Across the Universe Filmography - Magical Mystery Tour

Magical Mystery Tour

The Beatles' Magical Mystery Tour is now known primarily as the group's first artistic blunder. The Liverpudlians' first project after the death of manager Brian Epstein, the hour-long television film received a critical drubbing when it premiered in 1967, the year the Sgt. Pepper's album was released. Many fans were disappointed that this film did not have the style and wit of their films with director Richard Lester, A Hard Day's Night and Help!. Looking back, Magical Mystery Tour is not quite so horrible as critics said it was, but it's not an underappreciated gem either.
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The film is loosely about a surreal jaunt through the countryside in a colorfully painted bus that evokes Ken Kesey and his Merry Pranksters, interrupted by sequences of pure nonsense and some great songs. Much of the film was improvised on the spot, which gives it a disjointed, slapdash structure. While some of the sequences are amusing, for the most part the jollity seems forced. One gets the impression at times that it was no more enjoyable to make than it is to watch. Yet this brand of surreal humor and playful non sequiturs would later be adopted (and done much better) by Monty Python. Indeed, one of the film's best sequences in which John Lennon serves spaghetti with a shovel, reportedly based on a dream he had, is reminiscent of the restaurant scene in Monty Python's Meaning of Life.
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Unfortunately, most of the sequences are not so inspired. They seem like filler between the songs. The highlight of the mercifully short film is the performance of "I Am a Walrus," with the group in animal masks accompanied by dancing policemen and men in egg suits, a joyfully nonsensical proto-video. The other songs written for the film include "Fool on the Hill," "Blue Jay Way," "Your Mother Should Know" (the closing production number with the Beatles descending a staircase in white suits), the instrumental "Flying," and the title song. The soundtrack also includes some of the classic singles the Beatles released at the time that weren't included on Sgt. Pepper's or in the film, including "Penny Lane," "Strawberry Fields Forever," and "All You Need Is Love."
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The DVD includes a brief text about the history of the film, newsreels about the grand opening of the Beatles' store and their trip to India, and subtitles in English, French and Spanish. -- Al Weisel
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After the success of the Sgt. Peppers LP, the Beatles decided to hire a psychedelic bus, take a trip into the English countryside, and film the results, no matter how bizarre or boring. With a motley cast of characters, the group basically tramps about the landscape with occasional music cues to give the film a bit of flow. Though Magical Mystery Tour is an interesting document of the Beatles psychedelic period, its cinematic function is negligible. ~ John Bush, All Movie Guide
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Basic Info

Premiere: December 26, 1967
Running Time: 50 minutes
Produced by: The Beatles and Denis O'Dell for Apple Corps
Filming Locations: England, UK; Nice, France (Fool on the Hill segment)
Exact Shooting Days: September 1967: 11-15, 18-25; October 1, 29-31; November 3.
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Cast

John Lennon - Himself
Paul McCartney - Himself
George Harrison - Himself
Ringo Starr - Himself
George Claydon - Little George the Photographer
Jessie Robins - Ringo's Auntie
Ivor Cutler - Buster Bloodvessel
Derek Royle - Jolly Jimmy Johnson the Courier
Shirley Evans - The Accordionist
Victor Spinetti - n/a
Nat Jackley - n/a
Nicola - n/a
Maggie Wright - The Lovely Starlet

(not listed in official credits)
Mal Evans - Man on Bus
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Crew

Directed by - George Harrison, John Lennon, Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr
Cinematography - Daniel Lacambre
Music by - George Harrison, John Lennon, Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr
Produced by - George Harrison, John Lennon, Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr, Denis O'Dell
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Notes on Magical Mystery Tour

Paul was the main director and producer behind the film. He also came up with the basic plot of the movie during a flight between England and the United States in early 1967.

The movie was the first critical failure ever by the Beatles.
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Songs Featured

"Magical Mystery Tour"
"The Fool On The Hill"
"Flying"
"I Am The Walrus"
"Blue Jay Way"
"Your Mother Should Know"
"Magical Mystery Tour"
"Hello Goodbye" (Closing section)
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Technical Information

Film negative format (mm/video inches): 35 mm
Cinematographic process: Spherical
Printed film format: 35 mm
Aspect ratio: 1.37 : 1
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Home Video

Media Home Entertainment M430 (VHS, Beta)
MPI Home Video 1538 (VHS, Beta)
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Laser Disc

Laser Disc Number: 2855
Label: Image
Catalogue Number: ID 6197 MP
Length: 50
Availability Status: Out of print
Official Retail Price: $ 29.95
Video Standard: NTSC
Color Information: Color
Sound Encoding: Digital/Analog-CX
Digital Sound: Stereo
Analog Left: Stereo
Master Format: Film
Disc Size: 12
Number of Sides: 1
Disc Format: CLV
Picture Format: Video
Aspect Ratio: 1.33 : 1
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A Hard Day's Night | Help! | Let It Be | Magical Mystery Tour | Yellow Submarine

MAGICAL MYSTERY TOUR