Here's an absolutely fantastic, short documentary on J.R.R. Tolkien, filmed in Oxford in 1968, with numerous interviews of Oxford students and Tolkien himself. One big treat: Tolkien speaking in Elvish and also in the Black Speech of Mordor.

This is seriously fabulous. Many of the student interviews are very amusing, especially in the middle of the film when the muddled revolutionary ideas of the late 60's begin bollixing up some of the interviewees' terribly earnest monologues. There's one reprehensible chap who thinks The Lord of the Rings is a horrible diversion and escape from more important things, like politics. Hoo boy. Thankfully, there are several students (two in particular), who seem to really understand what Tolkien was getting at in the Lord of the Rings (in my opinion). I would have loved to hang out with their sort had I been in Oxford back in the day.

Another blessed aspect of this documentary is to be able to see again, with nostalgic recollection, the streets and buildings of this wonderful city. I was there last month, and much of it appears to have hardly changed in the last forty two years. In the beginning there are shots of Tolkien's house in Headington, which is the suburb I was staying in during my trip.

This is a highly recommended watch if you are a Tolkienophile.

[H/T Eldest son's facebook page]