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

Only Beatles biopic produced and released prior to the death of John Lennon.

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Goofs

At the beginning of the movie when the Beatles audition for a club, John Lennon says they'll be playing Dizzy Miss Lizzy in the key of E, but when they play, its in the key of B flat.

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Quotes

John Lennon: Where are we going, fellas?
Paul McCartney, George Harrison, Stu Sutcliffe: To the top!
John Lennon: What top?
John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, Stu Sutcliffe: To the Very Top!

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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 Stuart Sutcliffe: The Lost Beatle (2005)

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Soundtracks

Love Me Do
Written by John Lennon & Paul McCartney
Performed by Rain (Eddie Lineberry, Chuck Coffey, Bill Connearney, and Steve Wight)

User Reviews

Wildly inaccurate

For the knowledgeable Beatles fan, the main value in this movie is to just sit back and pick out the flaws, inaccuracies, combined events, omitted events, wildly exaggerated events, omitted people, timeline errors, mis-attribute quotes, incorrect clothing, out of place songs, and (shame shame) incorrect instruments and other boners I just cant think of right now. The flaws come fast and furious so you'll have to be on your toes.

I didn't give this a "1" primarily due the fact that it is filmed in Liverpool and the actors (the band Rain) give it their all (the Lennon character is credible and does a good job). Also, the song "Cry for a Shadow" is heard at one point and THAT counts for SOMETHING.

So,,, watch it for fun, but please don't take it as historically accurate.