Production Design

When Alan Lee joined the project in late 1997, Helm's Deep was the first structure he was tasked to design. At 1:35 scale, it was one of the first miniatures built, and part of the 45 minute video that sold the project to New Line.

It was primarily drawn from an illustration Lee had once done for the book, though fellow illustrator and designer John Howe suggested a curved wall. Used in the film for longshots, Jackson also used this miniature to plan the battle with 40,000 toy soldiers.

As a pivotal part of the story, Helm's Deep was built at Dry Creek Quarry with the Gate, a ramp, and a wall with a removable section and the tower on a second level.

Most importantly, there was the 1:4 scale miniature of Helm's Deep that ran 50 feet wide. It was used for forced perspective shots, as well as the major explosion sequence. The film explores the armies of Middle-earth. John Howe was the basic designer of the forces of evil.

The Uruk-hai were the first army approved by Jackson, and Howe also designed a special crossbow for the characters, one without the redundancy of opening to reload, the realization of a 15th-century manuscript.

Also created were 100 Elven suits of armour, with emphasis on Autumnal colours due to the theme of Elves leaving Middle-earth. 250 suits were made for the Rohirrim.

The Rohan designs were based on Germanic and Anglo-Saxon patterns. Most of the weapons were designed by John Howe, and forged by Peter Lyon. Each sword took 3–6 days to make.

The Rohirrim's capital of Edoras took six months to build on Mount Sunday, with thatched roofs, but that was simply the exterior: the buildings doubled as offices and lunch halls.

The army created a road to the location, whilst the interior was filmed at Stone Street Studios with tapestries designed by Lee, and Théoden's wooden throne partly created by his daughter.

Hill endured heavy make-up for the possession scene where his skin was pulled back and released for increased wrinkles. Dourif shaved off his eyebrows and put potato flakes as dandruff in his hair for unnerving effect.

The film also provides a look at Mordor and Gondor, in terms of Frodo and Sam's story. Barad-dûr is seen fully in a tracking shot, a design which Howe called a mockery of Gothic Cathedrals.

He and Lee fully created the Black Gate (though a typo in the script made the miniature into two) and Osgiliath, the ruined city reflecting London during the Blitz or Berlin in 1945. The set on a backlot was based around a bridge and reused some of Moria.

Excerpts and References:
wikipedia.org, imdb.com, imsdb.com

Screenplay by Peter Jackson, Fran Walsh and Philippa Boyens.

Based on "The Lord of The Rings" trilogy by J.R.R Tolkien.

Transcription credits

Aina, Bridget Chubb, Drusilia, Elf Lady, Feanari, Galadriel, Heri, Julamb, Kazren, Lithorose, Mormegil, Nilmandra, Penwiper, Randy Savage, Sirius Black, Tethra, Xyla, Yaksha (visit the imsdb.com link for full transcript credits).

They must be delivered to Saruman alive and unspoiled. Snaga moves towards the hobbits with his blade drawn as Pippin and Merry recoil in fright. Uglúk jumps on the Orc and cuts off his head, which bounces off the hobbit's shoulders. The Uruk-hai and Orcs cheer and started tearing into the fresh meat, intestines flying,

Taking their eyes off the hobbits for a while, and their hands still bound, the hobbits try to crawl away. Suddenly a foot comes down on Merry and Pippin is turned onto his back. The Orc Grishnakh is brandishing a blade in front of Pippin’s face. Suddenly, a spear pierces the Orc's back.

Mayhem ensues as Riders of Rohan burst out from their hiding places and ambush the Orcs. Merry gestures for them to make their escape. The hobbits try to escape from the pandemonium to the forest, dodging bodies and stomping feet. Suddenly Pippin turns onto his face and looks up to a pair of thrashing hooves bearing down on him.

The Three Hunters are still chasing after the Uruk-hai. It is dawn. A red sun rises. Blood has been spilled this night. Over the rock and plains, the Three Hunters continue their chase. The trackers hear the sound of horses. Aragorn and company hide behind some boulders. A large group of horse-men appears, galloping quickly with their banners flying.

Aragorn comes out of hiding as they pass, followed by Legolas and Gimli. Aragorn calls out to the riders of Rohan. At a signal from Éomer at the lead, the riders make a quick turn and head towards them, surrounding them in ever-tightening circles. As they stop, they point their long spears menacingly at them. Quickly, Éomer and Gimli exchange insults.

Éomer hands his staff to another rider, and gets off his horse, threatening to cut off Gimli's head. Aragorn puts a hand on Gimli’s shoulder. Legolas, in a lightning fast move, points an arrow at Éomer, a stand off. The riders all point their spears closer at the travellers.

After a tense moment, Aragorn pushes down Legolas’ arm and introduces himself and his two companions. He assures Éomer they are friends of Rohan and of Théoden. Éomer takes off helmet, and tells him their King no longer recognizes friend from foe. The spears are withdrawn.

He informs Aragorn that Saruman has poisoned the mind of the king and claimed lordship over their lands. Only his company are loyal to Rohan. Everywhere Saruman's spies slip past their nets. Aragon assures him they are not spies, and are tracking a party of Uruk-hai westward across the plain. They’ve taken two of their friends captive. Éomer delivers the news that the Uruks are destroyed.

They slaughtered them during the night and they left none alive. They piled the carcasses and burned them. He points to a smoking pile in the distance. Éomer turns and whistles. Two horses move up and he offers them to the three hunters. Éomer gets back on his horse telling them hope is forsaken in these lands. Aragorn, Legolas and Gimli look on as the Riders go off.

They then ride towards the burning carcasses. Upon arriving at the battle site, Gimli starts to shift through the smoldering pile, and pulls out a charred belt and dagger sheath. Legolas, his head bowed and eyes closed. In frustration, Aragorn kicks a helmet and yells, falling to his knees.

Aragorn looks to the side as some tracks catch his attention. He see that a hobbit lay there, and the other. Aragorn starts to follow the tracks, with Legolas and Gimli behind him. Aragorn uses his tracking skills and finds hobbit tracks that lead away from the battle. He narrates a flashback how he thinks they escaped. Merry and Pippin crawl frantically away from the battle.

Merry rubs his bonds furiously against the sharp edge of a weapon. Their hands freed, the hobbits run away from the battle scene, dodging under a horse and trying to stay out of harms way. As they flee, Grishnákh grabs Pippin by his belt and clings on. Pippin undoes his belt and Grishnákh is left holding it. They break into a run and flee into Fangorn Forest.