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Product Description
Amazon.co.uk Review
After the world-wide success of A Hard Day's Night, the Beatles and director Richard Lester reunited for a follow-up film, Eight Arms to Hold You. Well, that wasn't the final title; a pleading Lennon-McCartney tune provided the catchier handle: Help! A loose semi-spoof of the globe-trotting James Bond pictures, Help! has always been considered a somewhat disorganised comedown from its predecessor; but it presents "the famous Beatles" even more clearly as the English cousins of the Marx Brothers. The plot has an Eastern religious cult declaring that the new ring on Ringo's finger is the key element in a human sacrifice; they will stop at nothing to obtain it. Meanwhile, a mad scientist (crazed Victor Spinetti, who also appeared in A Hard Day's Night and Magical Mystery Tour) believes that if he has the ring, he could--dare we say it?--rule the world. The songs, including "Ticket to Ride" and "You've Got to Hide Your Love Away", are filmed with gleeful ingenuity, in locations such as the Bahamas, an Austrian ski resort and Salisbury Plain. The relentless nonsense becomes nearly the equivalent of a swinging-60s Alice in Wonderland: for instance, Paul shrinks to the size of a gum wrapper, John fishes a season ticket out of his soup, George wears a top hat on the ski slopes, the lads sing the "Ode to Joy" to a lion. Oh, and the film is dedicated to Elias Howe, "who in 1846 invented the sewing machine". Brilliant. --Robert Horton
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
14 of 14 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
Despite the frivolous, not to say silly, plot, "Help!" is just plain fun; and, if one gets past the frantic antics, it is full of delightful puns and allusions (Some are very Goon Show.). The adorable four are supported by an A-1 cast, including Leo McKern, who puts as much zest into his role as the evil Clang as he does into that of Rumpole. Victor Spinetti (who was also in "A Hard Day's Night"), chews the scenery as the mad scientist, Foot, and he is ably assisted by Roy Kinnear as the dippy Algernon. Eleanor Bron is outstanding as the mysterious Ahme, who, decked out in an outrageous peacock blue turban and plumes, informs the lads that there is more to her than meets the eye. Each one of us probably has his favorite scene; mine is one in which Ringo is told not to worry about the Bengal tiger which is sharing the cellar with him; all he has to do to calm the beast is sing the "Ode to Joy" from Beethoven's Ninth Symphony; and then all the Beatles and everyone else in the pub above the cellar belt it out in German! Goofy, but so what? It's fun! And besides, the Beatles sing a rollicking rendition of "Hey! You've got to Hide Your Love Away."
The second disk with the commentary is particularly enlightening. Not only are there the very interesting comments of the director, Richard Lester, but there is also a fascinating explanation by the technicians on the intricacies of restoring the film. Wendy Richard, who plays my favorite character, Miss Brahms, in "Are You Being Served?", talks about the thrill of playing her very first role in "Help!," only to discover at the last minute that the scene had been cut (They show bits and pieces of it, but unfortunately, the scene itself seems to be lost).
"Help!" is a film to watch on a summer night when you just want to sit back, relax, and have a good laugh.
The second disk with the commentary is particularly enlightening. Not only are there the very interesting comments of the director, Richard Lester, but there is also a fascinating explanation by the technicians on the intricacies of restoring the film. Wendy Richard, who plays my favorite character, Miss Brahms, in "Are You Being Served?", talks about the thrill of playing her very first role in "Help!," only to discover at the last minute that the scene had been cut (They show bits and pieces of it, but unfortunately, the scene itself seems to be lost).
"Help!" is a film to watch on a summer night when you just want to sit back, relax, and have a good laugh.
8 of 9 people found the following review helpful
Format:VHS Tape
That's what's in this package. No serious message, no brutal revelations; just fun, historic fun. From a time when the Beatles (and a whole generation) took themselves less seriously, HELP! provided the soundtrack to many of our lives and times.
Ringo's life is imperiled by an ancient sacrificial ring stuck on his finger. The ring makes him the target of a group of hilariously demented oriental mystics, who chase the boys from London to the Swiss Alps to the Bahamas.
But wait! There's more to this perfectly restored classic than meets the eye - namely an electrifying encoded Hi-Fi soundtrack, adding an unprecedented dimension to the original songs: HELP! "You're Gonna Lose That Girl," "You've Got to Hide Your Love Away," "Ticket to Ride," "I Need You," "Another Girl" and "The Night Before".
The visual execution of these songs is incredibly stylish - so just relax and experience this movie event, and let the memories of a lost era flood your mind!
Ringo's life is imperiled by an ancient sacrificial ring stuck on his finger. The ring makes him the target of a group of hilariously demented oriental mystics, who chase the boys from London to the Swiss Alps to the Bahamas.
But wait! There's more to this perfectly restored classic than meets the eye - namely an electrifying encoded Hi-Fi soundtrack, adding an unprecedented dimension to the original songs: HELP! "You're Gonna Lose That Girl," "You've Got to Hide Your Love Away," "Ticket to Ride," "I Need You," "Another Girl" and "The Night Before".
The visual execution of these songs is incredibly stylish - so just relax and experience this movie event, and let the memories of a lost era flood your mind!
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
Just been revisiting the DTS soundtrack of this excellent release and noticed that George Harrison's double-tracked vocals on 'I Need You' appear to be a different take to that included on the various mono and stereo vinyl / CD issues. His phrasing isn't quite the same.
Anybody else noticed?
Anybody else noticed?
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Ludicrously Fun!
I never disliked The Beatles growing up but I would never say I was passionate about their music either. Read more
Published 6 hours ago by D Brown
Sixties in a Nutshell
This is very much a film of its time. It is enjoyable and 'silly' rather than laugh-out-loud, a bit cringe-making in places but you have to remember the year. Read more
Published 16 days ago by Fidget Books
greatr entertainment...
..but you'd have to know of the Beatles themselves, the music and the 1960s period to get the most out of it.
Published 4 months ago by gerry latawiec
Excellent
This film is SO good, you simply have to see it. Is is so brilliant made, and you can watch it over and over again, and still experience new things.
Published 5 months ago by Anette Kristensen
Enjoyable
I found this film amusing at the most. I was expecting more songs to begin with and a bit more plot detail. Read more
Published 15 months ago by I.AM.FROG
help
bought this for my best friends 16 year old daughter
she loved it despite me thinking that she wouldnt appreciate something from this era
she loved it despite me thinking that she wouldnt appreciate something from this era
Published 16 months ago by dave
Help Is On The Way
I watched this film on VHS two nights ago and it was the perfect escape.Lovely singable Beatles songs(including perhaps my favourite - You've Got To Hide Your Love Away),a silly... Read more
Published on 27 Oct 2009 by juliet R
Help
Definitely a trip down Memory lane as both my wife and I watched this movie three times as Teenagers when it first came out
Film story is rubbish bu the songs are brilliant... Read more
Film story is rubbish bu the songs are brilliant... Read more
Published on 10 April 2009 by Peter John Storey
Not Bad Beatles Film
I love the Beatles and their music, but this is not quite as good as 'Hard Days Night'. It is quite 'zany' and funny in parts and there are some excellent tracks on there, as you... Read more
Published on 9 April 2009 by I. M. Knight
I love the Beatles, but this is not a good film
"Help!" is not actually the worst film ever made. There are several candidates for that: I would nominate "Easy Rider", "Funny Games" (both the original and the remake), "Ocean's... Read more
Published on 28 Sep 2008 by lexo1941
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