Synopsis:

Full Edit Name: The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy: The Wholey Remarkable But Mostly Harmless TV Series Edit This edit attempts to show the story minus the undesirable added elements, while at the same time presenting it in the form of a 3-part TV mini-series. Some of Adams’ new elements that did work have been left in, and new ‘TV Style’ titles and credits have been added amongst other changes made.

Intentions:

To create a version of the Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy that has more the feel of a TV mini-series, while at the same time editing the storyline to run very similar to the true spirit of the original.

Change List:

Episode 1 “Fit the First” Cut “So Long and Thanks For All The Fish” opening titles. Too long to be titles for a TV series. Added “Time: 06:30?, “Destruction of the Earth Due: 11:46?, and “Time to Elapse Before End of the World: 05:16:46? captions. As like the original TV series. Moved “The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy” title sequence moved to just after Arthur sees the bulldozers outside his house. This is the same position that this happens at in the original TV series. Actors’ names, and “Created by Douglas Adams” captions also added during this sequence, to make it look more like the opening to a TV series episode. This sequence, with the added captions, is then also used at the start of the following two episodes. After the destruction of the Earth, cuts straight to Arthur and Ford in the Vogan ship. Due to above-mentioned title sequence move. Added Deleted scene “Earth: Mostly Harmless”. This scene shows the guide’s current entry for Earth as “Harmless”, then explains Ford’s reason for coming to Earth, and his subsequent change of Earth’s entry to “Mostly Harmless”. An important part of “Hitchhiker’s” law. Fade to black, and “To be continued” caption added just as Arthur and Ford are ejected from the Vogon ship. Added Specially created TV style end credits using an excerpt from the original “Journey of the Sorcerer” track by The Eagles. Episode 2 “Fit the Second” Fades in to Arthur and Ford in the Vogon airlock. Added Above-mentioned new titles just before Arthur and Ford are rescued by The Heart of Gold. Cut All scenes from following the first Improbability jump until arrival in orbit of Magrathea. This involves cutting the entire story line of Viltvodle VI and Humma Kavula sending Zaphod to find the Point of View Gun. Also removes Trillion’s kidnap and subsequent rescue from Vogsphere. Edited out to bring the story much more back in-line with the original. The cutting out of this much of the film does cause three continuity errors in the story following the cut that cannot be fixed. These are mentioned below, and what other alterations have been made, or explanations suggested to try and minimise them. First continuity error following the Improbability Jump into orbit around Magrathea, Zaphod is wearing the Thinking Cap & Trillion has changed clothes. No cuts or alterations could be made to alter this, so as truly mind mending as “Hitchhiker’s” is, right this one off as a daft effect of the Improbability jump. Second continuity error As The Heart of Gold is taking evasive action against the missiles, you barely hear Zaphod say “I can’t do this without my third arm.” Again, could not find a satisfactory cut to avoid this, and so again right this one off to the Improbability jump having caused Zaphod temporary loss of his third arm. Fade to black and “To be concluded” caption added just after The Heart of Gold has landed on Magrathea. Added Above-mentioned TV style end credits. Episode 3 “Fit the Third” Fade in to The Heart of Gold sat next to the Magrathea sign. Cut Ford telling Arthur that Zaphod’s hunches are good and that they should go [through the portal]. This was edited out to fall in-line the next cut. Cut Arthur’s line “Go with the hunch of a man whose brain is fuelled by lemons?” Edited out to minimise on the above-mentioned continuity error about Zaphod wearing the Thinking Cap. Added Above-mentioned new titles just after Arthur tries to go through the portal. Cut Zaphod telling Deep Thought that he doesn’t want to bother ‘her’ anymore, Ford then reminding Zaphod to ask about the Point of View Gun that Humma [Kavula] sent him for, and then Ford asking Deep Thought about the gun. Edited out due to the Humma Kavula story line being removed. The crypt entrance still opens, and they do still find the gun so Marvin can use it during the fight with the Vogons. Cut Ford’s line in the crypt under Deep Thought when he hands Zaphod the Point of View Gun “Here, it’s just like Humma said, now you can go and get your head back.” Edited out due to the Humma Kavula story line being removed. Cut Trillion’s line “I can see why Humma Kavula would want one of these. Edited out due to the Humma Kavula story line being removed. Third continuity error as Trillion starts to walk out of the crypt she says to Zaphod the she and Arthur are somewhat of an endangered species now thanks to him. This is referring to Trillion having found out about the destruction of the Earth, and that Zaphod had signed the order to destroy it, while she was being held captive on Vogsphere. Explanation: Even though Zaphod warned Arthur earlier in the film not to tell Trillion about the destruction of the Earth, we can assume that Arthur ignored this, but that he told Trillion 'off-camera’ and we just didn’t see it. Zaphod’s first reaction to the Point of View Gun has then been cut, removing the line “Of course you’re edgy, your planet’s been blown up, and you’ve been tooling around the galaxy with the guy who signed the order.”.

Additional Notes:

When the Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy movie was released in 2005, many thought that some (if not all) of the new additions to the film that Douglas Adams had written were not in keeping with the spirit of Hitchhiker’s law. In addition to this, many Hitchhiker’s fans were keen to see the series resurrected as a modern TV mini-series. This edit attempts to show the story minus the undesirable added elements (namely Humma Kavula & Trillion being kidnapped to Vogsphere), while at the same time presenting it in the form of a 3-part TV mini-series. Some of Adams’ new elements that did work have been left in, and new 'TV Style' titles and credits have been added amongst other changes made.

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