The Beatles Filmography

A Hard Day’s Night (1964)

Production Company: Proscenium Films; Directed by: Richard Lester.

Synopsis: The Beatles, accompanied by their entourage, travel south to London where they are to appear on a television show. On arrival at the show’s studios, Ringo is led astray by Paul’s grandfather and there then ensues a series of attempts to find Ringo before the show begins. Eventually he returns and the Beatles perform to an ecstatic audience before departing in a helicopter for their next venue.

Cast: The Beatles; Wilfred Brambell: Grandfather; Norman Rossington: Norm; John Junkin: Shake; Victor Spinetti: Television Director; Kenneth Haigh: Shirt Advertising Man; Anna Quayle: Millie; Derek Guyler: Policeman; Richard Vernon: Man on Train; Michael Trubshawe: Club Manager; Eddie Malin: Waiter; Bridget Armstrong, Roger Avon, Lionel Blair, John Bluthal, Patti Boyd.

Credits: Richard Lester: Director; Walter Shenson: Producer; Denis O’Dell: Associate Producer; John D. Merriman: Assistant Director; Alun Owen: Scriptwriter; Gilbert Taylor: Photography; John Jympson: Editor; Ray Simrn: Art Director; Julie Harris: Costumes; George Martin: Musical Director; Robert Freeman: Titles; HI Bird, Stephen Dalby: Sound Recording.

Running time: 85 mins; Length: 7650 ft or 2333 m.

Black-and-white.

Help! (1965)

Production Company: Walter Shenson Films/ Subafilms; Directed by: Richard Lester.

Synopsis: Upon the realization that Ringo is wearing a holy sacrificial ring known as Kaili, the members of a mysterious Eastern cult chase the Beatles through locations in the Bahamas, London and Austria in an attempt to obtain the ring, which has become stuck to Ringo’s finger. In their efforts to remove it, Ringo and the other members of the group consult Professor Foot and his apprentice, Algernon, who, like the members of the Eastern cult, seek to take control of the powerful ring.

Cast: The Beatles; Leo McKern: Clang; Eleanor Bron: Ahme; Victor Spinetti: Foot; Roy Kinnear: Algernon; Patrick Cargill: Superintendent; John Bluthal: Blutha; Alfie Bass: Doorman; Warren Mitchell: Abdul; Peter Copley: Jeweller; Bruce Lacey: Lawnmower.

Credits: Richard Lester: Director; Walter Shenson: Producer; John Pellatt: Production Manager; Clive Reed: Assistant Director; Marc Behm, Charles Wood: Scriptwriters; David Watkin: Photography; Robert Freeman: Colour Consultant and Titles; John Victor Smith: Editor; Ray Simm: Art Director; Ken Thome: Musical Director; Barrie Vince: Musical Editor; Julie Harris: Costumes; H.L. Bird, Stephen Dalby, Don Challis: Sound; Bill Blunden: Sound Editor.

Running time: 92 mins; Length: 8280 ft or 2525 m.

Colour.

Magical Mystery Tour (TVM 1967)

Production Company: Apple Films; Directed by: The Beatles.

Synopsis: Surreal/psychedelic musical adventure comedy in which the Beatles, along with a mixture of bizarre characters, board a bus and set off upon a magical mystery tour. Along the way, they stop at an army barracks, a strip club and an Italian restaurant, eventually ending up at a Busby Berkeley-style film set, where the group perform the show’s finale song, Tour Mother Should Know’.

Cast: The Beatles; George Claydon: Little George; Ivor Cutler: Buster Bloodvessel; Shirley Evans: The Accordionist; Nat Jackley: Happy Nat; Nicola: Little Girl; Jessie Robbins: Aunty Jessie; Victor Spinetti: Army Sergeant; Maggie Wright: Starlet; Derek Royle: Jolly Jimmy; Jan Carson: Stripper; Mandy Weet: Miss Winters; The Bonzo Dog Do Dah Band: Themselves.

Credits: The Beatles: Directors/ Producers; Denis O’ Dell: Production; Gavrik Losey: Assistant; Andrew Burkin: First Assistant Director; Aubrey Dewar, Tony Busbridge, Daniel Lacamore, Mike Sarason: Photography; Ringo Starr: Director of Photography; Roy Benson: Editor; Roger Graham: Design; Keith Liddiard: Design; Michael Lax: Sound; Gordon Daniel: Sound Editor.

Running Time: 54 mins.

Colour.

Yellow Submarine (1968)

Production Company: King Features Entertainment/Subafilms/TVC/ Apple Films; Directed by: George Dunning.

Synopsis: Following the attacks of the ruthless Blue Meanies, the peace-loving inhabitants of Pepperland are left frozen in motionless misery. On the advice of Old Fred, the community’s ruler, Young Fred flees in a submarine for help. After enlisting the help of the Beatles (who in turn enlist the help of a lovable cartoon animal called Jeremy Boob), the posse return to Pepperland where, taking on the guise of a frozen brass band ensemble (Sergeant Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club band), the Beatles defeat the oppressive regime of ‘blueness’ by using music as a weapon to restore the happiness and order of Pepperland. Defeated, the evil regime sees the error of its ways and joins with the newly restored order, vowing to build a better and happier world.

Cast of Voices: John Clive, Geoffrey Hughes, Lance Percival, Paul Angelis, Dick Emery.

Credits: George Dunning: Director; Al Brodax: Producer; Mary Ellen Stewart: Associate Producer; John Coates: Production Supervisor; Lee Minoff, Erich Segal, Jack Mendelsohn, Al Brodax: Scriptwriters; Lee Minoff: Original Story, inspired by the song by John Lennon and Paul McCartney; John Williams: Camera; Jack Stokes, Bob Balser: Animation Directors; Alan Ball, Hester Coblentz, Rich Cox, Arthur Cuthbert, Cam Ford, Ann Jolliffe, Tom Halley, Jim Hiltz, Arthur Humberstone, Reg Lodge, Terry Moesker, Mike Pocock, Edric Radage, Mike Stuart: Animators; Chris Cannter: Special Effects Animator; Helen Jones, Corona Mayer, Janet Hosie, Margaret Geddes: Head Checkers; Millie McMillan, Alison De Vere: Background; Brian J. Bishop: Editor; Heinz Edelmann, John Cramer, Gordon Harrison: Designers; Charles Jenkins: Special Effects; George Martin: Musical Director; Donald Cohen, Ken Rolls: Sound.

Running time: 87 mins; Length: 7830 ft or 2388 m.

Colour.

Let It Be (1969, released 1970)

Production Company: Apple Films; Directed by: Michael Lindsay-Hogg.

Synopsis: The Beatles assemble to rehearse some new songs, to run through some old rock and roll standards and, eventually, to play an impromptu concert on the roof of the Apple building in Savile Row. As they perform the concert, a number of people below comment on the group and their music and, reacting to the noise, the police enter the Apple building and climb to the roof where the concert is eventually called to a halt.

Cast: The Beatles.

Credits: Michael Lindsay-Hogg: Director; The Beatles: Executive Producers; Neil Aspinall: Producer; Anthony B. Richmond: Photography; Tony Lenny: Editor; Peter Sutton: Sound.

Running time: 81 mins; Length: 7290 ft or 2223 m.

Colour.