Skip to main content
Music Radar MusicRadar The No.1 website for musicians
(opens in new tab) (opens in new tab) (opens in new tab) (opens in new tab) (opens in new tab)
  • Guitars
  • Amps
  • Pedals
  • Drums
  • Synths
  • Software
  • Pianos
  • Controllers
  • Recording
  • Buyer’s guides
  • Live
  • DJ
  • Advice
  • Acoustic
  • Bass
  • About us
  • More
    • Reviews
Magazines
  • Computer Music
  • Electronic Musician
  • Future Music
  • Keyboard Magazine
  • Guitarist (opens in new tab)
  • Guitar Techniques (opens in new tab)
  • Total Guitar (opens in new tab)
  • Bass Player (opens in new tab)
More
  • 5 Jeff Beck songs you need to hear
  • Music Gear Reviews
  • Free music samples
  • Best free music-making software
  • 24 free chord lessons

When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.

  1. Home
  2. News

The Fab Four... Beatles films

By MusicRadar Team
published 6 February 2014

'Yellow Submarine'... denied!

  • (opens in new tab)
  • (opens in new tab)
  • (opens in new tab)
  • (opens in new tab)
A Hard Day's Night
1964
(Image credit: Bettmann/CORBIS)

A Hard Day's Night

A Hard Day's Night was described by one critic at the time as the “Citizen Kane of jukebox musicals”. Big words but the film is great.

The musical performances like If I Fell and I Should Have Known Better are complemented by some good acting by The Beatles and old lags like Wilfred Brambell (old man Steptoe of Steptoe And Son TV show fame).

Like the Beatles flicks that followed, Ringo is the star of the show. The scenes of him shuffling around old London causing mayhem are hilarious. The opening shot of the lads being chased by hordes of screaming girls is simply iconic.

Page 1 of 4
Page 1 of 4
Help!
1965
(Image credit: John Springer Collection/CORBIS)

Help!

A 1965 bonkers mess of cults and mad scientists with a bemused (and apparently stoned) Fab Four stuck in the middle.

Help! was a big influence on The Monkees TV series launched the following year. Shot on location in the Bahamas and the Alps (they’d always wanted to go there, said Paul), the film revolves around a sacrificial ring stuck on Ringo’s finger.

Once again, Ringo takes centre stage providing some genuinely comic moments and the music, as ever, is fantastic. The band’s performance on Salisbury Plain surrounded by the British Army is worth the cost of the DVD alone. Great fun.

Page 2 of 4
Page 2 of 4
Magical Mystery Tour
1967
(Image credit: Cindy Stern/Loop Images/Corbis)

Magical Mystery Tour

The concept was simple: get a bus, load it up with The Beatles, their mates and some circus performers, then drive around Britain and wait for magical adventures to happen.

Unfortunately, nothing did happen. But Magical Mystery Tour is still an interesting piece of work thanks to some great ‘music video’ moments, in particular the unforgettable spectacle of The Beatles performing I Am The Walrus wearing those crazy animal masks.

George plays his psychedelic Stratocaster ‘Rocky’ on the track – the Sonic Blue model he bought in 1965, repainted. Magical Mystery Tour was panned when it was first shown on Boxing Day TV in 1967. It’s since become a classic.

Page 3 of 4
Page 3 of 4
Let It Be
1970

Let It Be

While it was intended as a unique insight into the band's studio work, Let It Be is more a fascinating documentary of The Beatles falling out of love with each other.

McCartney had been effectively running The Beatles since the death of the band's manager Brian Epstein in August of 1967 and the tension between him and John and George is obvious.

In one chilling scene of the film Paul lays out his ideas for the band’s future to John only to be met with complete silence. In typical Beatles style, the music of Let It Be maintains the band’s magic touch with the title track being a particular standout.

Page 4 of 4
Page 4 of 4
  • (opens in new tab)
  • (opens in new tab)
  • (opens in new tab)
  • (opens in new tab)
MusicRadar Team
MusicRadar Team

MusicRadar is the number 1 website for music makers of all kinds, be they guitarists, drummers, keyboard players, djs or producers...

GEAR: We help musicians find the best gear with top-ranking gear round-ups and high- quality, authoritative reviews by a wide team of highly experienced experts. TIPS: We also provide tuition, from bite-sized tips to advanced work-outs and guidance from recognised musicians and stars. STARS: We talk to musicians and stars about their creative processes, and the nuts and bolts of their gear and technique. We give fans an insight into the actual craft of music making that no other music website can.
  1. John Oates
    1
    John Oates on 10 albums that changed his life, and the guitar that now feels like a part of him: "I bought my ‘58 Strat in 1972 for a hundred and twenty-five bucks and I’ve played it ever since"
  2. 2
    Jeff Mills and Daft Punk's mastering engineer shares mixing advice with followers
  3. 3
    "It's was written, recorded and mixed in about six hours" – Noel Gallagher names the Oasis and solo songs he'd take to a desert island
  4. 4
    Gene Simmons explains what makes Abba great and why – if pushed – he’d take early Jeff Beck Group over early Led Zep
  5. 5
    16 inspiring guitar chords that are great for clean tones
  1. Metallica
    1
    Metallica unleash new single Screaming Suicide, a 5:39 min Hetfield masterclass in downpicking
  2. 2
    John Oates on 10 albums that changed his life, and the guitar that now feels like a part of him: "I bought my ‘58 Strat in 1972 for a hundred and twenty-five bucks and I’ve played it ever since"
  3. 3
    Jeff Mills and Daft Punk's mastering engineer shares mixing advice with followers
  4. 4
    Gene Simmons explains what makes Abba great and why – if pushed – he’d take early Jeff Beck Group over early Led Zep
  5. 5
    "It's was written, recorded and mixed in about six hours" – Noel Gallagher names the Oasis and solo songs he'd take to a desert island

MusicRadar is part of Future plc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Visit our corporate site (opens in new tab).

  • About Us (opens in new tab)
  • Terms and conditions (opens in new tab)
  • Privacy policy (opens in new tab)
  • Cookies policy (opens in new tab)
  • Accessibility Statement
  • Careers (opens in new tab)

© Future Publishing Limited Quay House, The Ambury, Bath BA1 1UA. All rights reserved. England and Wales company registration number 2008885.