Lord Of The Rings You Cannot Pass
Eleanora Parrot
One of the most memorable lines from the Lord of the Rings movies is when Gandalf stands before the Balrog and says "you cannot pass". It's commonly quoted as "you shall not pass" because he says that afterwards.
was most famously used during the Battle of Verdun in World War I by French General Robert Nivelle. It appears on propaganda posters, such as that by Maurice Neumont after the Second Battle of the Marne, which was later adopted on uniform badges by units manning the Maginot Line. Later during the war, it also was used by Romanian soldiers during the Battle of Mărășești.
The timeline of it's usage, especially by the Sandinistas, makes it most likely that the conflation comes from the 60s counter-cultural movements, when their usage of it would have been well known and when popularity of LotR was really starting to take off (particularly in the US). Of course, someone who was around at the time would be needed to confirm that.
Shall, Will. In formal writing, the future tense requires shall for the first person, will for the second and third. The formula to express the speaker's belief regarding a future action or state is I shall; I will expresses determination or consent. A swimmer in distress cries, "I shall drown; no one will save me!" A suicide puts it the other way: "I will drown; no one shall save me!"
The modern film-makers were less prescriptivistic than Tolkien so they had no objection to using shall in the more modern manner of it being an archaic-sounding command, similar to the modern must. Thus, we get the popular saying "you shall not pass!" even though it didn't exist in the original text.
My personal opinion, Ian McKellen has such a great theatrical voice that the line was re-written for him. He was able to set a mood and tone with that particular line that makes a huge impact on the scene. He delivers the line so well. It's amazing how a well trained Shakespearean actor can make a scene such as that one.
When The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring was released in 2001, it was a worldwide success and cultural phenomenon. While J.R.R. Tolkien's fantasy novels had been beloved for decades, no one could have prepared for the movie's scale. Now, audiences can witness some of the first book's most epic and darkest battles, including the cave troll battle in the mines of Moria and the epic standoff between Gandalf the Grey and the Balrog. But even the film's most monumental moment, where Gandalf says his most iconic line, wasn't immune to the occasional blooper.
Gandalf's battle with the Balrog was more than just a physical altercation. Its sheer power and scale were enough to terrify the powerful wizard. Nevertheless, he knew the importance of the quest he and the Fellowship were on, and he fought until his last breath to keep Frodo and the others safe. This meant even creating a wall between them and the Balrog with his own might and magic.
Updated by Jordan Iacobucci on June 5, 2024: The Lord of the Rings franchise is back with more content, beginning with a spinoff film centered around Andy Serkis's Gollum. As audiences eagerly await the new films from executive producer Peter Jackson, the original trilogy remains the best look at J.R.R. Tolkien's Middle-earth in live-action. Over twenty years after their release, Jackson's films remain iconic, especially particular scenes that have become popular memes online. Among these is Gandalf's famous "you shall not pass" quote, which was very different in the original script.
The Balrogs were largely defeated or destroyed, though one managed to escape and hid deep in the earth for centuries. It awoke when the dwarves of Khazad-dum dug too deep for the mystical ore mithril. It laid waste to their kingdom and forced the survivors to flee, attracting goblins and other evil creatures to the ruins. The Season 1 finale to The Rings of Power depicts the Balrog awakening, though its attack on the dwarves won't occur until subsequent seasons. The movie version of The Fellowship of the Ring also cites the Balrog's awakening, blaming the dwarves for digging "too greedily and too deep."
That puts the creature on par with Gandalf, another Maiar who remained true to his purpose. He and the other four wizards mentioned in Tolkien's works were sent back to Middle-earth in the guise of old men to advise and counsel the people on the rising threat of Morgoth's former lieutenant, Sauron. His power was theoretically as great as the Balrog's, but he was forbidden from using it save in the most dire circumstances lest he succumb to its temptations and become a dark spirit. Furthermore, he had never faced a being as powerful as the Balrog before and was uncertain about the outcome. Gandalf admits as much in Tolkien's text in The Fellowship of the Ring when speaking to Frodo in Rivendell:
The extended cut of The Fellowship of the Ring movie has Gandalf paraphrasing the quote as they approach The Mines of Moria, connecting his concern more directly to the Balrog. Regardless, the creature's power is immense, such that no other member of the Fellowship could hope to stand against it. Gandalf would lose his friends in an extended confrontation, and the Ring would fall into the Balrog's hands, which would spell utter doom for Middle-earth.
When Gandalf fought the creature on the Bridge of Khazad-dum, his goal was to prevent it from proceeding, keeping the rest of the Fellowship safe and the Ring away from the monster. Tolkien's text emphasizes the urgency of that task, even at the cost of Gandalf's life. He repeats the phrase"you cannot pass" four times in his verbal exchange with the monster, including his final admonition before the bridge collapses beneath them both.
Even more interesting is how the blooper slipped under the radar with fans. In an era where authenticity is paramount, it seems McKellen's delivery was so commanding that devotees still enjoy the mistake. Indeed, it's difficult to envision the scene now without the line as he rendered it, which is probably why director Peter Jackson left it in instead of using another take with a more accurate reading.
From a lore perspective, the line resonates even more because Gandalf faces his fears and protects his friends. The Lord of the Rings perfectly conveys Gandalf's concerns over facing such a powerful foe. However, it also shows how he musters the courage to fight until his last breath to ensure Frodo makes it to Mordor to destroy the One Ring. The subtlety is telling as he goes from "cannot" (implying that the Balrog is incapable of proceeding) to "shall not" (implying that the Balrog has the power to proceed but that Gandalf will prevent it from doing so).
The stakes become muchmore personal, conveying the reality that Gandalf's power might not be enough to stop this foe. Tolkien's text implies something similar, as Gandalf's repeated statements of "you cannot pass" sound increasingly desperate with each utterance. McKellen conveys that essence with such power that the mild variation works just as well as Tolkien's, maybe even better, considering the elevated spectacle required for the film.
Mistakes happen in movies all the time. Much like improvisation, it often makes it into the final cut when something works. A great example is McKellen's delivery of "You shall not pass!" Rather than look at it as an unforgivable mistake, it's more of a happy accident, enhancing the drama and tension of the moment while conveying the extent of the powers arrayed against the Fellowship. It's essentially Gandalf's last stand: robbing the Fellowship of its most powerful member and forcing them to continue the quest with even less hope than they began. In this case, the change turned into a bit of serendipity, which not only made it into the film's final cut but became one of its most powerful moments in the bargain.
Like Gandalf's line during his confrontation with the Balrog, some of the most iconic scenes in The Lord of the Rings weren't in the original script. For example, Gandalf hitting his head on the ceiling in Bag End was famously a real-life occurrence wherein actor Ian McKellan banged his head on the low roof of the movie set. This added a bit of levity to the moment while effortlessly emphasizing the character's incredible stature compared to the Hobbits. Similarly, actor Brad Dourif improvised a tear running down Grima Wormtongue's face as he overlooks Saruman's massive Uruk-hai army, adding an extra dimension to the character who could have easily been just another soulless villain.
Most famously, however, Aragorn actor Viggo Mortensen injured his toe after kicking a fallen helmet in The Two Towers. Aragorn's cries of agony appear to be for his missing Hobbit friends but are really a pained yell from the actor himself. This scene is wonderfully genuine in the final cut, showing Aragorn's pain in an ironically real way. This moment has also become infamous in the Lord of the Rings fandom as the one piece of trivia that every fan should know--and the first factoid they'll share with a new viewer.
The Lord of the Rings trilogy had a terrific script based on the iconic work of J.R.R. Tolkien himself, but sometimes improvisation elevates even a terrific story to new heights. Some of the best moments in the trilogy, including Gandalf's iconic "you shall not pass" quote, came from the actors who truly understood their characters and could improvise accordingly.
Relive the time you were captivated by the story of The Lord of the Rings saga. This notebook with the print of Gandalf the Grey battling the Balrog Demon holds a powerful and chilling effect that would resonate with all the fans of saga.
Inside you will find the lined pages with Gandalf's phrase "I am a servant of the Secret Fire, wielder of the flame of Anor. You cannot pass! Go back to the shadow! You... Shall not pass!" on the top and bottom pages. Carry this notebook to keep your writings, ideas and notes safe.
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