The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Episode 1.1

The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Episode 1.1
BBC Two
5 January 1981
Comedy, Sci-Fi
DVD
B-

Regular cast:

• David Dixon as Ford Prefect
• Peter Jones as the voice of the Book
• Simon Jones (who would be "Bridey" on Brideshead Revivited that year) as Arthur Dent

Also, Douglas Adams has his first of two uncredited roles, here as Man in Pub, and Martin Benson would be the Vogon Captain on the following episode, too.  Alan J. W. Bell would direct all six episodes.

This is based on the radio show based on the book by Adams.  It's been a long time since I read the, what was it, five-book trilogy?  But this felt reasonably faithful.  The special effects haven't exactly aged gracefully but that's part of the charm.  My favorite aspect is the guide itself.  This episode takes things up to Arthur, who's a bit slow or perhaps just overwhelmed, starting to understand that it's the end of the world as he knows it and he does not feel fine.