mechtild | Look Fairer, Feels Fouler ~ caps from the FotR EE....

~*~

This set of caps is made from the EE of FotR, an "expanded" scene. It’s a scene I already liked the look of, especially Frodo in it. I already had a few images from the TE version of it on file, copied from the Internet, but I always wanted better ones -- and more of them. Even though it is a tiny scene, I wanted eventually to cap it. Film-Frodo doesn’t get many opportunities to show his more valiant, resolute side. A few good glimpses are offered in this scene. A proper "halfling prince" he looks in many of the frames. (I included a few Sam frames because he looks so dear saying, "We're going to see the Elves!")

I also like the expanded version of the scene because it restores a favourite line from the book (although used in a different setting).

~*~

The Film Scene from FotR:

Having left Bree, Strider is advancing through a wooded countryside, the Hobbits following. Only two new lines of dialogue were added to the EE, which I have put in bold-face type.

Frodo: Where are you taking us?

Strider: (looking straight ahead) Into the wild.

Merry: (aside to Frodo) How do we know this Strider is a friend of Gandalf?

Frodo: I think a servant of the enemy would look fairer and feel fouler.

Merry: I think he’s foul enough.

Frodo: We have no choice but to trust him.

Sam: But where is he leading us?

Strider: (still looking straight ahead) To Rivendell, Master Gamgee, to the house of Elrond.

Sam: Did you hear that? Rivendell! We're going to see the Elves!

The Book Scene ~ from "Strider" in FotR:

In the book, the restored lines come from the scene at the Prancing Pony in Bree, after Frodo has committed his faux pas with the Ring in the common room. Back in their own rooms, having read Gandalf’s letter explaining who Aragorn is, Frodo asks Aragorn why he did not say he was Gandalf’s friend at once.

“Would any of you have believed me till now?’ said Strider. (…) ‘In any case, I did not intend to tell you all about myself at once. I had to study you first, and make sure of you. The Enemy has set traps for me before now. As soon as I had made up my mind, I was ready to tell you whatever you asked.’

After this comes Aragorn’s bitter-sweet admission:

“But I must admit,” he added with a queer laugh, ‘that I hoped you would take me for my own sake. A hunted man sometimes wearies of distrust and longs for friendship. But there, I believe my looks are against me.

Pippin admits that they are. Sam, still very suspicious, challenges Strider....

’How do we know you are the Strider that Gandalf speaks about?’ he demanded. ‘You never mentioned Gandalf, till this letter came out. You might be a play-acting spy, for all I can see, trying to get us to go with you. You might have done in the real Strider and took his clothes. What have you to say to that?’

‘That you are a stout fellow,’ answered Strider; ‘but I am afraid my only answer to you, Sam Gamgee, is this. If I had killed the real Strider, I could kill you. And I should have killed you already without so much talk. If I was after the Ring, I could have—NOW!’

He stood up, and seemed suddenly to grow taller. In his eyes gleamed a light, keen and commanding. Throwing back his cloak, he laid his hand on the hilt of a sword that had hung concealed by his side. They did not dare to move. Sam sat wide-mouthed staring at him dumbly.

‘But I am the real Strider, fortunately,’ he said, looking down at them with his face softened by a sudden smile. ‘I am Aragorn son of Arathorn; and if by life or death I can save you, I will.’

There was a long silence. At last Frodo spoke with hesitation. ‘I believed that you were a friend before the letter came,’ he said, ‘or at least I wished to. You have frightened me several times tonight, but never in the way that servants of the Enemy would, or so I imagine. I think one of his spies would—well, seem fairer and feel fouler, if you understand.’

‘I see,’ laughed Strider. ‘I look foul and feel fair. Is that it? All that is gold does not glitter, not all those who wander are lost.’

~*~

I love the "Strider" chapter very much for the glimpses it gives into the characters of Aragorn and the various hobbits. I am sorry so little of it made it into the film. But, given the pressure the filmmakers were under to compress the story (read Sibley's book on Jackson as filmmaker; it's an eye-opener), they were able to include a surprising amount in not very much screen time.

As for the placement of the “fairer…fouler” line, I am glad it was added into the EE, even if it is not spoken in Bree. Some have thought it makes less sense here, since Aragorn has already saved them from being stabbed to death in their beds, and told them about the Nazgul. If they were still so unsure of Strider, why would they be following him?

I think it works well enough, even if out of narrative place. It provides a way of underscoring how much Aragorn is thought to look like a shady character by those who are ignorant of his true mission. In the film, too, there is no reading of Gandalf's letter to establish Aragorn's credentials, so they really wouldn't be as sure of him. And it’s good to see Merry continuing to move away from the frat boy-prankster of the opening scenes (scowling wonderfully here), looking more like to the hobbit of the book: sharp, canny, alert to danger, always keen to formulate plans of action.

~ From the EE of FotR, these are slightly cropped, and tweaked for lighting and focus.

~*~

Recent Screencap Entries:

Hollin: "Who then do I trust?" ~ plus jan-u-wine's "In the Telling".
Moria Pt. 1: "The Pity of Bilbo", plus jan-u-wine's In Durin's Halls.
Moria Pt. 2: Troll attack and "I'm not hurt".
Moria Pt. 3: The Mithril Shirt ~ A Screen Icon.

Links to all other LotR screencaps: HERE.

~ Mechtild

Threaded | Flat

Mmmm, lovely pics, as usual. And you remind me how long it's been since I've seen the EE DVD. I forgot those "fairer/fouler" lines were even in there.

I enjoyed hearing Billy Boyd speak about this scene at the 2004 Comic Con where he said that it was Viggo throwing the apples at him (from off camera), and that throwing the apples was Viggo’s idea in the first place.

lovely (the last set was so pretty I couldn't even speak *guh* )

I also love the glimpse of book Merry here :)

Hehehe, Merry is looking upon Strider very darkly indeed! And aww, look at Sam. Don't you want to just hug him?

Lovely caps, Mechtild! :)

Not supposed to be typing (doctor's orders), but have been following all your posts. Amazing shots, wonderful commentary. Lovely! Looking forward to more if/when you are moved to post. Thank you for all of this!

I like your 'prince' comment. Frodo really looks like he should be wearing a crown in this scene.

I feel a swoon coming on..

Merry looks deliciously distrustful here. *grins* Beautiful screencaps - and those of Sam - capturing his naive joy so wonderfully well - are very beautiful. Thank you!

I just love this exchange between the hobbits while talking about Strider and how even though they are walking in the wilderness and not having this exchange in Bree, Strider DOES hear what the hobbits say and is clearly hurt by it. It just makes Strider the Ranger so vulnerable and human, knowing that he would really like just to have some companionship...:-)

Another set of lovely screencaps, Mechtild. I love the colors and the light in this, the misty quality of the background emphasizes the jewel tones of Frodo's cape and Merry and Pippin's jackets. Frodo looks so determined, doesn't he? Not sure of Strider, but with no choice but to follow him into the wildnerness.

YAY! more screencaps! And I love Frodo's face here. Looking so noble. Merry looking fierce and Sam looking hopeful.
And Bill the horse that is SO cute that he can pass for a pony.

And it’s good to see Merry continuing to move away from the frat boy-prankster of the opening scenes (scowling wonderfully here), looking more like to the hobbit of the book: sharp, canny, alert to danger, always keen to formulate plans of action.

Yay Merry-lad! He's good in this scene. :)

Frodo the Halfling Prince. :) Meep.

I adore the Strider chapter in the book too, and the conversation and interaction between Strider and the hobbits. (I love it in the BBC LOTR too.)

As ever, I thought PJ's compression of canon here was very well done. (It's when he departs from canon that I start snarking, but this scene is just about compressing the material into a movie scene in a way that moves the action on - since the movie narrative can't have everybody lingering in Bree for too long - and also makes sense. It's a good scene.)

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Another great post - every time you post another set I think it's one of my favorite scenes - I guess I just have to admit any scene with Frodo is a favorite scene. He is definately the leader of the Hobbits here. The colors in this scene are just gorgeous. Thanks so much!

I can't comment on that particular scene, because I don't think I've seen it. I only have the ROTK EE - the rest are the theatrical versions.

I will however, comment that those colours are particularly vibrant. As well as the bright colours of the costumes, I noticed that the green (moss? creepers?) on the trees really stands out.

Gorgeous, gorgeous, gorgeous! I adore this scene. I think it shows the loveliness of Frodo’s features to perfection. I especially go weak at the knees for image No. 20* (4th to last) and I feel a little arrow pierce my heart, over the frown in image No. 23*. (2nd to last).

I think he carries himself quite ‘princely’ here methinks. Goodnight sweet Prince.

Thank you for doing this Mechling, I can’t begin to tell you how much it is appreciated.

P.S. I love Sam/Sean in these caps, he looks so childishly sweet in Image No. 18* (5th from last). I sometimes wonder how they made him look so handsome at his wedding.

* The numbers are the ones you have given the images.

Tadaa! Surprise!
I finally registred myself!

I soo love your Frodo screencaps *melts*
Can I add you on my F list!

Thank you! It's like watching the best bits of the film again. :)

Halfling prince ... indeed, he looks gorgeous (as always).
And Sam ... sooo cute, he looks like a child, innocent and joyful. Sean Astin's performance was very hobbity, he was the perfect choice for Samwise, wasn't he?
Looking at the caps, reading your quotes ... another favourite one I missed ... (I guess I commented this in every previous post of you :-))

Thank you, dear one!

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