The Rutles: All You Need Is Cash (1978) (TV)

User Rating:

7.3/10   

Directors:

Eric Idle
Gary Weis

Writer:

Eric Idle (conceived and written by)

Release Date:

22 March 1978 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Music

Tagline:

The Rutles, a living legend that will live long after other living legends have died.

Plot:

Charts the adventures of the prefab four, possibly the most famous band of all time.

Plot Keywords:

Beatles | Spoof | Rock Music | Imaginary Band | Fake Documentary

Cast

Eric Idle	...	Dirk McQuickly / Narrator / Stanley J. Krammerhead III,Jr.,Occasional visiting professor of applied narcotics at the University of Please Yourself Ca.
John Halsey	...	Barry Womble
Ricky Fataar	...	Stig O'Hara (as Rikki Fataar)
Neil Innes	...	Ron Nasty
Michael Palin	...	Eric Manchester, Rutle Corp. Press Agent / Lawyer
George Harrison	...	The Interviewer
Bianca Jagger	...	Martini McQuickly
John Belushi	...	Ron Decline, The most feared promoter in the world
Dan Aykroyd	...	Brian Thigh, Ex-Record producer who turned down the Rutles
Gilda Radner	...	Mrs. Emily Pules
Bill Murray	...	Bill Murray the K.
Gwen Taylor	...	Mrs. Iris Mountbatten / Chastity
Ron Wood	...	Hells Angel
Terence Bayler	...	Leggy Mountbatten
Henry Woolf	...	Arthur Sultan, The Surrey Mystic

Also Known As:

All You Need Is Cash (USA)

Runtime:

76 min

Country:

UK | USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White | Color

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Australia:G (DVD rating) | Singapore:PG | UK:12 (video rating)

Filming Locations:

Abbey Road Studios, Abbey Road, St. John's Wood, London, England, UK

Company:

Above Average Productions Inc.

Trivia:

Eric Idle mentions in his "memoir" available on the DVD what the actual Beatles thought of the film. According to him, George Harrison was very supportive and encouraged him, Paul McCartney was disapproving at first but relented when he found that Idle grew up near Liverpool (though his wife Linda always loved it), Ringo Starr said that he enjoyed it "after 1968", and John Lennon (along with Yoko Ono) adored it.

Goofs:

Anachronisms: In one scene the Pre-Fab Four are in front of a wall with some graffiti in it. The words spell the name of a group that didn't form until 1972: Be Bop Deluxe.

Quotes:

Reporter: It must have been a great honor, meeting the queen.
Ron Nasty: Yes, it must have been.
Reporter: What did she ask you?
Barry Wom: She asked us who we were. And then to get out.
Reporter: What did you say?
Dirk McQuickly: [pointing at Ron Nasty] I said I was him.

Movie Connections:

Features "The David Frost Show" (1969)

Soundtrack:

Baby Let Me Be

Four Lads Who Shook Their Heads

Rags to riches story of Dirk (Eric Idle), Barry (John Halsey), Stig (Rikki Fataar) and Nasty (Neil Innes): The Rutles. We follow their journey from humble Merseyside beginnings in Liverpool's Cavern Club to global superstardom under the secure (if somewhat shaky) hand of their manager, 'Leggy' Mountbatten. This intriguing and revelatory voyage to the highest echelons of the pop world and subsequent (and almost obligatory) mass litigation features several contributions from celebrity fans of the pre-fab four; ready to reveal to the waiting world exactly 'how it was'!!!

Brilliant mock-umentary stands as a glowing beacon to the Beatles (including a self-deprecating cameo from producer Harrison) with an astute collection of marvellous mickey-takes of the fab's more pivotal moments performed by four actors clearly having the time of their lives. (Idle and Innes are inspired). All this interweaved with Innes' uncannilly excellent soundtrack (inc. the sublime 'Let's Be Natural') makes for a must see film for true devotees of Beatles and comedy alike.