Fab Four Blog

Today the Beatles filmed the "Pub Cellar" sequence, in which Ringo, having fallen through a trap door, is confronted by "Raja, the famous Bengal maneater".

During a break in filming today, the Beatles received a "Bell" award from Radio Caroline, presented to them by disc-jockey Simon Dee and filmed by newsreel cameras, and Dee also took the opportunity to interview the Beatles for a broadcast on the Pirate airwaves.

The first couple of days this week were spent shooting the interior dining area and kitchen sections of the "Rajahama" restaurant sequence, all on a set built at Twickenham.

April 4, 1965: The title “Help!” is confirmed for the Beatles’ second movie.

Today the Beatles took a break from filming "Help".

Twickenham Film Studios, St. Margaret's, Twickenham

While the Beatles were filming at Twickenham George Martin was working at Abbey Road (10:00-11:00 am) producing a stereo mix of "You're Going To Lose That Girl" that incorporated the March 30th overdub. It was never used.

More shooting of "Help" for "Eight Arms To Hold You"

Twickenham Film Studios, St. Margaret's, Twickenham

More shooting for Eight Arms To Hold You

Twickenham Film Studios, St. Margaret's, Twickenham and Studio Two, EMI Studios, London

After today's filming the Beatles returned to London for an unsuccessful evening's recording at Abbey Road. Booked from 7:00 until 9:00 pm - but running over until 10:00, they first attempted a re-make of "That Means A Lot" but abandoned the song again after five more uninspired takes (numbered 20-24). They then recorded some overdubs - of which instrument(s) is not specified on the EMI session documentation - onto the existing "best" take of "You're Going To Lose That Girl", although none was used for the released version.

Source: The Complete Beatles Chronicles - Mark Lewisohn

Twickenham Film Studios, St. Margaret's, Twickenham

The first day of the second week of studio shooting at Twickenham. Sequences such as the long laboratory scene with Professor Foot and Algernon, and the interior railway station scene, were filmed during this week.

Alpha Television Studios, Aston, Birmingham

Taping of the Beatles' final personal appearance on ABC Television's weekly pop series Thank Your Lucky Stars, the show which had launched them on national TV in January 1963 but which was now in steady decline. (It ended on June 25, 1966, by which time it was no longer screened by all of the ITV regions.)

On this occasion, while it was still fully networked, the Beatles returned to the scene of that debut, Alpha Television Studios in Birmingham, and mimed performances of three songs, "Eight Days A Week", "Yes It Is" and "Ticket To Ride", before an extremely entusiastic studio audience. Paul and Ringo were also interviewed by the show's host, Brian Matthew, and the program was broadcast on Saturday, April 3rd, (5:50-6:35 pm)

Still filming HELP! at Twickenham Film Studios

The Beatles are still filming "Help" at Twickenham Film Studios, meanwhile.....

Twickenham Film Studios, St. Margaret's, Twickenham

Sequences filmed included the interior temple sequences (set in the Bahamas section of the film), including a part where John, Paul and George dive through a hollow sacrificial alter and into water (surfacing at the Nassau Beach Hotel)

Twickenham Film Studios, St. Margaret's, Twickenham

At last, shooting began on home territory, Twickenham Film Studios in the west of London suburb of St. Margaret's, where A Hard Day's Night had been shot at the same time in 1964. Working a similar schedule - something like 8:30 am - 5:30 pm daily, the Beatles filmed here and on location until Sunday, May 9th. Including the Bahamanian and Austrian sections, but discounting occasional days off, this second Beatles film was shot in 11 weeks, three more than A Hard Day's Night.

Source: The Complete Beatles Chronicle - Mark Lewisohn

The Beatles took a break from filming today.

The Beatles left Obertauern today and flew back to London from Salzburg, arriving in the early evening.

Although the Beatles stayed behind, the film unit left Obertauern on the 21st, shooting a scene at Radstadt station with the "doubles" and another in a tunnel en route to Salzburg, where they stayed for the night.

Today was the last day of shooting, with the Beatles and their "doubles" back out on the slopes, miming to part of "Ticket To Ride" and generally being silly. The filming was then completed with an outdoor restaurant sequence involving Ringo and his "double" (not in the finished film).

Pick-up shots were filmed on a terrace and in the snow today. (It's been a long week)

Today was another busy day, filming at an Olympic jump location, on the mountainside and in an apres-ski cellar.

Today the Beatles filmed a sequence at the curling rink and then ended the day by filming by some bushes. It was on this day that the film's title was announced as "Eight Arms To Hold You" and so it would remain for almost another month.

Today the ski-lift sequence was completed.

Meanwhile.....The #1 song in the US on March 16, 1965 is Eight Days a Week

Beatles and "doubles" filmed today on a ski-lift and on the slopes.

Shooting began today in front of the hotel, where they filmed a "tobaggan hire" sequence not used in the finished print. They then moved elsewhere in the locality and were filmed falling backwards together into snow. Beatles "doubles" wee also in action the first day, filmed riding on horse-drawn sleigh. (The doubles were Cliff Diggins, mick Dillion, Peter Cheevers and Joe Dunne, Londoners all.)

The Complete Beatles Chronicle - Mark Lewisohn

Two days after returning from the Bahamas, the Beatles and their film crew once again departed England for foreign climes: this time to the snow-capped mountains of Austria. They flew out of London Airport on the 11:00 am flight for Salzburg, where they were greeted by some 4,000 fans and scores of Austiran journalists. After a press conference at a nearby hotel - filmed, typically, by newsreel and TV cameras, the Beatles were taken to the Hotel Edelweiss in Obertauern, where they were based until departure on the 22nd. All of the filming took place in Obertauern.

The #1 song in the US on March 12, 1965

Eight Days a Week - The Beatles

The Beatles returned to London Airport today after filming on Paradise Island. Surely they rested.

The Beatles left the Bahamas today and returned to England, arriving at London Airport - the next morning.

The Beatles returned to Paradise Island for some pick-up shots.