Magical Mystery Tour (1967)

The Beatles charter a special bus for a surreal mystery tour.

Directors:

George Harrison (as The Beatles), John Lennon (as The Beatles)

Stars:

John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison

Cast

Complete credited cast:
The Bonzo Dog Doo-Dah Band	...	(as Bonzo Dog Doo Dah Band)
Jan Carson	...	Stripper
George Claydon	...	Photographer
Ivor Cutler	...	Mr. Bloodvessel
Shirley Evans	...	Accordionist
Nat Jackley	...	Rubber Man
Nicola Hale	...	Little Girl (as Nichola)
Jessie Robins	...	Ringo's Aunt (as Jessie Robbins)
Derek Royle	...	Jolly Jimmy
Victor Spinetti	...	Army Sergeant
Miranda Forbes	...	Hostess Wendy Winters (as Mandy Weet)
Maggie Wright	...	Starlet

Storyline

The Beatles first film since "Help" was largely Paul McCartney's project. The story follows a bus load of eccentric characters on a magic journey through the English countryside. Rather than a unified narrative, it becomes a series of psychedelic clips promoting various songs including "The Fool on the Hill," "Blue Jay Way," "Your Mother Should Know," "I Am the Walrus" and "Magical Mystery Tour." The Bonzo Dog Doo-Dah Band are seen in a strip club playing "Death Cab for Cutie."

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Plot Keywords:

hare krishna | running after a bus | the beatles | magic | song | 

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Genres:

Comedy | Fantasy | Musical

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Certificate:

Not Rated

Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

26 December 1967 (UK)

Also Known As:

Lumottu Beatles-matka

Filming Locations:

Atlantic Hotel, Newquay, Cornwall, England, UK

Company Credits

Production Co:

Apple Corps,British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

55 min

Sound Mix:

Mono Stereo (1988 re-release)

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Paul McCartney dreamed up most of the film while flying home to the UK from the Monterey Pop Festival.

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Goofs

When Jimmy addresses the bus from the front, the next shot has him in his seat behind the driver.

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Quotes

Jolly Jimmy Johnson the Courier: Good morning ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls! Welcome to... Mmmagical Mystery Tour!

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Crazy Credits

Made in England by The Beatles

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Alternate Versions

The 1988 home video release featured re-mixed stereo versions of the songs and restored & re-mastered "Visual" (pictue) & dialogue (sound).

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Connections

References The Alvin Show (1961)

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Soundtracks

When the Red, Red Robin Comes Bob, Bob, Bobbin' Along
(uncredited)
Written by Harry M. Woods

User Reviews

Coom on, join in! What'sa matter with yer ?!

The silliness of this film seems to be lost on many Americans as a matter of cultural difference, but to anyone brought up in the British or Australian tradition it's a shambolic delight. There are many moments which stick in the mind, but my favourite is probably the sing-along in the bus, when a drunken Ringo begins singing "I've got a looverly boonch of coconuts..." and, upon getting no reply from his fellow travellers, loudly and stroppily remonstrates, "Coom on, join in! What'sa matter with yer ?!". Magical Mystery Tour has the amateur, string-and-stickytape appeal of the early Gumby series, but with the bonus of Northern English sensibilities and great Beatle songs. The poor boys were shattered after the death of Brian Epstein, John Lennon's marriage was coming to a very unfortunate end, they had had enough of so many things and were moving into a new and frightening phase of their lives : the film can be seen as an expression of all this angst overlaid with nostalgia for the Music Hall, Crazy Gang, Goon Show comedy and tragic sea-side holidays of their, and many of their fans', childhoods, and the sheer, magical power of their creative imaginations always looking forward to new possibilities. I love it.