6 Must-See Films About the Beatles (And One to Avoid Altogether)
The recent release of Ron Howard’s film Eight Days a Week about the Beatles’ touring years sparked a great deal of excitement among Beatles fans everywhere. Many have questioned whether there’s really anything left to learn about the band, but the sheer dedication and passion of Beatles fans have always ensured that every new project about them — whether it be a book or a film — is greeted with enthusiasm.
As a result of the undying love so many of us have for the Beatles, a huge number of films have been made about them over the years, from documentary to dramatized (and sometimes laughably fictionalized) accounts. Some have been brilliant — others not so much. Here are a few of the best, as well as a couple that didn’t quite hit the mark. (I should note that, while The Beatles Anthology is one of my favorite things in the world, it’s not included in this list as it was a TV documentary series rather than a film.)
1) Backbeat (1994)
This film focuses on the Beatles’ time in Hamburg, but more specifically on original bass player Stuart Sutcliffe, one of the most intriguing characters in the band’s history. Sutcliffe was a gifted artist and looked destined for a glittering career of his own until his tragic death aged just 21.
Backbeat explores his friendship with John Lennon and his relationship with Astrid Kirchherr, the woman he met and fell in love with in Hamburg. The reaction from those in the Beatle camp wasn’t great; George Harrison reportedly walked out of the screening, Paul McCartney was irritated by some of the inaccuracies, and Cynthia Lennon was unhappy with the way she was portrayed “as a clingy, dim little girl in a headscarf.”
Despite this, it’s a highly enjoyable film with a great soundtrack and some excellent performances, particularly from Ian Hart as Lennon. One of the things that did impress McCartney about Backbeat was Stephen Dorff’s “astonishing” portrayal of Sutcliffe, while Kirchherr felt their relationship had been very accurately represented.
2) George Harrison: Living in the Material World (2011)
Martin Scorsese’s fantastic documentary about the life of George Harrison is a fitting tribute to the man who was perhaps the most underrated Beatle. With contributions from Harrison’s widow Olivia and son Dhani, bandmates Paul and Ringo, and his many other friends and collaborators (including Eric Clapton and Tom Petty), no stone is left unturned.
The first part of the film naturally focuses on his incredible journey as one-quarter of the world’s most famous band, but equal attention is given to his solo career, ventures such as the Concert for Bangladesh and the Traveling Wilburys, and his spiritual and personal life. This film was several years in the making, and it’s guaranteed to remind anyone of just how special Harrison was.
3) Birth of the Beatles (1979)
This has the distinction of being the only biographical film made about the Beatles while John Lennon was still alive. Released as a TV movie in the United States, it chronicles the band’s formative years and was reasonably well received.
If this IMDb thread — posted by one of the actors — is to be believed, the cast themselves weren’t overly fond of the film. Personally, I found the dialog to be pretty cheesy in places, which — along with the inaccuracies in the story — made it difficult to really get into.
Pete Best’s involvement as technical advisor also meant that certain events, such as his dismissal from the band, were portrayed according to his personal viewpoint. But this is understandably hard to avoid when so many people who were present have their own opinion on what went on.
For me, the soundtrack (courtesy of Beatles tribute band Rain) was the high point of what was otherwise a disappointing film.
4) I Wanna Hold Your Hand (1978)
Robert Zemeckis’s directorial debut is not so much about the Beatles themselves as it is about Beatlemania, focusing on a group of teenagers and their attempts to see the band’s appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show in 1964 despite not actually having tickets.
The result is a wonderfully hilarious film that will appeal to any dedicated Beatles fan of any age. It’s easy to recognize something of ourselves in the characters and imagine what we would do if we were in their shoes, as I have done many times. (Take me to 1964, please.)
Bizarrely, although it was praised by critics, the film was not financially successful, though it does have the distinction as being one of the only Beatles-related films to use all original Beatles songs for its soundtrack. But that doesn’t stop it from being a lot of fun.
5) Yellow Submarine (1968)
One of my earliest Beatles memories is of watching Yellow Submarine as a child. I remember being captivated by the animation, and I still find it really enjoyable to watch today.
The Beatles may have been voiced by actors, but they still wrote and performed new music for the film and appeared themselves in the final scene. It’s interesting to think that this was only made because United Artists required a third film from the band (to follow A Hard Day’s Night and Help!).
Despite the lack of enthusiasm about the project, it turned out to be pretty successful and has definitely been responsible for attracting new audiences to the Beatles over the years that followed. This was even the case for John Lennon’s son, Sean, who first became aware of his dad’s rather famous band after seeing the film.
6) Sgt Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band (1978)
It’s difficult to find the right words to describe this film, simply because it’s so strange. Based around the Beatles’ Sgt Pepper album (all but two of its songs are included), the plot centers on a band whose purpose of spreading love and joy to the world comes under threat from a villainous character named Mr. Mustard (of course), who’s intent on destroying their hometown.
Every bit as crazy as it sounds, the film has an all-star cast of performers which includes the Bee Gees, Alice Cooper, Earth, Wind & Fire, Peter Frampton, and Aerosmith. Despite this, it’s just a complete mess.
7) Good Ol’ Freda (2013)
The stories of those who worked with, and for, the Beatles are often just as fascinating as those of the band members themselves. Freda Kelly was the Beatles’ fan-club secretary, and in this excellent documentary, she looks back on her time in the job.
As both a Liverpudlian and a Beatles fan, Kelly was seen by manager Brian Epstein as the ideal person to run the fan club, and she was close to the Beatles from the beginning to the very end.
This film is the first time she has shared her story — even her own children knew very little about it — and while she has many wonderful insights, she never gives away more than she is prepared to (refusing, for example, to reveal whether or not she ever had a physical relationship with any of the Beatles). The film gives a sense of how close-knit the Beatles family was, and how much fun being part of it could be.
What are your favorite and least favorite films about the Beatles? Let us know in the comments.
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