There is something a touch mystical, nay, magical, in seeing a film for the second time in 45 years. I remember seeing the original Beatles made-for-TV monochrome movie on Boxing Day 1967. A sparkling new print now in glorious colour (complete with re-digitised soundtrack) re-ignited memories and a brand-new affection for the film. At the time, and for many years since, the reputation of this shortish film (around 50 minutes) has been focused on its psychedelic, Lucy in the Sky patina. But on second viewing, this is unfair; there is more than meets the drug-fuelled eye in this very British slice of craziness.
On one level, the musical mayhem looks back to an older music hall tradition that in 1967, was in its final death throes. So, rather than being a vehicle for John, Paul, George and Ringo, there is in fact a strong nostalgic tinge to a world of charabanc tours, sing-alongs on the bus, end-of-pier acts and cheesy comic turns. It is the world of the Beatles’ childhood – seaside trips and runs in the country.
… bold and rather astonishing film editing, cross cuts galore and […] a foretaste of the Monty Python school of comic madness.
Juxtaposed with this affectionate look back at a vanishing old Britain is a vision of what was to come. The surprise here is some bold and rather astonishing film editing, cross cuts galore and something we couldn’t have guessed in 1967: a foretaste of the Monty Python school of comic madness. Here was the office desk in the middle of a field, the barkingly incoherent sergeant major (a wonderful comic turn by Victor Spinetti) and the boys themselves in striking white tuxedos, sending up the whole showbiz world that had gone before.
Add to all this some of the band’s best songs – not least Lennon’s Walrus song and the achingly beautiful Fool on the Hill. The whole thing has the freshness and daft doodlings of a home movie with improvised scripting, but there is a joyousness about this half-forgotten piece of Beatle history. You can’t help but smile and enjoy this film: dated, of course; off the walrus, naturally, but there is still something magical about this old mystery tour.
httpvh://youtu.be/tLWzOBTjjL0