"The Lord of the Rings", Gandalf the White: actor, voice acting

2024 Author: Leah Sherlock | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 05:25

In all the most famous fairy tales, there is always a kind and wise old man or wizard, to whom you can always turn for advice and help. It is he who, in a difficult moment, saves the main characters from trouble and punishes evil. In the magical world of Middle-earth, created by the fantasy of the writer R. R. Tolkien, the wizard Gandalf was such a character.

Inhabitants of a fairy tale world

The fairy tale world composed by Tolkien, according to the author himself, once upon a time was on our planet.

But over time, the magic disappeared from our world. many species of creatures died out and the most tenacious and prolific race remained - people.

In the old days, the central continent was called Middle-earth, and the famous habitat of hobbits - the Shire - was located in the region of modern northwestern Europe.

At that time, the human race was not the main one, but was one of the many species of creatures inhabiting Middle-earth. The first inhabitants of these lands were higher beings - elves. They were practically immortal. In addition, this race was stronger, wiser and nobler than humans. Also among the elves were skilled craftsmen who create beautiful things. Unlike humans, elves could use magic even though they weren't wizards.

After the elves came goblins and orcs. In fact, they were mutated, as a result of dangerous experiments, elves. Sauron later created a special people called Uruk-hai based on orcs. Unlike their ancestors, all these creatures were not wise and kind, they constantly fought for new territories and food. These creatures were dominated only by the basest instincts.

Even later, the people of the gnomes were created. They were extremely strong, but small in stature and all with beards, even women. This ethnic group was famous for its ability to extract minerals from the depths of the mountains, as well as the manufacture of these fossil things of outlandish beauty. Even the dwarves were famous for their incredible greed, which very often played a cruel joke with them.

The Ent people were created in opposition to the Dwarves. These are gigantic tree people. Unlike other nations, they are extremely peaceful and kind. Ardent defenders of nature, as they themselves are part of it.

Trolls arose after the Ents. They were made of stone for a change.

Human beings, like their species, the petty people of Hobbits, were the latest to enter Middle-earth. Unlike other creatures, they were weak and not adapted to magic.

There were also many other magical creatures, such as dragons, giant talking eagles, spiders, werewolves, demonic creatures with the ability to wrapyourself with fire and darkness, and others.

During the time of Sauron, the first nine human owners of the Rings of Power were subjugated to their will and turned into the living dead called the Nazgûl.

Magicians, or Istari, stood apart from all these creatures. They came to this world to protect it from the awakening evil forces. These wizards were united in the Order of Mages. In total, five magicians were sent: Saruman the White, Alatar the Blue, Pallando the Blue, Radagast the Brown and Gandalf the Grey.

Origin and names of Gandalf

Gandalf's real name is Olorin. Among his people, he was considered one of the wisest and kindest magicians. Being one of the five sent to Middle-earth, this hero was at first very reluctant to go on a journey, but later changed his mind.

Like his other brethren, upon arrival in the new world, he took on the appearance of a wandering old man with a staff. He was also granted one of the three Elven Rings of Power - Narya.

Unlike the head of the Order of Saruman, Gandalf the Gray never had a residence. He constantly traveled through the expanses of Middle-earth. Helping people to the best of his ability, he earned different names in different tribes: the Gray Wanderer, Mithrandir, Inkanus and Tarkun.

Before the beginning of the War of the Ring, this wizard was called "Gray", and the title "White" was the head of the Order. However, after the betrayal of Saruman, Gandalf personally expelled him from the order and broke the main attribute of the wizard - the staff. For courage and self-sacrifice, Olorin was elected the head of the Order, and became known as the "White".

If you look at the illustration from the movie, which depicts Gandalf the Gray and White, the difference is very noticeable even outwardly.

Character Creation Story

Gandalf's name means "an elf with a magic staff." At first it was supposed to be worn by the leader of the dwarf detachment, but Tolkien decided that such a respectable name required a better candidate, and named the wizard from the book "The Hobbit" with it. The appearance of the wandering magician was borrowed from a postcard called "Mountain Spirit". In many ways, the appearance of Gandalf was inspired by Tolkien by the Scandinavian supreme deity Odin. When he recovered to travel in the human world, he took the form of a modest old man with a long shaggy beard, wearing a wide-brimmed hat and carrying an outlandish staff.

Some researchers of the writer's work call Merlin the prototype of Gandalf.

Gandalf's first appearance in The Hobbit

This character first appears in R. R. Tolkien's The Hobbit, or There and Back Again. According to the story, a detachment of thirteen dwarves, led by their king Thorin Oakenshield, is going to get to the Lonely Mountain. Once it belonged to their ancestors, now they intend to return it, as well as defeat the dragon Smaug, who took possession of it, and take the treasure.

However, they need a burglar to carry out this difficult plan. Gandalf, as one of the organizers and inspirers of the venture, advised a homebody hobbit named Bilbo Baggins for this position. He agreed and, having experienced a lot of adventures and losses, the gnomeswere able to destroy the enemy and achieve their own. Bilbo, in this story, became the owner of a magical artifact - the Ring of Omnipotence, but hid it from everyone, even from Gandalf, with whom he became friends.

Despite the fact that Gandalf seems to be just an ordinary participant in this adventure, in fact it was he who started all the mess. The fact is that at the beginning of the Hobbit novel, Sauron secretly returned to the magical world and began to gain strength, in addition, his Nazgul began to desperately hunt for the Ring of Omnipotence. However, the Order, led by Saruman the White, was inactive at his insistence.

Because of the dragon, the northern lands of the continent were extremely weak. If Sauron had thought of teaming up with Smaug and attacking them, they would have become easy prey.

Finding the dying father of the Dwarf King Thorin, Gandalf received a map and a key from him. This prompted the wizard to think how, with the help of the gnomes, to lime the dragon and free the northern lands from the orcs. And along the way, and return to the dwarves their ancestral possessions. Despite many troubles, the magician's plan succeeded.

The Lord of the Rings: Gandalf in The Fellowship of the Ring

At the beginning of the Lord of the Rings trilogy, Sauron had already settled in Mordor and declared himself. He began to accumulate strength and gradually capture new territories. The only thing he lacked was the Ring of Omnipotence.

The Order of Mages, who gathered to discuss the current situation, was assured by its head Saruman the White that the sought-for artifact was lost forever, and the Dark Lord would never find it.

However, Gandalf did not share the opinion of his fellow wizard. Moreover, he had long been afraid that his friend Bilbo had the ill-fated Ring.

Saruman was jealous and fearful of Gandalf, so he assigned spies to him and soon found out that he often visits the Shire, and became interested in the reason.

Meanwhile, Gandalf helped Bilbo to retire, and before leaving he persuaded him to bequeath Frodo's Ring, as he saw that hobbits were quite capable of resisting the power of the artifact.

While Gandalf was gathering information on how to recognize the Ring of Omnipotence, the former owner of the Ring, Gollum, fell into the hands of the servants of Sauron and gave them the name of the new owner, as well as the location of the artifact.

To save the Ring of Omnipotence, Gandalf the Gray persuades Frodo to take it to the elves. And he goes to Sauron, as to the head of the Order. However, he revealed his true face and tried to persuade the magician to make peace with Sauron. In addition, Saruman the White himself dreamed of taking possession of the Ring. Having refused the offer of the head of the Order, Gandalf was imprisoned, but he was saved by a giant eagle sent by Radagast the Brown.

Having come to the council in the elven Riveddell, Gandalf told the truth about Saruman's betrayal and persuaded everyone to destroy the Ring, and Sauron with it.

Leading the Fellowship of the Ring, the wizard was forced to lead his friends through the catacombs of Moria, where he encountered the demonic creation Balgor. During the battle with him, Gandalf fell into the abyss and his comrades considered him dead, continuing on their own.

Gandalf in The Two Towers

However, Gandalf did not die. First, he could notto die, because he was the highest being of the star. And secondly, since he did not have time to complete the mission for which he was sent to Middle-earth, he was returned back. In addition, it is from this moment that he receives the name Gandalf the White.

In this part of the epic, Gandalf manifests himself more as a warrior than as a wizard. Together with Aragorn and his comrades, he goes to Rohan and rescues their king. Then he helps the people of this kingdom fight the orcs of Saruman.

Having learned about the act of the former head of the Order, the ents help to capture the people and the wizard of Isengard. Captured Saruman is expelled from the Order, and Gandalf the White becomes the head of wizards in Middle-earth.

Gandalf in The Return of the King

After the victory of the people of Rohan over the forces of evil and the deposition of Saruman, Gandalf understood that Sauron would try to recoup on Minas Tirith. Therefore, he tries by all possible means to save the city from hordes of orcs, trolls and other similar creatures.

After the death of the leader of the army and the Nazgul sorcerer-king of Angmar, Gandalf the White, together with Aragorn, decide to divert Sauron's attention to themselves in order to give the hobbits a chance to destroy the Magic Ring. To do this, the heroes with the remaining army go to the Black Gate of Mordor and call the hordes of Sauron to battle.

After the victory and destruction of the artifact, Gandalf the White crowns Aragorn.

A little later, making sure that his mission in this world is completed, he, along with the hobbits Frodo and Bilbo, as well as the elves Elrond and Galadrielsail away from Middle-earth.

Sir Ian McKellen as Gandalf

After the release of The Hobbit and other Tolkien novels in the US, they instantly became cult. Many film studios began to think about a film adaptation. However, for a long time it was believed that it was impossible to make a good film that reflected all aspects of the novels. That is why they mainly filmed only The Hobbit, and these were most often cartoons.

Peter Jackson's efforts proved otherwise. One of the main roles - the wizard Gandalf, the director entrusted to the famous Shakespearean actor - Sir Ian McKellen.

The future actor who played Gandalf was born in 1939 in the UK. His family members were staunch Christians, but without fanaticism. Ian grew up in an atmosphere of care and attention.

To get an education, McKellen was sent to a closed school for guys - Bolton. Here he became interested in theater and decided to connect his future with it.

Winning a nominal scholarship, Ian continued his studies at St. Catherine's College.

During his career, he played in almost all Shakespeare's plays in the theater, as well as in several films based on the works of this playwright (Hamlet, King Lear, Richard III).

He began acting in films in the second half of the sixties, and he was given the main roles, both in films and in television series. For his services in 1979 he became a Commander of the Order of the British Empire.

In the eighties, the artist's career began to wane, but in the early nineties he regained popularity. the highestan achievement for this period is the role of Richard III in the film of the same name. McKellen often starred in the top-grossing films of this decade, albeit in small roles.

In 1997 he received a Golden Globe for his role in the television series Rasputin, and the following year he was nominated for an Oscar for Gods and Monsters.

The actor became truly world famous in 2000, when he played the iconic comic book character Magneto in X-Men, and later in all sequels.

In 2001, the film "The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring" was released, where Ian became the actor who played Gandalf.

In subsequent years, the artist returned to this role more than once in various sequels. For the role of Gandalf, he was nominated for an Oscar for the second time, but did not receive an award.

Today the actor continues to play in the theater, sometimes in films. In 2015, he played the role of Sherlock Holmes in a film about his old age. In 2016, Ian will again appear before the audience as the villain Magneto, and in 2017, a musical film with his participation "Beauty and the Beast" should be released.

Who voiced Gandalf

After the successful adaptation of Tolkien's works, video games dedicated to the events in Middle-earth were released. The main game characters in them were the main characters of the epic and Gandalf the White (Gray) among them. In all games, the main wizard of Middle-earth was voiced by Ian McKellen himself, an actor. Who played Gandalf in the movies - we now know for sure.

In the Russian translation of Gandalf in the Lord of the Rings trilogy, as well as video games, he voiceda wonderful dubbing artist - Rogvold Sukhoverko. However, due to illness in the Hobbit trilogy, the magician was dubbed by another actor - Vasily Bochkarev.

Remarkable fact: in the early 90s in Russia they planned to shoot the cartoon "Treasures Under the Mountain" based on "The Hobbit". Nikolai Karachentsov was preparing to voice Gandalf, some materials were even recorded. However, due to lack of funding, the project was closed.

The magical world of Middle-earth has been exciting the imagination of readers and now viewers for more than half a century. And all this thanks to a beautifully written plot and, of course, unforgettable, vivid characters. Not the last merit in this is the wizard Gandalf, who is the embodiment of wisdom, care and self-sacrifice in the epic.

British actor Ian McKellen superbly embodied this character on the screen in all films. I would like to hope that if another work of Tolkien - "The Silmarillion" - is filmed, the audience will again meet with their favorite character performed by McKellen.