Help! (1965)

Ringo Starr finds himself the human sacrifice target of a cult, and his fellow members of The Beatles must try to protect him from it.

Director:

Richard Lester

Writers:

Marc Behm (screenplay), Charles Wood (screenplay)

Stars:

John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison

Nominated for 2 BAFTA Film Awards. Another 3 nominations.

Cast

Complete credited cast:
The Beatles	...	The Beatles
Leo McKern	...	Clang
Eleanor Bron	...	Ahme
Victor Spinetti	...	Foot
Roy Kinnear	...	Algernon
John Bluthal	...	Bhuta
Patrick Cargill	...	Superintendent
Alfie Bass	...	Doorman
Warren Mitchell	...	Abdul
Peter Copley	...	Jeweller
Bruce Lacey	...	Lawnmower

Storyline

An Eastern cult discovers that the sacrificial ring is missing. Ringo, drummer of The Beatles band has it; sent by the girl (who's to be sacrificed) as a gift. Clang, Ahme, Bhuta and several cult members leave for London to retrieve the ring. After several failed attempts to steal the ring, they confront him in an Indian restaurant. Ringo learns that if he does not return the ring soon, he will become the next sacrifice. Ringo then discovers that the ring is stuck on his finger. Its a race against time; John, Paul, and George try to protect their friend while they're all being chased not only by Clang and his minions, but also by two mad scientists and the chief inspector of Scotland yard. Will Ringo be saved, or will he be sacrificed?

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Plot Keywords:

ring | mad scientist | human sacrifice | the beatles | drummer | 

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Taglines:

The colorful adventures of the Beatles are more colorful than ever...in color! (Poster).

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Genres:

Adventure | Comedy | Musical

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Certificate:

G

Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

25 August 1965 (USA)

Also Known As:

¡Socorro!

Filming Locations:

Ailsa Avenue, Twickenham, Middlesex, England, UK

Box Office

Budget:

$1,500,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Walter Shenson Films, Subafilms

Technical Specs

Runtime:

92 min

Sound Mix:

Mono Dolby Digital (re-release)

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The original title of the movie was "Eight Arms to Hold You", although no one really liked it much and by the time the movie was edited, it didn't really fit the storyline at all. John Lennon had written the song "Help!" around the same time, and it suited the movie's theme so well it became the title song.

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Goofs

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.

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Quotes

George: [referring to a drill coming through a painting] What's that?
Austrian Waiter: What's what?
George: That little whirly thing coming out of his stomach.
Austrian Waiter: I can't look!
[a hose comes through the whole the drill made]
John: It's only a hose.
[the waiter faints as the Beatles investigate the hose]
Paul: [listens into the hose then hands it to John] It's for you.
John: Who is it?
Paul: The gardener.

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Crazy Credits

"I Need You" by George Harrison is the only song title credited in the end credits. As this is shown you can hear George say '"I Need You" by George Harrison'.

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Alternate Versions

The film originally used the mono mix version of the song HELP! which has a different vocal performance from the stereo mix. When the film was 'remixed' into stereo, the stereo version was dubbed over the mono rather than remixed. This caused some lip-sync issues due to different phrasing and a lower-key HELP! from John when the title flashes up on the screen (the original mono version was more appropriately 'shouted' out).

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Connections

Referenced in Capitalism: The Movie (2008)

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Soundtracks

Symphony No. 9 in D minor, Op. 125
(1824) (uncredited)
Written by Ludwig van Beethoven
Sung a cappella by many people

User Reviews

Stuck in the Shadow of "Night" a classic in it's own right

This film, suck in the shadow of the criticaly lauded (rightfully so) "A Hard Day's Night", is arguably just as good and maybe more important. Richard Lester's

stuck deep in Buster Keaton mode (the Beatles Digs seem an homage to "the

Electric House") and he never made his modernized version of Buster work

better. Though it lacks "Hard Day's Nights" quicksilver verbal wit; there are

excellent visual jokes to pick up the slack, and the Beatles acting, FAR from being bad, hits just the right tone of throwaway sillyness. The supporting cast are perfect. Of the seven Beatles songs, I would say three( "Help" "The NIght Before" and "You've Got To Hide Your Love Away") are A plus Beatles, setting the bar very high indeed. This style of comedy, as I suggested, had one foot in silent comedy and one in hip detachment; and if that works for you, "Help!" should prove timeless.