The Beatles Film “Help!”: Introduction
The Beatles’ 1965 film “Help!” is the Fab Four’s first colour movie. Of course, this film follows their other successful movie, “A Hard Day’s Night.“
Since this film has similar Beatles’ humour to the first film, it makes this movie really enjoyable. Together with The Beatles’ music, we are certainly backing a winner. After all, this release in 1965 is now the height of Beatlemania, and people couldn’t get enough of the Moptops!
Help! In Detail
- Director: Richard Lester
- Producer: Walter Shenson
- Screenplay: Marc Behm, also Charles Wood
- Story: Marc Behm
- Cinematography: David Watkin
- Editor: John Victor-Smith
- Production Company: Walter Shenson Films, also Subafilms
- Distributor: United Artists
- Release Date: July 29, 1965 (United Kingdom) and August 25, 1965 (United States)
- Running Time: 92 minutes
Starring:
Also Starring:
- Leo McKern, as High Priest Clang
- Eleanor Bron, as Ahme
- Victor Spinetti, as Foot
- Roy Kinnear, as Algernon.
Musical Comedy
This film is a British musical comedy-adventure starring The Beatles. It cleverly captures the Fab Four’s wit, like their first film. However, now we have different songs as the four lads from Liverpool are developing even further.
The Beatles were the first to capitalise on sales of their music through video, so this film, “Help!” had a corresponding soundtrack album release too.
The Beatles Help! Film: The Plot
The film “Help!” begins with a sacrificial scene from an imaginary Eastern cult. However, they can’t perform the sacrifice until she, “the victim,” wears a sacrificial ring. Indeed, the victim sent the large, red-stoned ring to Ringo Starr as part of her fan mail.
Once the cult discovers Starr has the sacrificial ring, they come to London, headed by a pair of mad scientists, to find a way to get it. Moreover, they try every trick in the book to retrieve it. This involves many dirty deeds. But even Ringo Starr can’t get the ring off his finger. The Beatles survive a hungry tiger, gassing, bombs, and a kidnapping attempt.
Then we see Starr become the one who will be the subject of a sacrifice to their Goddess, Kaili. But the rest of the Beatles come together with the police to free Starr. There are obviously more twists and turns throughout the film. Of course, there are plenty of Beatles songs that complement the scenes.
We see The Beatles on location in the Austrian Alps, where they ski. They also sing “Ticket To Ride.” Then, they come under the protection of the British army on Salisbury Plain, close to Stonehenge. There, they sing and record two classic songs, “The Night Before” and “I Need You.” The band also goes to the Bahamas, but the cult is always on their tail.
In effect, this action-packed adventure movie is humorous and well worth watching.
Songs From The Beatles Help! Film
In the first Beatles film, “A Hard Day’s Night,” the band sings many songs that we know and love. This film offers the same sort of feast. Beatles fans love it. So, if you are discovering the Fab Four for the first time, this film is a must-see!
The Beatles were always at the forefront of pop music, and the few films they starred in undoubtedly helped promote the band. After all, videos were an ideal way to gain publicity.
So, what songs are in the movie Help!? Below is a list of songs in the film, and each one is a gem (pardon the pun):
01) Help!
02) You’re Going to Lose That Girl
03) You’ve Got to Hide Your Love Away
04) Ticket to Ride
05) I Need You
06) The Night Before
07) Another Girl
08) She’s a Woman
09) A Hard Day’s Night (Indian band instrumental)
10) I’m Happy Just to Dance with You
11) You Can’t Do That (instrumental)
12) From Me To You (instrumental)
So, what memories does this film bring you? Furthermore, what is your favourite clip, etc.?
The Beatles in colour, together with the most perfect music to accompany it!