Help!

Help! is a 1965 movie starring The Beatles, and also the name of the movie's theme song, and of its soundtrack album. The movie was directed by Richard Lester, the same as their first movie, A Hard Day's Night. While A Hard Day's Night was filmed in black-and-white, Help! was in color. George Martin produced the Beatles's songs for the album, and all their recordings for the movie.

 Movie 
Help! is a fantasy story, that makes fun of spy movies, which were popular at the time. A religious cult has lost a special ring, worn by people they plan to sacrifice to their goddess, Kaili. It turns out one of their members sent the ring to Ringo Starr (drummer for the Beatles, who loved to wear rings). When the cult finds out, they try to capture Ringo, and either sacrifice him to Kaili or get their ring back. He tries to give it back, but the ring will not come off his finger. The other Beatles try to help, but also end up in danger. A defector (quitter) from the cult tries different ways to remove the ring, and a scientist also tries to steal it. Scotland Yard hides the Beatles at Buckingham Palace, but the cult even sneaks in there. The band escapes to the Bahamas in disguise, but are followed. Tired of running, the Beatles finally face down the cultists.

The movie's co-stars were Leo McKern, Eleanor Bron, Roy Kinnear, and Victor Spinetti. Spinetti also appeared in A Hard Day's Night, and later in Magical Mystery Tour. The movie was going to be called Eight Arms to Hold You, but the title was changed when John Lennon wrote a song titled "Help!" that suited the movie's theme.

Help! was filmed partly in England, partly in Austria, and partly in the Bahamas. The Beatles started a company in the Bahamas, as a tax shelter, but it did not work out. While they were filming, a Hindu believer gave each Beatle a book about reincarnation. George Harrison resonated very strongly with Hindu ideas and beliefs, and ended up becoming a follower of Hinduism. He also enjoyed the Indian classical music featured in Help!, bought a sitar, and took music lessons with Ravi Shankar.

 Soundtrack album 
Help! was the fifth album by The Beatles. The first seven songs appeared in the movie. The album includes the title song, "Ticket To Ride", George Harrison's "I Need You", and Paul McCartney's "Yesterday", the song with the most versions by other artists of all time. Help! was the last Beatles album with songs written by other people.

 Songs on the album 

The album is ranked number 332 in Rolling Stone magazine's list of the 500 greatest albums of all time. All songs were written by John Lennon and Paul McCartney unless noted otherwise.

References

General














Category:The Beatles albums
Category:1965 albums
Category:Rock and roll albums
Category:Folk albums