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 movie since Help! (1965) was largely Sir 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 | instrumental music | dwarf | man wears eyeglasses | 

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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

The movie bombed both times it appeared on British television. Once the reviews were in, ABC cancelled plans to show it during Easter weekend 1968. However, it became a modest success in the 1970s on the American midnight and college movie circuits. The movie has been shown sporadically on American independent and public television stations.

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Goofs

Paul loses his timing towards the end of "Your Mother Should Know"

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Quotes

John: I've got a present for you, do you know what it is?
Nichola: No.
John: Have a guess.
Nichola: No.
John: Go on, have a guess.
Nichola: No.
John: [angry] Have a guess!
Nichola: [laughing] No!
John: [stares at the camera] Well, you're going to get it anyway.
[blows the balloon]
[...]

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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

Referenced in A Clockwork Orange (1971)

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Soundtracks

The Fool on the Hill
(uncredited)
Performed by The Beatles
Written by John Lennon and Paul McCartney
Published by Capitol/EMI Records

User Reviews

A must-see for beatles-fans

This psychadealic story was, without no doubt, a milestone. It's always nice to see John, Paul, George and Ringo acting in a movie, especially when they play the role of wizards. The story is of no importance, but just watch the special effects (like in the song 'Blue Jay Way') and the funny scenes. I can imagine that non-Beatles-fans can find this a very bad movie, but if you have any respect for the fab four of likes their music ('I am the walrus','Fool on the hill','Inner light','Your mother should now')this is a must.

(P.S.: I enjoyed the 'coming-down-the-stairs-scene' a lot at the end of the movie)