Help!

 

Yeah, yeah, yeah, another Beatles post (see what I did there?).

I was reading a story earlier today about revisiting "Help!," The Beatles' second movie, released in 1965.

Look, it's no "A Hard Day's Night." Where "AHDN" was shot in black and white on a small budget with a simple plotline and script, "Help!" was filmed in color with a larger budget and more locations along with the movie magic of the day.

It's been said many times that our heroes were stoned basically the whole time they made the movie, directed by Richard Lester, who also directed "A Hard Day's Night."

Some familiar faces were in both movies, especially the always fun Victor Spinetti, who played the TV director in "A Hard Day's Night." Spinetti was responsible for one of my favorite lines in the movie when exasperated, he says, "I see it all now, it's a plot... a plot..."

Of course, it's John who looks at Norm, the band's manager in the first film, who authors another great line when he utters, "You're a swine."

That is another key difference in "Help!" The Beatles are The Beatles and are referred to as that. In "A Hard Day's Night," the band name is only referenced on Ringo's famous drum head and in the lighting on the stage. 

The character of "Norm" in "A Hard Day's Night" is fictional, based only slightly on Brian Epstein, the lads' real manager. No such character exists in "Help!"

I bought "Help!" on DVD a few years back and, honestly, I kind of slogged through it. It was...fine. The visuals are certainly appealing and the scenery is excellent. The movie was filmed in London, Salisbury Plain, the Austrian Alps, New Providence Island and Paradise Island in the Bahamas, and Twickenham Film Studios.

Of course, it's The Beatles, so the music is exceptional. Included in the film are (per Wikipedia):

"Help!"

"You're Going to Lose That Girl"

"You've Got to Hide Your Love Away"

"Ticket to Ride"

"I Need You"

"The Night Before" (interspersed with excerpts of "She's A Woman", with an explosion at the end not heard on the Beatles' commercial recordings. Also played as an instrumental)

"Another Girl"

"She's a Woman" (heard in the background, on a tape machine, and underground in the Salisbury Plain scene)

"A Hard Day's Night" titled on the US soundtrack album as "Another Hard Day's Night" (played by Indian musicians and as an instrumental medley comprising "A Hard Day's Night", "Can't Buy Me Love" and "I Should Have Known Better")

"I'm Happy Just to Dance with You" (played by a band during the bike-riding scene)

"You Can't Do That" (played as an instrumental during the Austrian Alps sequence)

"From Me to You" titled on the US soundtrack album as "From Me to You Fantasy" (played as an instrumental during scenes of attempts to remove the ring from Ringo's finger while he sleeps in the Beatles' communal house)

Among those in the cast was a young actress named Eleanor Bron. It has been suggested over the years that Paul McCartney liked her first name so much that he used it for "Eleanor Rigby."

The title song was often scrutinized by John Lennon, who wished it wasn't the upbeat rocker that it became. Indeed, the lyrics don't suggest a happy song but I've long believed that is its brilliance. Had it been the dirge that Lennon wanted it to be, it definitely wouldn't have been the same. The upbeat classic it is strikes the correct balance as it undermines the sadness..

Upon tonight's rewatch, I found myself liking it much more than I ever have. The comedy is still madcap, along the lines of "A Hard Day's Night" but with a different charm. There are still enough Beatleesque laughs to make it worth it, along with the pictures and, naturally, the music.

While some will always see a pot-laced mess, I see a little more of a classic.

John Lennon is still a wiseass and Paul McCartney a charmer. George Harrison is as funny if not the funniest with his dry but quick wit.

Ringo and the ring, the object of desire in "Help!"

And then there's Ringo, the object of the plot in "Help" just as he was the focus of a key part of "A Hard Day's Night." Does his obvious likeability need to be broken down any further? Ringo is Ringo in every way possible.

I wind up watching "A Hard Day's Night" every few months, completely unable to resist its manic energy and joy -- from the "very clean" Grandfather to the music to the screaming fans.

But I'll be watching "Help!" more frequently after tonight.

And when I want to feel like I've had my own drug-fueled experience, I'll reach for the animated "Yellow Submarine."

As for "Magical Mystery Tour?" Well, I own it. That's all I can say.

But tonight was about "Help!" 

And I do appreciate you being 'round.