Concert for George (with Nothing Is Real's Steven Cockcroft): part 1
As reluctant as he famously is to talk about it, Steven Cockcroft, one half of the Nothing Is Real podcast, attended the George Harrison tribute concert on 29 November 2002. So when it came to discussing the 2003 concert film we thought, Who better to invite on as a guest? Part 1 of our conversation touches on our memories of George's death in 2001, how Steven got a ticket, which artists were confirmed when, and which were rumoured, and the differences between the DVD's two versions: the full concert and the edited theatrical release.You can find ways to watch and listen to the Concert for George at https://concertforgeorge.comIf you haven't listened to Nothing Is Real you must. Steven Cockcroft and Jason Carty created the the gold standard of Beatles podcasts, and they are sorely missed: https://www.nothingisrealpod.comYou can also find their Radio Ulster series Back to the Irish, which examines the Irish connections of the Beatles and other artists, on BBC Sounds: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/b079m78nBobFest in 1993 was officially known as The 30th Anniversary Concert Celebration, a Bob Dylan tribute: https://www.bobdylan.com/albums/the-30th-anniversary-concert-celebrationTom Hanks's episode of Desert Island Discs, in which he chose an unlikely Beatles song and spoke movingly about how they helped him through childhood loneliness: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/b079m78nThe Martin Scorsese concert film The Last Waltz: https://share.google/DQgykliRFBj1vxoMxMeet the Beatles Films PodcastThe Beatles Films Podcast is hosted by Matt Looker and Ed Williamson. We're both film writers and Beatles fans. Between us we've written for TheShiznit.co.uk, Total Film, Den of Geek and Virgin Media.But tomorrow may rain, so you'll follow us on:Instagram https://instagram.com/beatlesfilmspodBluesky https://bsky.app/profile/beatlesfilmspod.bsky.socialYouTube https://www.youtube.com/@BeatlesFilmsPodcastThreads https://www.threads.net/@beatlesfilmspodFacebook https://www.facebook.com/groups/304654901827622 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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Son of Dracula (1974)
Ringo Starr and Harry Nilsson playing Merlin (yes, the wizard) and the son of Dracula: what could possibly go wrong? Well, a fair bit as it turns out: some baffling choices are made and it can't quite make up its mind what it is, but at least Ringo enjoyed being a producer, didn't he? No, not really. Still, he had a bar in his Apple Films office, at least.Watch the film in this fairly ropy VHS transfer: https://youtu.be/cfkHN_QxNcwOr in this weird but fascinating HD upscale made using AI: https://youtu.be/1o9zHsyl-3UThe Irish actor who played Merlin in the BBC series is Colin Morgan: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2959880Woody Allen's 1966 film What's Up, Tiger Lily? where he redubbed a Japanese spy film to make it a comedy: https://share.google/4D2x2eAJnUsmysiq7The other Apple Films productions we mention are Raga: https://youtu.be/bvwf53_ZPEMLittle Malcolm and His Struggle Against the Eunuchs: https://youtu.be/XOxABAk0scUDid Britain Murder Hanratty? https://youtu.be/HGl9tzMNtpEAn agreement between France and Great Britain to build what became the Channel Tunnel was signed in 1973, so perhaps it was in the news at the time? That's our best guess anyway: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Channel_Tunnel#HistoryNilsson's Son of Schmilsson album: https://open.spotify.com/album/522ynXVXJEFsiozNTy6rbtMeet the Beatles Films PodcastThe Beatles Films Podcast is hosted by Matt Looker and Ed Williamson. We're both film writers and Beatles fans. Between us we've written for TheShiznit.co.uk, Total Film, Den of Geek and Virgin Media.But tomorrow may rain, so you'll follow us on:Instagram https://instagram.com/beatlesfilmspodBluesky https://bsky.app/profile/beatlesfilmspod.bsky.socialYouTube https://www.youtube.com/@BeatlesFilmsPodcastThreads https://www.threads.net/@beatlesfilmspodFacebook https://www.facebook.com/groups/304654901827622 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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Paul is Dead (2018 British short film)
It would've been remiss, having just covered the German Paul is Dead, not to do a quick bonus episode on this lovely little short from British writer-director George Moore. He imagines a Lake District writing retreat in which the Beatles wake up after a drug-fuelled night to discover Paul McCartney is dead, and go about trying to recruit local shepherd Billy Shears as a replacement. We talk about the characterisations used for the group and how much that allows a comprehensive story to be told in just 12 minutes, the references to the Strawberry Fields Forever video and A Hard Day's Night, and what it tells us about Ringo Starr's emotional intelligence.Watch the film: it's great and it's only 12 minutes. https://vimeo.com/273978693Poker Face, the Natasha Lyonne show Matt mentions: https://share.google/QjGG4FhuJ2Iz1YQ59Police Squad! https://share.google/WXk1K6SFYwTAZxQVCMeet the Beatles Films PodcastThe Beatles Films Podcast is hosted by Matt Looker and Ed Williamson. We're both film writers and Beatles fans. Between us we've written for TheShiznit.co.uk, Total Film, Den of Geek and Virgin Media.But tomorrow may rain, so you'll follow us on:Instagram https://instagram.com/beatlesfilmspodBluesky https://bsky.app/profile/beatlesfilmspod.bsky.socialYouTube https://www.youtube.com/@BeatlesFilmsPodcastThreads https://www.threads.net/@beatlesfilmspodFacebook https://www.facebook.com/groups/304654901827622 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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Paul is Dead (2000 German film)
We really enjoyed Hendrik Handloegten's 2000 film, which uses fandom and the old Paul is Dead mystery trope to great effect in a coming-of-age story. Tobias maybe has some stuff going on at home, and at 13 is on the cusp of noticing girls, and the film perfectly shows how kids get obsessed and wilfully believe outlandish things because the fantasy is more appealing than reality.We go down the rabbit hole of the Paul is Dead theory ourselves, and ask: is there anything in it? (No, no, there isn't.)There are other versions of the film online, but this one doesn't cut out the music: https://ok.ru/video/4866916879014Some songs from the Paul is Dead novelty subgenre: The Ballad of Paul by The Mystery Tour: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1nFQpyAXBc0Brother Paul by Billy Shears and the All-Americans: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wPUycDF-ypgSo Long Paul by Werbley Finster: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GuGpldj1UogWe're All Paul Bearers by Zacherias & The Tree People: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VRubiFAZS9YThe appalling "The Last Testament of George Harrison (Paul McCartney Really Is Dead)": https://youtu.be/Rhjtly9KTqEOther coming-of-age films we mention in which kids get obsessed with something as a reaction to family disruption: Super 8; Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret; The Goonies; Boyhood. We didn't mention it but you could add Stand By Me to that list too.Meet the Beatles Films PodcastThe Beatles Films Podcast is hosted by Matt Looker and Ed Williamson. We're both film writers and Beatles fans. Between us we've written for TheShiznit.co.uk, Total Film, Den of Geek and Virgin Media.But tomorrow may rain, so you'll follow us on:Instagram https://instagram.com/beatlesfilmspodBluesky https://bsky.app/profile/beatlesfilmspod.bsky.socialYouTube https://www.youtube.com/@BeatlesFilmsPodcastThreads https://www.threads.net/@beatlesfilmspodFacebook https://www.facebook.com/groups/304654901827622 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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Good Ol' Freda
We look at Ryan White's 2013 documentary about Freda Kelly, employed by Brian Epstein and The Beatles from 1962 to 1972, and president of their fan club. How influential was she in what became Beatlemania? We discuss her obvious empathy with and yet professional distance from the Beatles' female fans, and her instinctive understanding that a personal connection with fans strengthens the relationship. Also, this small film made with Kickstarter funding secured the rights to use four Beatles songs: how?Watch the film on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ucoGodRvzX8The interview with Freda and Ryan White for the iTunes launch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cvMticJSYqMNew Zealand's performance in the 2010 World Cup, as tweeted by Ed and retweeted by Russell Crowe: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2010_FIFA_World_Cup#Group_FOther Ryan White films and series mentioned are Good Night Oppy: https://share.google/f55I0xmygF4ttj6UJThe Case Against 8: https://share.google/3RPhWLFhVPEmRVcHVAssassins: https://share.google/pR0CNS8MuXJ9rnsrXPamela: A Love Story: https://www.netflix.com/title/81590934The Keepers: https://www.netflix.com/title/80122179When we recorded this we discussed Freda's cameo in Backbeat, playing George Harrison's mother giving him scones before they sail to Hamburg. Then when we watched it we weren't convinced it was her. A bit of digging revealed it's a Liverpudlian actor called Frieda Kelly, who was active in the 80s and 90s. IMDb incorrectly adds Freda, not Frieda, to the cast list. Justice for Frieda! https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0446394Meet the Beatles Films PodcastThe Beatles Films Podcast is hosted by Matt Looker and Ed Williamson. We're both film writers and Beatles fans. Between us we've written for TheShiznit.co.uk, Total Film, Den of Geek and Virgin Media.But tomorrow may rain, so you'll follow us on:Instagram https://instagram.com/beatlesfilmspodBluesky https://bsky.app/profile/beatlesfilmspod.bsky.socialYouTube https://www.youtube.com/@BeatlesFilmsPodcastThreads https://www.threads.net/@beatlesfilmspodFacebook https://www.facebook.com/groups/304654901827622 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Two film writers and Fab Four fans discuss movies and TV about, starring, and inspired by The Beatles: John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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