Saul Zaentz (1921-2014)

Saul Zaentz, producer of the Bakshi Lord of the Rings animated film coincidentally passed away on Tolkien’s birthday, January 3.

Of course, he’s rather better known for his three movies that won the Best Picture Oscar, One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest (1975), Amadeus (1984)and The English Patient (1996).

I found it a bit croggling to read the cast list of his Lord of the Rings and see John Hurt as Aragorn and Anthony Daniels (C3PO!) as Legolas.

3 thoughts on “Saul Zaentz (1921-2014)

  1. Zaentz, or his firm, still own the movie rights to The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings; all the various New Line/Warner movies have been produced under license.

  2. “One Flew Over the Cuckoos Nest” and “Amadeaus” were fine movies — didn’t see “The English Patient.” But how could the same man make that horrible Bakshi version of Lord of the Rings. I mean, black holes don’t suck that hard. I guess the blame must be Bakshi’s … yes, that’s easy to believe.

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