I think that's very perceptive, Desdemona. I agree that the class difference is very palpable in the book, and not at all so in the movie. Also, at the moment that Sam sees the mirror of Galadriel and knows the Shire is being attacked and his father is in jeopardy, he has to make the choice: go back for the Gaffer, or go on for Frodo. So it's a very personal heroic sacrifice that he makes for the sake of his master...all of which ls left out of the movie.

BTW, the previous post I made in response to PeteBoom made something occur to me that hadn't before. They really do play with the Hobbits' ages in the film...the 17 years DO seem to have passed for Bilbo: he looks years older, not a few months older, when they arrive at Rivendell. But Merry and Pippin and Sam look just the same. This hadn't occurred to me before, as I said, but again I think it's just an attempt to have the hobbits be "tweens" for that audience.

BTW, and Hetty Wainthrop fans out there? One of the Hobbits (whichever of the Merry/Pippin duo DOESN'T look just like Donovan) was her sidekick on the show...I've been trying to place the face...