Yellow Submarine Film: Introduction
The 1968 Yellow Submarine Film is an animated, musical-fantasy comedy inspired by the music of The Beatles. Moreover, the film provides a soundtrack for an album of the same name. However, be aware that there are two Yellow Submarine albums.
Firstly, there is the 1969 soundtrack album, which has George Martin’s instrumentals on side 2. Then there is the 1999 songtrack album, which contains only the songs from the film. So check out those pages to compare them before you rush out and buy a Yellow Submarine album.
Back to the Yellow Submarine Film, which is still as fresh today as it was in 1968. In fact, this film is a joy for both young and old to watch. After the relative flop of the “Magical Mystery Tour” film (the album was a massive success, by the way), this animated film adds a new dimension to things. But more importantly, we get The Beatles’ music, which elevates this animated film to great heights.
In Detail
- Release Date: July 17, 1968, in the UK but November 13, 1968, in the United States
- Running Time: 87 minutes
- Director: George Dunning
- Animation: Robert Balser, George Dunning and Jack Stokes
- Live-Action: Dennis Abey, also Al Brodax
- Producer: Al Brodax
- Screenplay: Lee Minoff, Al Brodax, Jack Mendelsohn, Erich Segal,
- Story: Lee Minoff
- Based On: Yellow Submarine by Lennon-McCartney
- Narrator: Paul Angelis
- Music By: Lennon-McCartney, also George Harrison
- Musical Director: George Martin
- Editor: Brian J. Bishop
- Production Companies: Apple Films, King Features Syndicate and TVC London
- Distributors: United Artists (Original release), Apple Films, and Universal Music Group (All current releases)
Starring (Voices):
- Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band
- Paul Angelis (as Chief Blue Meanie/Ringo Starr/George Harrison)
- John Clive (as John Lennon)
- Dick Emery (as Max/Lord Mayor/Jeremy Hillary Boob)
- Geoff Hughes (as Paul McCartney) also starring Lance Percival
In 1999, using restoration techniques at the time, they released the Yellow Submarine film on DVD with Dolby 5.1 sound. Then, in 2012, they restored the film yet again, but this time by hand.
Yellow Submarine Film: The Plot
To begin with, Pepperland is an extremely nice place to be. Indeed, it’s a paradise under the seas for the music-loving Pepperland residents. The area also comes under the protection of Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band.
The Yellow Submarine sits in retirement on a hill which resembles a pyramid.
Meanwhile, the Blue Meanies, who live just on the outskirts of the blue mountains under the sea, hate music and attack Pepperland. Their attack, with arrows and green apples, soon drains the seascape of its colour. They imprison the band in a music-proof globe while all the other Pepperlanders become statues and are subject to torture.
However, before capture, Pepperland’s elderly Lord Mayor sends Old Fred, an ageing sailor, to get some help. Fred manages to reactivate the Yellow Submarine and travels to Liverpool in search of the Fab Four, of course. While Old Fred is in Liverpool, he persuades The Beatles to come back to Pepperland with him to help out. But first, they have to learn how to master the yellow submarine.
So, will The Beatles be victorious and defeat the music-hating Blue Meanies? Obviously, they do, and they do it through their music.
Places
01) Sea of Time: where time flows both forwards and backwards to the tune of “When I’m Sixty-Four.”
02) Sea of Science: where they pick up a monster.
03) Sea of Monsters: where the sinister “vacuum cleaner monster” sucks up stray objects, creatures, and the entire landscape and finally swallows itself, which puts the submarine into an empty void.
04) Sea of Nothing: This is a blank region where they meet Jeremy Hillary Boob, Ph.D. (‘Phud’), a helpful ally to The Beatles, who sing “Nowhere Man” in reference to him. As they leave, Ringo Starr feels sorry for the lonely “Nowhere Man,” so he invites him to join them aboard the submarine.
05) Foothills of the Headlands: where Jeremy and The Beatles are separated from both the Submarine (and Old Fred) and where John sings “Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds.” Pepper (foreshadowing that Pepperland is yet to come) makes the living beings in the Headlands sneeze. This, of course, blows The Beatles and Jeremy into the Sea of Holes.
06) Sea of Holes: Here, Jeremy is kidnapped by one of the Blue Meanies guarding the outskirts of Pepperland. Ringo Starr checks one of the many holes and puts it in his pocket. While searching for Jeremy, Ringo then jumps onto a green hole. The Sea of Holes then turns into the Sea of Green.
(07) Sea of Green: The group now arrives in Pepperland, while Old Fred follows in the Yellow Submarine.
Evolving Music
Obviously, The Beatles have much more new music in this film. Since the Beatles are constantly evolving and reinventing music, Beatlemania and Merseybeat music are disappearing into the distance.
However, we now move into more creative days. Hence the newer Beatles music in this Yellow Submarine film. Indeed, we are now moving into the psychedelic pop era with everything that has to offer!
Tracks In The Yellow Submarine Film
01) Introduction Story and music by George Martin
02) Yellow Submarine
03) Eleanor Rigby
04) Love You To
05) A Day in the Life
06) All Together Now
07) When I’m Sixty-Four
08) Only a Northern Song
09) Nowhere Man
10) Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds
11) Sea of Green
12) Think for Yourself
13) Sgt Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band
14) With a Little Help from My Friends
15) All You Need Is Love
16) Baby, You’re a Rich Man
17) Hey Bulldog (in the film’s 1999 restoration)
18) It’s All Too Much
19) All Together Now: real images of The Beatles singing, with the translation of the words “All Together Now” in many different languages.
Finally, how do you rate this Beatles film? Moreover, does it bring back memories? If so, leave a comment below.
