Birth of the Beatles (1979)

An account of The Beatles during the Hamburg years, their signing with Brian Epstein and their inevitable rise during the early sixties.

Director:

Richard Marquand

Writers:

John Kurland (screenplay), Jacob Eskendar (screenplay)

Stars:

Stephen MacKenna, Rod Culbertson, John Altman

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Stephen MacKenna	...	John Lennon
Rod Culbertson	...	Paul McCartney
John Altman	...	George Harrison
Ray Ashcroft	...	Ringo Starr
Michael Ryan	...	Pete Best (as Ryan Michael)
David Wilkinson	...	Stu Sutcliffe
Brian Jameson	...	Brian Epstein
Wendy Morgan	...	Cynthia
Gary Olsen	...	Rory Storm
Linal Haft	...	Agent
Eileen Kennally	...	Aunt Mimi
Richard Marner	...	Club Boss
Alyson Spiro	...	Astrid
Nigel Havers	...	George Martin
Jackie Fishel	...	Street Girl

Storyline

An account of The Beatles during the Hamburg years, their signing with Brian Epstein and their inevitable rise during the early sixties.

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Plot Keywords:

beat group | merseybeat | the beatles | liverpudlian | band name in title | 

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Taglines:

John, Paul, George and Ringo! The first movie to show the way they really were. The fun. The music. The story of the band that changed the world. Re-live it all tonight. Featuring 15 of the songs that made them a legend.

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Genres:

Biography | Drama | Music

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Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

23 November 1979 (USA)

Also Known As:

A Beatles születése

Filming Locations:

Chelsea, London, England, UK

Company Credits

Production Co:

Dick Clark Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

104 min 120 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Stereo

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The guitar used by Stephen MacKenna (John) is not a real Rickenbacker. It's a Shaftesbury 3261.

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Goofs

The guitars played by John Lennon, Paul McCartney, and George Harrison in the early scenes are incorrect. Respectively, they are seen holding a Harmony Stratotone Jupiter, a Fender Stratocaster copy, and an '60's Ibanez respectively. In reality, Lennon played a Rickenbacker 325, McCartney an Italian-made Rosati, and Harrison a Czech-made Futurama.

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Quotes

Stu Sutcliffe: I've made up me mind. Tonight, I'm leaving.
John Lennon: But you're a Beatle! We're nothing without you.
Stu Sutcliffe: You need someone who can give you the pulse you need... who can crow with you... and that's not me. Besides, I've decided to stay here. Astrid and I are getting married. I'm going back to art school.
John Lennon: When are you going to see a doctor?
Stu Sutcliffe: I don't need a doctor! I'm in love.
John Lennon: Look, don't mention it to the others about leaving till after the record date this week, then that'll give you time to think it over.
Stu Sutcliffe: ...
[...]

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Alternate Versions

A European version exists, and is a different cut from the American version. The following changes were made to the European version:

• Some of the dialogue and text in this version is different.
• The opening narration is now done by a British narrator, with the opening text superimposed on a black screen as opposed to a blue screen.
• The prologue, which includes John saying that he wants to see Mickey Mouse is omitted.
• The opening theme song is "My Bonnie" instead of "She Loves You".
• A scene in an art school with a naked woman is included.
• The scenes where The Beatles perform at Der Kaiserkiller are longer. They also include two additional song scenes: "Kansas City" and "Shake, Rattle and Roll" (the former has them trip on the stage floor, while the latter has them break it).
• The scene where they find Stuart badly beaten has extra dialogue.
• The scene where Stuart and Astrid have their moment in bed together is different. The other version has him showing her her new necklace, while this version, has the two of them making love to each other.
• John's bedroom scene with Stuart has extra shots of the others in bed.
• The scene where they first talk to Brian Epstein is a little bit longer.
• The scene where Brian goes to find The Beatles performing "Love Me Do" at a venue is longer.
• The scene where Brian goes to tell the Beatles about George Martin and EMI, has him getting out of a taxi.
• In the scene where Cynthia tell John about expecting a baby, John asks her "What are we gonna call him?"
• The scene where the Beatles arrive at New York City is longer.
• The end credits feature "She Loves You", instead of "My Bonnie".

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Connections

Version of Backbeat (1994)

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Soundtracks

Johnny B. Goode
Written by Chuck Berry
Performed by Rain (Eddie Lineberry, Chuck Coffey, Bill Connearney, and Steve Wight)

User Reviews

Good job, lads!

I've been a Beatles fan for most of my life. Grew up 30 miles from Liverpool a few years later than the boys did. So I could be mean and point out some of the liberties the filmmakers took here. But all in all this isn't bad. The actors are easily recognisable as their characters and the accents aren't too far off. The major players in the Beatles story are all there, and the settings (Liverpool, Hamburg) evoke the era and are believable. The songs come over really well - sounds like Rain were a decent band in their own right. The larking about on stage is also captured perfectly. But Astrid looks a little too much like Anne Robinson (and not blonde enough) for my liking - she even winks at one point!

The early relationship between Brian Epstein and the Beatles seemed very real. Well, Pete Best was there at the time and, as an adviser, should have helped them to get it right. He obviously believes (to this day) that there was a long-running conspiracy to replace him with Ringo. And I think he's right.

I think my favourite cameo in the film is Nigel Havers as George Martin. The posh tall classically trained English gent, running a comedy label as part of EMI, was the only record executive to recognise the unique talent that changed popular music for ever.

Good job, lads.