Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band (1978)

A small-town band hits it big, but they must battle a nefarious plot in the music industry.

Director:

Michael Schultz

Writers:

Henry Edwards, Tom O'Horgan (play)

Stars:

Peter Frampton, Barry Gibb, Robin Gibb

2 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Peter Frampton	...	Billy Shears
Barry Gibb	...	Mark Henderson
Robin Gibb	...	Dave Henderson
Maurice Gibb	...	Bob Henderson
Frankie Howerd	...	Mean Mr. Mustard
Paul Nicholas	...	Dougie Shears
Donald Pleasence	...	B.D. Brockhurst
Sandy Farina	...	Strawberry Fields
Dianne Steinberg	...	Lucy
Steve Martin	...	Dr. Maxwell Edison
Aerosmith	...	Future Villain Band (FVB)
Alice Cooper	...	Father Sun
Earth Wind & Fire	...	Earth, Wind & Fire
Billy Preston	...	Sgt. Pepper
Stargard	...	The Diamonds

Storyline

Ever since they were sent into World War I battle in 1918, Sergeant Pepper and his Lonely Hearts Club Band of Heartland, USA have been spreading the message of joy and love to the world, which has made them and Heartland famous. Upon Sergeant Pepper's death in 1958, the band's instruments have been housed on display at Heartland City Hall as symbols of that love and joy. Before his death, Sergeant Pepper asked his adolescent grandson Billy Shears to take on the reins of forming his own band to continue to spread the message of joy and love. With Billy's brother Dougie Shears as their Manager, Billy, now an adult, and his three best friends, brothers Mark, Dave, and Bob Henderson, embark on their lives as a new Lonely Hearts Club Band. They quickly come to the attention of Hollywood music producer B.D. Hoffler Of B.D. (Big Deal) Records. With the boys off to Hollywood to spread the words of joy and love to the world, enter into Heartland the evil and demented Mr. Mustard, an ex-real ...

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Plot Keywords:

small town | the beatles | the beatles song | weathervane | scanimate | 

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Taglines:

Only their music could conquer the forces of evil

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Genres:

Adventure | Comedy | Fantasy | Musical

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Certificate:

PG

Did You Know?

Trivia

The Bee Gees tried to get dropped from the film two weeks into production.

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Goofs

When Mean Mr. Mustard serenades Strawberry Fields, he puts his teacup down. In the next shot, he puts it down again.

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Quotes

[first lines]
Mr. Kite: The war to end all wars did not end soon enough. So, Heartland, USA, sent the Allies it's most effective secret weapon: Sgt. Pepper and his Lonely Hearts Club Band.

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Crazy Credits

The old black-and-white Universal Studios logo with a biplane circling a globe is used at the start of the film with added animated explosions in color going off around it.

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Connections

Referenced in The Cinema Snob: Xanadu (2015)

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Soundtracks

She's Leaving Home
Music and Lyrics by John Lennon and Paul McCartney
Performed by The Bee Gees, Jay W. MacIntosh, John Wheeler
Produced by George Martin
By Arrangement with Northern Songs Limited

User Reviews

A Guilty Pleasure

In 1978, when I was 12 years old, we were living in Moscow, while my father was stationed at the Canadian Embassy. To escape the "fun" of living behind the Iron Curtain, we routinely took the Moscow-Helsinki express and travelled around Scandinavia. Our trip always ended at this huge department store in Helsinki, where we'd order all our non-perishable groceries until our next trip. My brother and I were allowed to purchase one record apiece to take back with us.

So one time, I picked up the soundtrack to this film. I don't think the movie had been released yet. Goodness knows, I didn't know that the movie was going to be a howler. All I know is that I loved the soundtrack. I listened to it over and over, and pored over the photographs on the album cover, trying to get a sense of the movie.

A few years later, I read "The Golden Turkey Awards" and then I started to realize how bad the movie was. I didn't get my chance to see it until 1997. Oh, it stunk! Cheese everywhere, from the awkward love story to the campy antics of the villain and his robots.

And yet, I watch it every time it comes on TV. Finally, I have the movie to go with the soundtrack. And let's face it - I love cheesy movies.

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

24 July 1978 (USA)

Also Known As:

Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band

Filming Locations:

Century City, Los Angeles, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$18,000,000 (estimated)

Gross USA:

$20,378,470

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$20,378,470

Company Credits

Production Co:

NF Geria II Filmgesellschaft m.b.H., Robert Stigwood Organization (RSO)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

113 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Stereo (35 mm prints) 70 mm 6-Track (70 mm prints)

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.39 : 1