I have been a Douglas Adams fan for what seems like forever. I originally got hooked on Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy by watching that old PBS TV version. I read the books, the entire trilogy, and have been anticipating this movie for quite some time.
As campy as HHGG was on PBS it was great fun to watch, even if you hadn’t read the books. It originally aired on BBC and I think that PBS recut it and aired it in 1981. At first I didn’t quite know what to make of it, then I got hooked and couldn’t wait for the next episode. The books then made it all the better (as in enhanced it not reducing the pain).
Of course don’t forget Infocom? In case you don’t know Infocom was a company made on creating text based adventure games. Zork I, II, III, et al and of course The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy. I played that till I was blue in the fingers (typing of course). It was frustrating at times, especially trying to get the babel fish. You had to put a bag of mail on the floor, stand on one foot , and put your robe in front of an opening on the conveyor belt…ok, I made some of that up, but it was a pain to get that thing…
Anyway, I have sketches at home from that time and you can definitely see HHGG influence. I will admit that I carried a towel (click for cultural significance) in the back of my 78 Honda Civic for quite a while, and yes it did come in handy. I slept in my car once and used it then, I changed the oil and used it then, my windows fogged up I again used it then too, and that is where I will stop with that. You can plainly see the immediate benefit.
Do I need to carry a towel to the Movie?
Hitchhiker’s Guide: Exclusive Pics: The Vogons of Hitchhiker’s Guide