Victor Spinetti’s practically made a career out of this seemingly ignoring the fact that every other character actor with a pulse was in it an’ all. Directed by Richard ‘Running, Jumping and Standing Still’ Lester it’s still a good watch with some great gags and the boys coming over remarkably well. Pub Quiz Answer: John Lennon’s grandad.
Stuart
January 13, 2013 at 3:10 am
Paul McCartney’s grandad, actually.
Richardpd
January 8, 2022 at 11:28 pm
a lot of it was improvised especially John in the bath & most of Ringo’s solo scenes were shot by leaving the camera running & telling them to do something funny. I imagine George on the chat show was similarly shot without much scripting.
Glenn Aylett
January 9, 2022 at 12:11 pm
Wilfrid Brambell playing a very clean old man, a send up of Albert Steptoe. Also Victor Spinetti’s attempts to bump off The Beatles are quite funny as they always go wrong.
Of course, the Fab Four moved on, took some acid and then released the completely bizarre Magical Mystery Tour that premiered on BBC One in 1967 and made people wonder what planet The Beatles were on.
Richardpd
January 9, 2022 at 12:58 pm
Magical Mystery Tour was a bit of a mess, not helped by Brian Epstein dying just before they made it & them still getting over his death.
Only Ringo & Paul seemed to understand what was happening, with John literally just along for the ride & George looking like he wanted to be somewhere else, which was becoming true for the band in general.
Glenn Aylett
January 9, 2022 at 9:31 pm
@ Richardpd, this was when The Beatles lost their teenybopper following, which was probably their plan after 1965, and started being hailed as a serious act. However, those viewers on Boxing Day in 1967 expecting to see some caper like A Hard Days Night with the loveable moptops saw some bizarre drug influenced flick that millions didn’t understand.
Richardpd
January 9, 2022 at 10:06 pm
Yes You’re probably right, it much have been quite a shock to watch for anyone not expecting it.