[Sam Cree]

Merry, Frodo, and Strider see the BR's on the road from the top of Weathertop

That's the one I was thinking of.

they "felt" them before they saw them

In many ways, the early parts of (the book) LOTR are my favorites, The subtle and more mysterious menace projected by the black riders fills me with greater dread than the hordes of Orcs that appear later. Their presence right in the shire evokes memories of my boyhood in the 50's in rural Virginia right around Halloween. Walking outside with my mother, feeling a hint of the coming winter chill in the air, watching the leaves tumble and fall and hearing stories about the strange souls that would be out later.

I also thought that the Bucklebury ferry scene in the book was more spooky than the movie version. Seeing an indistinct shadowy figure on the far shore was pretty menacing and mysterious. I can see where it might not have worked as well on film, though. I did think it was very dramatic there in the movie when the one rider was suddenly joined by two more. Their unworldly screeches were chilling.

[Overtaxed]

I agree! The BR's are spookier when they don't attack. Frodo and company don't know what they are except that they're evil, they're after them, and their numbers are increasing. At the Prancing Pony they see that Strider knows what they are and even he's afraid of them.

An excellent piece of suspense-building!

[Overtaxed]

Good Morning! One thing that PJ got "righter" than Tolkien (IMHO)is when Arwen took Frodo to Rivendell. It would have made more sense for Glorfindel and Frodo to ride like the wind than to go at walking speed.