • David Dixon
      • Peter Jones
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 85User reviews
    • 17Critic reviews
    • Won 3 BAFTA Awards
      • 5 wins total

    Episodes6

    Browse episodes
    TopTop-rated
    1 Season
    1981

    Videos1

    Trailer
    Trailer 1:28
    Trailer

    Photos118

    Simon Jones and Joe Melia in The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy (1981)
    Simon Jones and Richard Vernon in The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy (1981)
    David Dixon and Mark Wing-Davey in The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy (1981)
    David Dixon and Simon Jones in The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy (1981)
    Sandra Dickinson, David Dixon, Simon Jones, and Mark Wing-Davey in The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy (1981)
    Sandra Dickinson, David Dixon, Simon Jones, Jack May, and Mark Wing-Davey in The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy (1981)
    The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy (1981)
    David Dixon and Simon Jones in The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy (1981)
    The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy (1981)
    The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy (1981)
    The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy (1981)
    The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy (1981)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Simon Jones
    Simon Jones
    • Arthur Dent
    6 episodes6 eps • 1981
    David Dixon
    • Ford Prefect
    6 episodes6 eps • 1981
    Peter Jones
    Peter Jones
    • The Book
    6 episodes6 eps • 1981
    Sandra Dickinson
    Sandra Dickinson
    • Trillian
    5 episodes5 eps • 1981
    Mark Wing-Davey
    Mark Wing-Davey
    • Zaphod Beeblebrox
    5 episodes5 eps • 1981
    Stephen Moore
    Stephen Moore
    • Marvin…
    5 episodes5 eps • 1981
    David Learner
    • Marvin
    4 episodes4 eps • 1981
    David Tate
    • Eddie…
    3 episodes3 eps • 1981
    Martin Benson
    Martin Benson
    • Vogon Captain
    2 episodes2 eps • 1981
    Richard Vernon
    Richard Vernon
    • Slartibartfast
    2 episodes2 eps • 1981
    Rayner Bourton
    Rayner Bourton
    • Newscaster
    2 episodes2 eps • 1981
    Joe Melia
    Joe Melia
    • Mr. Prosser
    1 episode1 ep • 1981
    Jack May
    Jack May
    • Garkbit (Head Waiter)
    1 episode1 ep • 1981
    Steve Conway
    • Barman
    1 episode1 ep • 1981
    Aubrey Morris
    Aubrey Morris
    • Captain
    1 episode1 ep • 1981
    Colin Jeavons
    Colin Jeavons
    • Max Quordlepleen
    1 episode1 ep • 1981
    Antony Carrick
    Antony Carrick
    • Lunkwill
    1 episode1 ep • 1981
    Cleo Rocos
    • Alien
    1 episode1 ep • 1981
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      The wardrobe crew were shocked to discover, halfway through filming, that only one dressing robe had been purchased for Arthur, and the line had been discontinued by the manufacturer. The cast & crew were then ordered to be particularly gentle with the robe for the remainder of production. Towards the end of the series, it was rumored that a second series would be made, and when shooting wrapped the robe was locked away to preserve it in case it would be needed again.
    • Goofs
      The person operating Zaphod's third arm can be seen on multiple occasions.
    • Quotes

      Arthur Dent: You know, I've always had this feeling there was some greater purpose.

      Slartibartfast: No, that's just ordinary paranoia. Everybody in the Universe has that.

      Arthur Dent: Well if everyone has it, then perhaps it means something...

    • Crazy credits
      Animator Kevin Davies, credited from episodes four to six, receives a different, humorous title each time. The job titles are: Mouse Trainer, Milliways Catering and Bath Superintendent.
    • Alternate versions
      At the time of filming, BBC policy was that all comedy shows should have a laugh track. The first two episodes were played to an audience of 100 people to record the laugh track, but it was never broadcast in this form.
    • Connections
      Featured in Did You See..?: Episode #1.9 (1981)
    • Soundtracks
      Journey of the Sorcerer
      (title music)

      Written by Bernie Leadon

      Arranged by Tim Souster

    User reviews85

    Review
    Top review
    8/10
    There is a need to set the record straight!
    I have read through the reviews and find that many people are questioning whether this series is faithful to the books. It pre-dated most of them! I remember listening to the original radio shows on the BBC – I loved them: the humour, the wit, the sheer mind-boggling grandeur of the concept. Later when Adams rewrote his early radio scripts as a book I read it, but was disappointed: for me, it lacked the immediacy and the warmth of the radio scripts – I personally think the later books that were not radio script rewrites were better, or maybe it's just that I wasn't finding fault with differences between the books and the loved original.

    Yes this was first a radio show, then a book (later books) and during the process of writing the books was transcribed from radio to a TV comedy in 6 half hour episodes closely matching the equivalent radio episodes from the first (radio) series. Don't assume you are watching a film or a mini-series – you are not! This was produced, because the Radio series was absolutely cult for many baby-boomers who had listened to it during their University years and the BBC recognised the demand and catered for it. Yes it was low budget, yes of course there were many things wrong with it, but Adams, himself, was involved in the TV scripts and the story changes were his or at least approved by him.

    For those of us who had loved the radio series, this was good stuff; the right jokes were there and more importantly the late great Peter Jones was still the voice of the book. In fact we had the same Arthur Dent, Zaphod and Marvin as well. I, personally, was reasonably happy with the new Ford Prefect, but oh so disappointed by Sandra Dickenson as Trillian; for me, as for so many, this character had to have Susan Sheridan's voice and I will never be able to imagine her as blond.

    It wasn't the radio series, but it was still very good, so please see this show in context as something between the original radio series and the books: it was never an adaptation of a book it was an adaptation of a radio script as were at least half of the books (I say at least half, since Adams wrote more radio scripts than were ever made and I think some of the later books were first conceived as radio scripts). Finally please remember you are criticising what was designed to be a sort of six episode sitcom it was never a mini-series. And for those of you who are only familiar with the books go back to source, if you can, and revel in the original radio series (12 half hour episodes in two series) and please remember these are not an adaptation of the books: these are the original and were made and broadcast before the first book was ever written.
    helpful•58
    8
    • jfwhelan
    • Feb 23, 2005

    FAQ3

    • How were the computer graphics created?
    • What is a telephone sanitiser?
    • Who was also in the radio series?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • October 30, 1982 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United Kingdom
    • Official site
      • The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy (web project by Douglas Adams)
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Per Anhalter durch die Galaxis
    • Filming locations
      • St Austell, Cornwall, England, UK
    • Production company
      • British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      2 hours 32 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Mono
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.33 : 1

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