Starring The Beatles (John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, and Ringo Starr), Eleanor Bron, Leo McKern, and Victor Spinetti
Directed by Richard Lester
Music and Lyrics by John Lennon, Paul McCartney, and George Harrison
With Let It Be being released for the first time since the 80's this week, I thought it was time to revisit the swinging 60's world of the Fab Four. After A Hard Day's Night and its soundtrack were huge hits in 1964, United Artists increased the budget for the Beatles' next film, allowing it to be filmed in color and at locations around the world. The Beatles were growing increasingly detached from their immense fame and movie-making in general. They weren't happy that they had less input in this one, but they still went along for the ride. How nutty is this movie today? Let's begin in India as a cult is about to sacrifice one of their own and find out...
The Story: The cult can't make that sacrifice because the ring that indicates who is to be killed has gone missing. The victim sent it to Ringo Starr (Himself), who currently lives with his bandmates in their unique London flat. Ringo would love to give it to them, but it's jammed on his finger and won't come off.
After he, sarcastic John Lennon (himself), flirty Paul McCartney (himself), and slightly spacey George Harrison (himself) are attacked by the cult, they realize they need aid in getting this off. The scientist Foot (Spinetti) and his hapless assistant Algernon (Roy Kinnear) would rather take the ring to rule the world. Female cultist Ahme (Bron) falls for Paul and does everything she can to help the quartet as the cult chases them from Austria to the Salisbury Plain, and then to the Bahamas. They do manage to tell a Superintendent (Patrick Cargill) what's going on, but his aid is dubious at best.
The Song and Dance: In its own loony way, this movie is just as influential as Hard Day's Night. You can see the embryonic form of everything from The Monkees to Monty Python's Flying Circus to music videos of the 80's and 90's in the wild antics here. Spinetti and Kinnear have the most fun as the fairly useless not-so-mad scientists who spend the movie complaining about how much better the rest of the world's electronics are than theirs. The color cinematography is some of the most gorgeous from English movies in this era, from the crisp, brilliant red against the snow white of Austria to the tropical blues, greens, and soft golds of the Bahamas. The hilarious James Bond-esque score got a deserved Oscar nomination.
Favorite Number: We hear the title song twice, over the opening credits as the Beatles play it on the cult's television, and over the big fight scene in the finale as the Bahamas police take on the cult and the quartet are reunited. "You're Going to Lose That Girl" makes the most of its studio setting with John filmed performing in soft, dim light as smoke curls around him. "You've Got to Hide Your Love Away" is another John song, this one done as a deadpan ballad with Ahme banging on the tambourine at their flat.
"Ticket to Ride" is their romp in the Austrian Alps, with the snowy blankets of white making a fabulous contrast to the boys in their black jackets. "I Need You" and "The Night Before" are their numbers on the Salisbury Plain in southern England. We get shots of the army protecting them as they play...but the cultists have their own plans. They perform "Another Girl" on the shores of the Bahamas while goofing off and dodging the cultists there. Beethoven's Symphony #9, aka Ode to Joy, is the only thing that will calm a none-too-happy tiger...and Ringo and everyone in the film is more than happy to sing it for him!
Trivia: The swimmer who pops up in the Alps and the Bahamas is the Beatles' road manager Mal Evans.
What I Don't Like: First of all, the Beatles were right that the movie focuses so much on the supporting cast, they do sometimes feel like extras in their own vehicle. None of them really have much to do besides Ringo but sing (though George does get to help save Ringo in the Bahamas). I also have to agree with them about the Indian stereotypes being horribly offensive then and now. None of the cultists look remotely Indian. This movie went in the opposite extreme from Hard Day's Night, from having no real plot to way too much! With all the bouncing from location to location, the Beatles aren't the only ones who are confused about who's chasing whom and why.
The Big Finale: In some ways, I enjoy this one more than Hard Day's Night. I like the wacky humor, the great music, and truly unique direction. In other ways, it hasn't dated well, and the Beatles' disinterest shows in their lackluster performances. It's a must for Beatles fans like me, but those wanting to know more about the Fab Four would be advised to start with Hard Day's Night first.
Home Media: I have the 2007 restoration on DVD. It's also on Blu-Ray and streaming, the latter on Apple TV.
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