The eight Beatles films you probably haven't seen
No one had too much hope for the Beatles' movie debut. Director Richard Lester was told to shoot quickly, to get it into theaters before the fab fad faded. And a worried United Artists wondered if maybe, for the American release, the boys' voices should be dubbed, to get rid of their accents.
"Look, if we can understand a bloody cowboy talking Texan, they can understand us talking Liverpool," the usually polite Paul McCartney snapped. (And he used a stronger word than "bloody.")
But, like the Beatles, "A Hard Day's Night" exceeded all expectations. Lester – a band favorite, as he'd directed their idol, Peter Sellers – gave the film a fun, frantic pace. And screenwriter Alun Owen, a fellow Liverpudlian, caught their distinct personas – rebellious John, nice Paul, serious George, sweet Ringo.
A smash, it was quickly followed up by the more gimmicky, less satisfying "Help!" – and, eventually, the charming cartoon, "Yellow Submarine." But there were other Beatles projects, too, some solo, many bizarre. A few, like Ringo's "Caveman" comedy, were even hits. Here are eight, though, you may have missed – but that any true Beatlemaniac will want to catch
How I Won the War (1967)
Although Ringo ended up having the longest movie career, at first all bets were on John, who two years after "Help!" reunited with director Richard Lester for this black comedy about World War II. The spirit was absurdist, but the jokes were weak, and the film failed at the box office, although it did leave John with one parting gift: His soon-signature, National-Health-issued "granny glasses."
By: Stephan Whitty
Source: NJ.com
