it seems unfair that Paul gets lumbered with the awful Brambell

Rating: 7/10 (4 December 2018)

Its some considerable time since I had seen this and still had fond memories, particularly of Richard Lester's iconic b/w look. Well, the b/w look is still there and looking even better in wondrous Blu-ray but you have to wonder about some of the performances, the material and the script. I know at the time not much was expected of the film and the general rush was so as to get it out before the lads lost their popularity. Not much chance of that in hindsight but the songs are really somewhat lacking and in truth it really is only the title track that has any zing. Time may have been unkind to the dialogue but it strikes me that apart from the odd aside (ad-libbed?) this is rather embarrassing. Also, I realise that Wilfred Bramble was big at the time as 'the dirty old man' in Steptoe but boy did they push that 'clean' joke that was never funny, even at the time. Norman Rossington is completely wrong in the movie and is given the role of some bossy schoolmaster type and as he over acts it, again this becomes embarrassing. Generally the Beatles acquit themselves well enough but it seems unfair that Paul gets lumbered with the awful Brambell when the other three at least get one decent moment each. In this respect that of Ringo seems outstanding, particularly with regard to his chat with the young lad by the river. Overall the film remains important as a showcase for the four lads but perhaps even more importantly for the dynamic and influential way that this is shot helping to change the face not only of pop music videos but British cinema as well.