Help! [2 Discs]

MOVIE DESCRIPTION:

In their second feature with director Richard Lester, who oversaw the massive hit A Hard Day's Night, the Beatles again aim for a mix of goofy comedy and sterling pop music. There is slightly more of a plot this time, though it is a patently ridiculous one: a sacred ruby ring comes into Ringo's possession, attracting the unwelcome attention of an exotic religious cult and forcing the boys to go on the run. This chase narrative is thankfully never taken too seriously, serving mainly as an excuse for colorful excursions to international locations from Europe to the Bahamas. The musical numbers include such classic tunes as "Ticket to Ride," "You've Got to Hide Your Love Away," and, of course, "Help!". ~ Judd Blaise, Rovi

DVD FEATURES:

• Region: All
• Number of Discs: 2
• Audio: PCM Stereo
• Screen: Enhanced Wide Screen Letterbox for 16x9 TV
• Subtitle: Eng/Spa/Por/Fre
• Features:
  • The Beatles in Help!
  • A missing scene
  • The restoration of Help!
  • Memories of Help!
  • 3 theatrical trailers
  • 1965 radio spots

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

• Cast:

  
       The Beatles - Themselves
       Leo McKern - Clang
       Eleanor Bron - Ahme
       Victor Spinetti - Prof. Foot
       Roy Kinnear - Algernon
       Patrick Cargill - Superintendent
       John Bluthal - Bhuta
       Alfie Bass - Doorman
       Warren Mitchell - Abdul
       Peter Copley - Jeweller
       Bruce Lacey - Lawnmower
       Alex MacIntosh

• Director:

  Richard Lester

• Producer:

  Walter Shenson, Jonathan Clyde

• Screen Story:

  Marc Behm

• Screenwriter:

  Marc Behm, Charles Wood

• Cinematographer:

  David Watkin

• Songwriter:

  George Harrison, John Lennon, Paul McCartney

• Composer (Music Score):

  Ken Thorne

• Musical Direction/Supervision:

  Ken Thorne

• Editor:

  John Victor Smith

• Art Director:

  Ray Simm

• Executive Producer:

  Neil Aspinall

• Costume Designer:

  Julie Harris, Dinah Greet, Arthur Newman

• Special Effects:

  Cliff John Richardson, Roy Whybrow

• Production Manager:

  John Pellatt

• Musical Performer:

  The Beatles

• Publicist:

  Howard Brandy

• Music Producer:

  George Martin

REVIEW:

• Help! offered one outwardly noticeable difference from 1964's A Hard Day's Night: it was in color. If it seemed less fresh, that was because it built on the techniques of the earlier film. As with A Hard Day's Night, the acting abilities of the Fab Four, along with a bizarre and thin plot, made way for the performance of a number of songs. In a way, Help!, with its emphasis on new songs, campy performances by pop stars, and lots of action to fill up the screen, is a forerunner to music videos. Compared to earlier music films starring Elvis or Frank Sinatra, Help!'s pacing and approach are much more frenzied. Lester seemed to find the right tone for Help!, creating an enjoyable portrait of the Beatles and never allowing the film to take itself too seriously. His style would later be co-opted by Bob Rafaelson for the Monkees' television series in the '60s and has continued to influence rock musicals like Spice World in 1998. ~ Ronnie D. Lankford, Jr., Rovi