Mini-Argonath and Sam's address

[GuardianRanger]

I just finished extended edition of Return Of The King again and I noticed a couple of things.

There appears to be a "mini-Argonath" in the scene of the coronation of Aragorn. After he says the line "My friends, you bow to no one," the camera pulls back so that you can see all of the "courtyard." The hobbits are standing on a raised dias, or something. Behind them, standing (later kneeling) are some knights of Gondor. And it appears they are standing between the two statues of the Argonath. The arms are out and everything. Granted, they are facing Mordor. But still, I was surprised.

Also, at the end. When Sam comes home from the Grey Havens, he's walking inside with Rosie and the kids. When the camera is zooming in (to catch the door of his hobbit-hole shutting) you distinctly see a "3" on his mailbox. Mail in the Shire? And a significance to 3? I don't recall an address in the books. I just found it interesting.

 

[aragil]

From the Lord of the Rings, A Long Expected Party:
No one had a more attentive audience than old Ham Gamgee, commonly known as the Gaffer. He held forth at The Ivy Bush, a small inn on the Bywater road; and he spoke with some authority, for he had tended the garden at Bag End for forty years, and had helped old Holman in the same job before that. Now that he was himself growing old and stiff in the joints, the job was mainly carried on by his youngest son, Sam Gamgee. Both father and son were on very friendly terms with Bilbo and Frodo. They lived on the Hill itself, in Number 3 Bagshot Row just below Bag End.
...
Before long the invitations began pouring out, and the Hobbiton post-office was blocked, and the Bywater post-office was snowed under, and voluntary assistant postmen were called for. There was a constant stream of them going up the Hill, carrying hundreds of polite variations on Thank you, I shall certainly come.

Good eyes, GR!

 

[Trotter]

Sure, there's mail in the Shire. Hobbits very much like to write for other hobbits ( at least those who know how to ). The number 3 is Sam's original adress; Bagshot Row number 3. This is a flaw of the movie of course, because, being married and with Elanor lready borned, Sam should be living in Bag End with his family, as Frodo invited him to.

 

[GuardianRanger]

Thanks for the quote Aragil, I didn't have my books with me last night; and it was a detail I couldn't remember.

 

[Barliman Butterbur]

Good eyes, GR!

From the Lord of the Rings, A Long Expected Party:
No one had a more attentive audience than old Ham Gamgee, commonly known as the Gaffer. He held forth at The Ivy Bush, a small inn on the Bywater road; and he spoke with some authority, for he had tended the garden at Bag End for forty years, and had helped old Holman in the same job before that. Now that he was himself growing old and stiff in the joints, the job was mainly carried on by his youngest son, Sam Gamgee. Both father and son were on very friendly terms with Bilbo and Frodo. They lived on the Hill itself, in Number 3 Bagshot Row just below Bag End.
...
Before long the invitations began pouring out, and the Hobbiton post-office was blocked, and the Bywater post-office was snowed under, and voluntary assistant postmen were called for. There was a constant stream of them going up the Hill, carrying hundreds of polite variations on Thank you, I shall certainly come.

Thanks to both of you: the one for being a hawkeye and the other for that entertaining bit of sleuthing! Who says Jackson didn't pay attention to details! Which begs the question: Who was living in Bag End if not Sam and Rosie?

The movie implies (I could speculate) that the Gaffer had passed away at the point where Same and Rosie are living there, and I believe that in the book they lived in Bag End. (?)

Barley

 

[Arvedui]

There appears to be a "mini-Argonath" in the scene of the coronation of Aragorn. After he says the line "My friends, you bow to no one," the camera pulls back so that you can see all of the "courtyard." The hobbits are standing on a raised dias, or something. Behind them, standing (later kneeling) are some knights of Gondor. And it appears they are standing between the two statues of the Argonath. The arms are out and everything. Granted, they are facing Mordor. But still, I was surprised.

It could be that PJ put them there as a refference to the thoughts of Pippin when he entered the Citadel for the first time.

Suddenly Pippin was reminded of the hewn rocks of Argonath,

From The Lord of the Rings, Minas Tirith.

 

[Barliman Butterbur]

...There appears to be a "mini-Argonath" in the scene of the coronation of Aragorn...When Sam comes home from the Grey Havens, he's walking inside with Rosie and the kids. When the camera is zooming in (to catch the door of his hobbit-hole shutting) you distinctly see a "3" on his mailbox. Mail in the Shire? And a significance to 3? I don't recall an address in the books. I just found it interesting.

Well, you made me put on the DVD to see for myself p !) and sure enough, there were two statues as you say. However — one of the statues is holding up the left arm and hand, and the other the right (in the "maxi-Argonath," both hold up the left), so it might just be coincidence. But such statues would make perfect sense: after all, this is the very heart of the realm of Men.

It's something that I'll attempt to get an answer for by contacting Weta Workshop. If I get a reply, I'll let everyone know!

And you're right about the mailbox: "Number 3 Bagshot Row" is the Gaffer's postal address, about which others here have given excellent comment.

Barley

 

[GuardianRanger]

As I am just starting to read the books again, I read past the part explaing talking about the Thain, and along with the other duties, is responsible for the mail and "patroling" of the borders. Thanks Aragil. That, and the direct mention of 3 Bagshot Row.

 

[aragil]

I've always thought the difference in governance between the Shire and the rest of Middle-earth was quite interesting. Not only the postal service, but the democratically elected mayor, and even the office of 'Shirriff', the members of which seem to consider themselves to be operating in a much different capacity than the Guards in Minas Tirith, for instance.

 

[Eledhwen]

Yes, but the Shirrif who Sam was acquainted with explained how the job used to be quite laid back before the Chief took charge. It seems that while the Shire was under the protection of the Rangers, the little folk forgot the need for any vigilance greater than making sure everyone got home after a night at the pub, except of course in Buckland, where the residents locked their doors at night and still had a horn to sound the alarm.