MovieChat Forums > Help! (1965) Discussion > Amazing film. Cinematic FLARE. Was thi...

Amazing film. Cinematic FLARE. Was this really shot in 1965?

posted 17 years ago by Frumaster
14 replies | jump to latest

This film far surpassed my expectations. I love the Beatles music, but I thought 'help!' would almost just be nothing but some cute shots of the band. Boy was I wrong. I was amazed at the comedy, the multitude of great shots, and most of all, the cleverness involved. I just didn't think it was possible over 40 (!) years ago. Stylistically it is a masterpiece. This could premier today and have high critical acclaim. I just don't know what else to say, this has been the most pleasant surpeise in my recent 'classic film' craze. Anyone who loves 'movie' movies should see this immediately.

[–] arbilab 17 years ago

Richard Lester is indeed a very thorough and accomplished director. It certainly doesn't hurt that the cast is filled out with Britain's equivalent of the Saturday Night Live originals. 'The Boys' are just having fun with it, and the writing caters to that and their inherent deadpan style. It's in my top 10 comedies.

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John: What are you doing on the floor?
Ringo: I'm tired.

[–] smiling_guy 17 years ago

It is an amazing film. I really enjoyed it. My parents said they went to see the film in the cinema and they loved it. I saw it when I was younger and I loved it. I saw it a couple of days ago on TV and loved it. It's just just a loveable film and really out there for the 60s. The Beatles were the first to do everything.

"I'm not Dr Jekyll. I'm Mr Hyde!" - John Hannah, The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde

[–] musicjmusic 17 years ago

A Hard Day's Night was also well done and I do agree that some of the things that the Beatles did and wore are popular today.

[–] Colkitto 17 years ago

While I don't consider this a classic, it is very well shot - one should expect nothing less with Richard Lester at the helm. Take a look at the man's CV.

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"An inglorious peace is better than a dishonourable war" ~ John Adams

[–] musicuser_72 17 years ago

TEH BEATLES WILL ALWAYS RULE WITH THEIR CHARISMA, THEIR MUSIC, THEIR FILMS THEIR EVERYTHING!!
STRAWBERRY FIELDS FOREVER!

[–] mikainen 17 years ago

As much as I love Betales' music, this film was not very good. Some of the most awful Elvis movies came to my mind, only the music is better than in most of Presleys films. AHDN is much better.

[–] gljbradley 15 years ago

I disagree. This movie was pretty good. But I do agree that the Elvis movies were unbearable to watch. I didn't know what the heck he was doing! It's like torture. At least the Bealtes did okay when it comes to the acting and keeping the appeal up.

[–] cambot882 15 years ago

I just watched this on DVD. I was very impressed by the beautiful photography. It's hard to believe this was 1965.

* God is an imaginary friend for adults. *

[–] gljbradley 15 years ago

I agree. The way this movie was filmed and how the cinematography was presented was amazing and beautiful. I keep thinking, "This was in 1965? Wow!" It feels so modern sometimes.

[–] WarpedRecord 15 years ago

It really does seem like it's from much later, doesn't it? So many elements to organize for this film, and it all comes together in one zany whole. My only complaint is it didn't have enough Beatles songs.

[–] [email protected] 15 years ago

You totally nailed it, this has always been one of my favorite looking movies of all time - if I could tailor my world to look like it I would. It's colorful, elegant, understated, and insane all at the same time.

[–] beatlenut8 10 years ago

This movie is much beter than AHDN for me in many ways. The unreality of it where they escape down a well and end up in a Motel swimming pool is pretty cutting edge for the day. The movie was a clear inspiration for The Blues Bros in that they were so non- chalant about the guys trying to do them in for the sacrificial ring. The scene in the elevator where Ringo's hand gets nailed to the roof when it becomes magnetised, and then calmly says to John "I hope he's in" as if to just completely ignore the gravity of what just happened. This was taken further in TBB when Carrie Fisher kept trying to kill Jake.