Product Details

• Actors: Simon Jones, David Dixon, Peter Jones, Sandra Dickinson, Mark Wing-Davey
• Format: AC-3, Color, Dolby, DVD, NTSC
• Language: English (Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono), English (Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo)
• Subtitles: English
• Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only. Read more about DVD formats.)
  
• Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
• Number of discs: 2
• Rating: NR (Not Rated)
• Studio: BBC Video
• DVD Release Date: April 30, 2002
• Run Time: 190 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars See all reviews (144 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B00005YUNJ
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #7,553 in Movies & TV (See Bestsellers in Movies & TV)

  Popular in these categories: (What's this?)

  #42 in	Movies & TV > Science Fiction & Fantasy > Science Fiction > Comedy
  #56 in	Movies & TV > Art House & International > British Cinema > Comedy
  #69 in	Movies & TV > Science Fiction & Fantasy > Science Fiction > Space Adventure

• For more information about "The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy" visit the Internet Movie Database (IMDb)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com
The production values aren't the greatest here, but this adaptation does capture some of the ebullient, hilarious anarchy of Douglas Adams's book. Arthur Dent discovers that his friend, Ford Prefect, isn't human at all but an alien on assignment, writing for the Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy. Many of Adams's delicious asides are dropped off here, like the woman who figures out the meaning of life right at the moment that she gets blown up with the rest of the Earth, but it retains what it can. Sure, the book was better, and the realization of Zaphod Beeblebox and Trillian are, well, just different, but it's a great introduction to the series for the uninitiated. --Keith Simanton

Product Description
With the galaxy's best-selling tour guide and a good towel, earthling Arthur Dent and Ford Prefect (actually from planet Betelgeuse) are transported, among other places, to the Restaurant at the End of the Universe and back to the beginning of time.

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

286 of 295 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars What a DVD Should Be - D. Adams would be proud, May 4, 2002

By	Michael Talley "Hitchhiker" (Carrollton, TX USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This is a review of the DVD set itself, as I assuming most of you already know the story and have possibly seen the TV show. This is a digitally remastered DVD with a stereo soundtrack and clear crisp visuals.

It's actually a two DVD set. The TV series, which is on the first DVD, is as near to a flawless reproduction as is currently possible. Watch it with the lights off to enjoy all the visuals and matte painting special effects that were available in 1981 with a shoestring budget. Additionally, this is a "must buy" just for the second DVD alone. Outtakes and deleted scenes, behind-the-scenes footage, The Making of The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy, BBC Omnibus Tribute to Douglas Adams, and much more.

BBC Video has stepped up and hit a homerun with this DVD set. Be sure to watch it with and recommend it to your friends. "Share and enjoy!"

27 of 27 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars DON'T PANIC!! This is a great purchase!!, April 20, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy [VHS] (VHS Tape)

The Hitchhiker's Guide To The Galaxy is one of those books that you would think there is no way that it could be done right as a movie. Well guess what? IT HAS BE DONE!!!! This is a must have for EVERY "Hitchhiker's" fan. Even if you never heard of the book,radio series, etc, and are a fan of british humor in the vein of Monty Python's Flying Circus, you will love this. The movie isn't actually just based on the book, Hitchhiker's Guide To The Galaxy, but is based on the 1st 3 books; The Hitchhiker's Guide To The Galaxy,The Resturant At The End Of The Universe, and Life The Universe And Everything. Sure the effects are low budget as hell, but that is all part of it's charm.This is a comedy based on story not effects. I actually think that the effects add to the humor. This is a classic and will always be a permanent part of my movie collection.I just have one question, WHEN WILL THIS COME OUT ON DVD?!?!?

25 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Answer Is...42!, February 22, 2004

By	Robert I. Hedges - See all my reviews (TOP 100 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

"The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy" started life as a radio series at the BBC, and quickly became a huge smash. Following that success, creator Douglas Adams found himself writing novel adaptations and the screenplay for this wonderful six part television show, which premiered in 1981. It was an instant success and has achieved a huge following worldwide. First seen in the mid 1980s on PBS in the US, its popularity grew greater still, and if any show ever called out for a DVD release this is it.

For those of you who aren't familiar with "Hitchhiker" it is the story of a human, Arthur Dent, and his extraterrestrial friend Ford Prefect who flee the Earth after it's destruction (to make way for a hyperspace bypass) and have mind-bending misadventures with compatriots Zaphod Beeblebrox and another human, the lovely Trillian. The series is filled with extremely quirky twists and turns throughout, and truly defies description. Suffice it to say that it is light years ahead of its time and never fails to provoke a laugh.

The good humor of the series is cemented by actor Simon Jones, playing Arthur, who tours the galaxy in his bathrobe (and always knows where his towel is.) Simon was the only key cast member carried over from the radio show, and he truly is made for the part. Likewise David Dixon is perfect as the wild-eyed Ford.

Remember that this was a low budget production, so don't expect special effects to rival "Star Wars." Most of the effects are adequate, although I think the producers would have done well to dispense with the robotic second head of Zaphod found in the radio show and book, as the contraption that Mark Wing Davey has to wear is extremely lame, and really doesn't further the plot. His third arm, though, is surprisingly well done. Something to note in this show are what appear to be computer generated entries from the guide, which are actually amazing pieces of first rate animation.

The second DVD is a wonderful gift from BBC Video. It contains two documentaries on "Hitchhiker" one from 1992, and one made for this release, as well as outtakes, deleted scenes, behind the scenes footage, and production notes which can be superimposed throughout the entire presentation. It has a digitally remastered stereo soundtrack, but you can also select the original mono soundtrack which I generally prefer, as when the computer, Deep Thought, speaks there is too much reverb in the stereo version to understand it easily. It also contains a tribute to Douglas Adams who died suddenly at the age of 49 immediately before the release of the DVD set.

This is still the only science fiction comedy series that truly got it right, and this DVD is an absolute treasure to own and watch. By all means, check it out today, but don't let the Vogons read you any of their poetry!