1957

19 June 1957

J.R.R. Tolkien to Rayner Unwin

#560

 Carpenter #198

Tolkien expresses a personal openness to the idea of an animated motion picture based on his work.

?Mid-September 1957

J.R.R. Tolkien to Rayner Unwin

#1669

Tolkien sends his letter from 6 September intended for Forrest J. Ackerman to Rayner Unwin after hearing nothing more from him and asks him to forward i...

4 September 1957

J.R.R. Tolkien to Rayner Unwin

#1460

 Carpenter #200a

Tolkien informs Rayner that he has had a meeting with Forrest J. Ackerman, acting for three persons, who were interested in filming The Lord of the Ring...

5 September 1957

Rayner Unwin to J.R.R. Tolkien

#1667

Rayner Unwin writes to say he is delighted that Tolkien was impressed with the concept artwork and photography he was shown during his visit by Forrest ...

6 September 1957 (UNSENT)

J.R.R. Tolkien to Forrest J. Ackerman

#1668

Tolkien writes a letter to Forrest J. Ackerman but it will never be sent.

7 September 1957

J.R.R. Tolkien to Rayner Unwin

#576

 Carpenter #201

Tolkien expresses dissatisfaction with the current script for the proposed film version of The Lord of the Rings. Previously, Wayne G. Hammond and Chris...

11 September 1957

J.R.R. Tolkien to Christopher and Faith Tolkien

#577

 Carpenter #202

Tolkien describes his meeting with Sir Stanley Unwin and Mr Ackerman, they decided upon a policy to deal with film rights.

4 October 1957

Rayner Unwin to J.R.R. Tolkien

#1670

Rayner Unwin writes to Tolkien to say that Allen & Unwin have still not heard from Ackerman.

18 October 1957

Rayner Unwin to Forrest J. Ackerman

#1671

Rayner Unwin writes to Forrest J. Ackerman, to ask if he is still interested in the film project of the Lord of the Rings. He is holding a letter with c...

14 November 1957

Rayner Unwin to J.R.R. Tolkien

#1672

Rayner writes asking Tolkien how things stand between him and the Dutch publisher, Voorhoeve & Dietrich regarding his visit to Holland. He also notes th...

12 December 1957

Rayner Unwin to J.R.R. Tolkien

#1673

Rayner agrees with Tolkien that future translations should adopt the names as Tolkien prefers. Rayner says that Allen & Unwin can have an index of names...

13 December 1957

J.R.R. Tolkien to Rayner Unwin

#1461

 Carpenter #204a

Tolkien gives his thoughts to Rayner on the continuing work to try and turn the Lord of the Rings into a film. He gives his thoughts on the people wanti...

1958

14 January 1958

Rayner Unwin to J.R.R. Tolkien

#1674

Rayner has found a lady who can index The Lord of the Rings for him, and notes that he has said it is to be in "two parts". One of proper names and one ...

27 March 1958

Rayner Unwin to J.R.R. Tolkien

#1675

Rayner informs Tolkien that Forrest J. Ackerman with Zimmerman have been given a free option on the film rights to the Lord of the Rings, Zimmerman will...

c. April or early May 1958

J.R.R. Tolkien to Forrest J. Ackerman (unfinished letter)

#1681

Tolkien had begun writing a letter to Forrest J. Ackerman in April or May which he says is to give an idea of the changes and reductions he would tolera...

8 April 1958

J.R.R. Tolkien to Rayner Unwin

#581

 Carpenter #207

Tolkien expresses his intent to review the "Story-Line" provided by Zimmerman for the animated film adaptation of The Lord of the Rings. Tolkien indicat...

?11 April–c. 21 April and c. 28 April–5 May 1958

J.R.R. Tolkien to Forrest J. Ackerman

#915

Tolkien had been visited by Forest J. Ackerman in September 1957 (see reference) to discuss a proposed adaptation of The Lord of the Rings. Ackerman sho...

16 April 1958

Rayner Unwin to J.R.R. Tolkien

#1676

Rayner writes to Tolkien to inform him that Allen & Unwin's Hollywood agent has reported that Ackerman has agreed to pay $500 for an additional 6 months...

9 May 1958

Rayner Unwin to J.R.R. Tolkien

#1677

Rayner informs Tolkien that the head of the agency from Hollywood who is responsible for the negotiations with Ackerman/Zimmerman will visit the Allen &...

16 May 1958

J.R.R. Tolkien to Rayner Unwin

#1678

Writing to Rayner, Tolkien says that his face is healing, and he is feeling better, and able to read and write again. He has not been able to complete t...

22 May 1958

Rayner Unwin to J.R.R. Tolkien

#1679

Rayner replies to Tolkien with sympathy for his health troubles. He also agrees on Tolkien's proposed reply to Ackerman.

27 May 1958

J.R.R. Tolkien to Rayner Unwin

#1683

Tolkien writes to Rayner Unwin, including a letter with a sheet of answers to be forwarded to Nancy Smith. He has been waylaid by many bothers and will ...

29 May 1958

Rayner Unwin to J.R.R. Tolkien

#1680

Writing to Tolkien, Rayner says that he will seriously consider adding the index into the Lord of the Rings. Possibly to coincide with the proposed publ...

30 May 1958

Rayner Unwin to Edgar Carter

#1682

Rayner Unwin sends Tolkien's unfinished letter intended for Forrest J. Ackerman to their Hollywood agent.

9 June 1958

J.R.R. Tolkien to Forrest J. Ackerman

#584

 Carpenter #210

After receiving the script sent from Morton Grady Zimmerman Tolkien replies with (in parts) stinging criticism. He opens by apologising for sounding irr...

10 June 1958

Edgar Carter to Forrest J. Ackerman

#1684

Edgar Carter of Allen & Unwin's Hollywood agents sends Tolkien's two pages from his unfinished letter of April or May to Forrest J. Ackerman. This is th...

16 June 1958

J.R.R. Tolkien to Rayner Unwin

#1685

Tolkien writes to Rayner Unwin, including the Zimmerman story-line along with the cover note to Ackerman. Tolkien tells Rayner that he does not want "to...

1959

14 February 1959

Rayner Unwin to J.R.R. Tolkien

#1686

Writing to Tolkien on the matter of the option for the Lord of the Rings film rights, he has heard from agents that Ackerman and Co. have decided to not...

24 February 1959

A.M. Hope to Rayner Unwin

#1688

Tolkien's secretary, Miss A.M. Hope writes to Rayner Unwin to inform him that Tolkien is in hospital and will be unable to attend the Playhour meeting o...

22 April 1959

Joy Hill to J.R.R. Tolkien

#1687

Joy Hill sends to Tolkien his notes on the story-line which have been returned by Forrest J. Ackerman.

1970

8 June 1970

Joy Hill to John Boorman

#2079

Joy Hill writes to filmmaker John Boorman at Tolkien's request. Tolkien is sorry that Boorman has been ill, and hopes that Boorman will be able to visit...

15 June 1970

John Boorman to Joy Hill

#2074

John Boorman writes to Tolkien's secretary, apologizing for not being able to meet in person with Professor Tolkien and their mutual friend Father Magui...

15 June 1970

John Boorman to John Maguire

#2082

John Boorman writes to his friend, the Reverend John Maguire of the Reading University Catholic Chaplaincy, who knows Tolkien. The three men had been pl...

19 June 1970

Joy Hill to John Boorman

#2084

Joy Hill has read Boorman's letter to Tolkien over the phone, and Tolkien hopes Boorman is now feeling better and looks forward to meeting him. He will ...

25 June 1970

John Boorman to Joy Hill

#2075

Boorman thanks Joy Hill for writing , and offers to come visit her in the George Allen & Unwin offices on the 13th of July. He would love to talk to her...

25 June 1970

John Boorman to John Maguire

#2083

Boorman writes to Father Maguire. Boorman has arranged to meet up with Tolkien in August, sadly when Maguire is out of town. Boorman will let him know h...

28 July 1970

John Boorman to Joy Hill

#2076

Boorman apologizes for not being able to meet with Joy Hill during his visit to London. He was too busy dealing with United Artists and the launch of hi...

31 July 1970

Joy Hill to John Boorman

#2085

Joy Hill writes to confirm scheduling just discussed in a phone call. Boorman will meet with Rayner Unwin on Monday 17th August, and Tolkien in Bournemo...

14 August 1970

John Boorman to Joy Hill

#2073

Boorman writes to Tolkien's secretary (in her role as Press Officer for George Allen & Unwin), saying that he had hoped United Artists would have greenl...

17 August 1970

Joy Hill to John Boorman

#2080

Joy Hill thanks Boorman for letting her know that United Artists haven't greenlit the film yet. She looks forward to hearing when the project is ready, ...

1971

8 February 1971

Joy Hill to John Boorman

#2078

Joy Hill writes to filmmaker John Boorman, saying she had tried to call him on the phone but he had evidently already left the country. She is hoping to...

29 March 1971

Joy Hill to John Boorman

#2086

Joy Hill has recently heard from an American publisher (either Ballantine or Houghton Mifflin) that the film is moving forward, and asks for an update f...

23 April 1971

John Boorman to Joy Hill

#2077

Boorman is about to begin filming of "Deliverance", and hopes to be able to have news about The Lord of the Rings film in late July. It still isn't fina...

17 May 1971

Joy Hill to John Boorman

#2081

Joy Hill thanks Boorman for writing , and looks forward to hearing from him again when he returns near the end of July.

1978

31 January 1978

Christopher Tolkien to Francisco Perrúa

#877

Christopher Tolkien replies to Perrúa who had written to tell him that he had handed over the work of Las Dos Toores to Senora Matilde Horne. Christoph...