The Beatles Magical Mystery Tour (NR)
synopsis
Songs you'll never forget, the film you've never seen and a story that's never been heard. In September 1967, in the wake of the extraordinary impact of Sgt. Pepper, The Beatles made a film this time conceived and directed by them. Based on a loose unscripted narrative and in the spirit of the experimental mood of the time, the film became the vehicle to present 6 new songs: "Magical Mystery Tour", "The Fool On The Hill", "Flying", "I Am The Walrus", "Blue Jay Way" and "Your Mother Should Know". Magical Mystery Tour is a surreal take on the British tradition of a coach trip to the seaside, featuring John, Paul, George and Ringo as themselves along with an eccentric cast of characters played by professional actors. Other passengers were friends and associates with family invited along for the ride. They set off from London and headed west down the A30 to Cornwall where most of the film was shot. Magical Mystery Tour was broadcast in black and white at 8.35pm on BBC1 on Boxing Day 1967 to a family audience expecting a light entertainment special. Whilst the music itself was rapturously received in the form of a double EP the establishment TV critics, expecting something more in the style of A Hard Days Night and Help!, gave the film poor reviews. As a result of the controversy the film was not broadcast in the US and only had limited distribution elsewhere. Now, 45 years on, the virtually forgotten film has been fully restored.
details
Documentary, Program
1 hr. 24 min.
synopsis
Songs you'll never forget, the film you've never seen and a story that's never been heard. In September 1967, in the wake of the extraordinary impact of Sgt. Pepper, The Beatles made a film this time conceived and directed by them. Based on a loose unscripted narrative and in the spirit of the experimental mood of the time, the film became the vehicle to present 6 new songs: "Magical Mystery Tour", "The Fool On The Hill", "Flying", "I Am The Walrus", "Blue Jay Way" and "Your Mother Should Know". Magical Mystery Tour is a surreal take on the British tradition of a coach trip to the seaside, featuring John, Paul, George and Ringo as themselves along with an eccentric cast of characters played by professional actors. Other passengers were friends and associates with family invited along for the ride. They set off from London and headed west down the A30 to Cornwall where most of the film was shot. Magical Mystery Tour was broadcast in black and white at 8.35pm on BBC1 on Boxing Day 1967 to a family audience expecting a light entertainment special. Whilst the music itself was rapturously received in the form of a double EP the establishment TV critics, expecting something more in the style of A Hard Days Night and Help!, gave the film poor reviews. As a result of the controversy the film was not broadcast in the US and only had limited distribution elsewhere. Now, 45 years on, the virtually forgotten film has been fully restored.
details
Documentary, Program
1 hr. 24 min.
