The movies of The Lord of the Rings are populated by a large number of characters. Among them is the secret appearance of a legendary composer who has created numerous earworms.
Who is it about? Howard Shore is a composer and has been accompanying the images of various films with his melodies since the late 1970s. Even if you may not know his name or face, some of his pieces have likely lodged deeply in your consciousness. Shore is the composer of the The Lord of the Rings trilogy by Peter Jackson.
Later, he also wrote the music for the The Hobbit films. But that’s not all: Aside from Middle-earth, Shore is behind the melodies of films such as The Fly, The Silence of the Lambs, or Mrs. Doubtfire.
He can rightfully be called a legend in Hollywood, which is likely one reason why he appears not only in The Lord of the Rings but can also be seen on camera.
At the Drinking Feast with Legolas and Gimli
When can you see Howard Shore? The appearance is brief and likely went unnoticed by most. In the Extended Cut of “The Return of the King,” the celebrations in Edoras take place around minute 00:19, where Gimli wants to compete in a drinking contest against Legolas.
They are surrounded by various people. One of them is Howard Shore. He himself holds a tankard in his hands and joins in the laughter as Legolas, not enthusiastic about the idea of a drinking game, stares despondently into the void.
Admittedly, Shore is not easy to recognize. He is seen from the side and his hair is a bit longer than one might know him. Since he is also not the only one in the shot, the appearance tends to get overlooked. By the way, next to him stands the re-recording mixer Michael Semanick.
Whether Shore can keep up with the exceptionally drinking-prone Gimli remains open. However, it is certain that the composer has made film history with his soundtrack to The Lord of the Rings and many of his pieces have entered the collective memory. Who knows how Peter Jackson’s trilogy would have sounded without him.
By the way, Howard Shore’s brief appearance is not the only cameo in the films. Director Peter Jackson appears in each of the three parts in various forms. Also, the artists John Howe and Alan Lee, who were responsible for the concept art of the look of Middle-earth, make appearances at various points.
Did you recognize Howard Shore in “The Return of the King”? What other guest appearances stood out to you while watching? Please feel free to share your observations in the comments. If you’re interested in Tolkien’s universe outside the films, MeinMMO editor Sophia has a few tips for you: If you can’t get enough of The Lord of the Rings, there’s a huge universe to explore – Here’s how to get started
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