Help! (1965)

Director:

Richard Lester

Writers:

Marc Behm (screenplay) &
Charles Wood (screenplay) ...
(more)

Release Date:

25 August 1965 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Musical

Tagline:

Stop Worrying! HELP! Is On The Way!

Plot:

Ringo finds himself the human sacrifice target of a cult and the band must try to protect him from it.

Plot Keywords:

Ring | The Beatles | Human Sacrifice | Mad Scientist | Scotland Yard

Awards:

Nominated for 2 BAFTA Film Awards. Another 2 wins & 1 nomination

Cast

The Beatles
Leo McKern	...	Clang
Eleanor Bron	...	Ahme
Victor Spinetti	...	Foot
Roy Kinnear	...	Algernon
Patrick Cargill	...	Superintendent
John Bluthal	...	Bhuta
Alfie Bass	...	Doorman
Warren Mitchell	...	Abdul
Peter Copley	...	Jeweller
Bruce Lacey	...	Lawnmower
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Danny Almond	...	(uncredited)
Thomas Baptiste	...	(uncredited)
Ronnie Brody	...	Priest / Thug (uncredited)
Blake Butler	...	(uncredited)
Golda Casimir	...	Cleaner in Temple (uncredited)
Vera Cook	...	(uncredited)
Deborah DeLacey	...	High Priestess (uncredited)
Durra	...	Belly Dancer (uncredited)
Eve Eden	...	High Priestess (uncredited)
Mal Evans	...	Channel Swimmer (uncredited)
Rupert Evans	...	Priest / Thug (uncredited)
Mary Ford	...	(uncredited)
Gretchen Franklin	...	Neighbor (uncredited)
Joe Gibbons	...	(uncredited)
Bob Godfrey	...	Priest / Thug (uncredited)
Bob Grant	...	Cameo (uncredited)
Stewart Guidotti	...	Bit Part (uncredited)
George Harrison	...	George - One of The Beatles (uncredited)
Jenny Landry	...	(uncredited)
John Lennon	...	John - One of The Beatles (uncredited)
Jeremy Lloyd	...	Man in Restaurant (uncredited)
Alex MacIntosh	...	(uncredited)
Andreas Malandrinos	...	Austrian Waiter (uncredited)
Louis Mansi	...	Priest / Thug (uncredited)
Marie-Lise	...	High Priestess (uncredited)
Paul McCartney	...	Paul - One of The Beatles (uncredited)
Zienia Merton	...	Marie-Lise (uncredited)
Dandy Nichols	...	Neighbor (uncredited)
Zorenah Osborne	...	High Priestess (uncredited)
Sue Reid	...	(uncredited)
Patty Roberts	...	(uncredited)
Edith Saville	...	(uncredited)
Wally Shufflebottom	...	Small Role (uncredited)
Ringo Starr	...	Ringo - One of The Beatles (uncredited)
Jenny Till	...	(uncredited)
Glenda Warrington	...	(uncredited)
Ian Wilson	...	(uncredited)
Gai Wright	...	High Priestess (uncredited)

Directed by
Richard Lester

Writing credits
Marc Behm		(screenplay) &
Charles Wood		(screenplay)
Marc Behm		(story)

Produced by
Walter Shenson	....	producer

Original Music by
Paul McCartney		(uncredited)
Ken Thorne		(uncredited)

Cinematography by
David Watkin		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
John Victor-Smith		(film editor) (as John Victor Smith)

Art Direction by
Ray Simm		(as Raymond Simm)

Costume Design by
Julie Harris
Dinah Greet		(uncredited)
Arthur Newman		(uncredited)

Makeup Department
Betty Glasow	....	hairdresser
Freddie Williamson	....	make-up

Production Management
John Pellatt	....	production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Clive Reed	....	assistant director

Art Department
Terry Apsey	....	contruction manager (uncredited)

Sound Department
H.L. Bird	....	sound recordist (as H.L.Bird)
Bill Blunden	....	sound editor
Don Challis	....	sound editor
Stephen Dalby	....	sound recordist
John Baker	....	electronic sound effects (uncredited)
Mike Le Mare	....	sound editor (uncredited)

Special Effects by
Cliff Richardson	....	special effects
Brian Gamby	....	special effects (uncredited)
Fred Heather	....	special effects (uncredited)
Garth Inns	....	special effects (uncredited)
Jimmy Ward	....	special effects (uncredited)
Roy Whybrow	....	special effects (uncredited)

Stunts
Cliff Diggins	....	stunt double: George Harrison (uncredited)
Cliff Diggins	....	stunts (uncredited)
Joe Dunne	....	stunts (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Jack Atcheler	....	camera operator (as Jack Atchelor)
Paul Wilson	....	camera operator
Frank Elliott	....	first assistant camera (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Arthur Newman	....	wardrobe

Editorial Department
Robert Freeman	....	colour consultant
Chris Kelly	....	second assistant editor (uncredited)

Music Department
John Lennon	....	songs by
Paul McCartney	....	songs by
Ken Thorne	....	musical director
Barrie Vince	....	music editor (as Barry Vince)

Other crew
Rita Davison	....	continuity
Robert Freeman	....	titles
Jean-Étienne Siry	....	poster designer (french version)

Thanks
Elias Howe	....	this film is respectfully dedicated to the memory of, who in 1846, invented the sewing machine (as Mr. Elias Howe)

Production Companies

• Walter Shenson Films
• Subafilms

Distributors

• United Artists Corporation (1965) (UK) (theatrical)
• United Artists (1965) (USA) (theatrical)
• Les Artistes Associés S.A.B. (1965) (Belgium) (theatrical)
• National Broadcasting Company (NBC) (1968) (USA) (TV)
• EMI Music (2007) (Finland) (DVD)
• Criterion Collection, The (USA) (laserdisc)
• MPI Home Video (198?) (USA) (VHS)
• SMV (Brazil) (VHS)
• VCI Distribution
• Voyager Company, The (laserdisc)

Special Effects

• Trading Post (uncredited)

Other Companies

• Triage Archival Restoration Services  film restoration
• Triage Motion Picture Services  film restoration

Also Known As:

Runtime:

92 min

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono | Dolby Digital (re-release)

Certification:

Canada:G (Manitoba/Nova Scotia/Quebec) | Canada:PG (Ontario) | UK:U | South Korea:12 | UK:U (video rating) (1991) | USA:Approved (PCA #22669) | Finland:K-8 | Sweden:11 | USA:G (1980)

Filming Locations:

Ailsa Avenue, Twickenham, Middlesex, England, UK

Company:

Walter Shenson Films

Trivia:

Due to time constraints, the film was edited while it was being shot. So by day Richard Lester would shoot the film, and by night he would edit any scenes that had been completed.

Goofs:

Continuity: When Prof Foot and Algernon kidnap Ringo in The Bahamas, they wrap him in a blanket before throwing him in the trunk of their car. A bit of the blanket gets caught when the lid closes, but when George jumps onto the trunk as car drives away, the bit of blanket is gone.

Quotes:

Superintendent:Oh come on now lads, don't be windy, where's that famous pluck?
John:I haven't got any, have you George?
George:Did have.
Paul:I have had.
Ringo:I will have! Lead on!

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Life: Did You Feel That? (#2.6)" (2008)

Soundtrack:

You Can't Do That

"It's a season ticket. What d'you think it is?"

A great movie. People here seem to complain the plotline was too silly. But keep in mind this was during the Bond phase(almost a forerunner to Get Smart). A sacrificial ring caught on the Famous Ringo's finger. A mad scientist trying to take over the world. An evil cult trying to kill our heroes. A girl from that cult secretly helping our heroes. Typical Bondish plotlines.

It also has great one-liners(Maybe it's that I'm just your average 14 year old American who loves British humor), and just weird ones that sound funny. "I don't subscribe to your religion." "He's out to rule the world if he can get a government grant." "Now, look here, Paul. I've had some great times with this finger. How do you know I wouldn't miss it?"

And, of course, greeeeeaaaaat music.