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| Magical Mystery Tour |
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  (5/10)
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Runtime: 55 |
| Public Rating: 8.50 (6 votes) |
Director: The Beatles |
MPAA Rating:  |
| Genre: Musical, Comedy |
Year: 1967 |
| Writer(s): The Beatles |
| Reviewed by: Alex Kocan |
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This experimental psycadelic TV movie shows The Beatles in directing, acting, and over performing mode. The rather flimsy plot of the film centres on a gentleman by the name of Richard B. Starkey (Ringo Starr) and his aunt Jessie, played by actress Jessie Robbins. They go on a "magical" bus tour to the seaside to see the Blackpool lights. While they are on the bus they are taken into a magical and mystical world. This trip, however, is being observed and influenced by five wizards sitting in a laboratory in the clouds. They, sometimes, take the bus into unpredictable, yet exciting, situations.
All The Beatles appear to be enjoying playing oddball characters on the bus. It is only their enthusiasm that makes up for the lack of creativity, which their audience expected from them. Ringo plays the most significant roll in the "plot". The others, however, have less to contribute. Paul plays a pompous student type, who thinks he is better than anyone else. George does his quiet thoughtful bit to a tee, and John hams it up. At one point, John sits at the back of the bus with a little girl on his knee. He demands that she has him blow up a red balloon. This situation is comical due to the fact that it is Lennon. However, if anyone else attempted to star in this sequence it would appear strange, bordering on the sinister.
The film also features a slapstick performance by actor, Victor Spinetti, as the sergeant major. He features in all of The Beatles live action feature films. He only speaks in mumbles and bumbles, similar to that of Mr. Bean. However, this only adds to the already confused experience of viewing this film.
The critics hated "Magical Mystery Tour" when it premiered on British television, on the BBC, on Boxing Day, 1967. If they expected something similar to the Beatles previous film, "Help", they must have been extremely shocked.
Even though the film is credited to being written, produced and directed by The Beatles, it is the brainchild of Paul McCartney. He devised the concept and directed most of the haphazard sequences single-handedly. The film has no traditional script and is a predominantly improvised affair. In essence, this is Paul's attempt at making an arty film. There are some interesting scenes that involve something, supposedly, the bus, flying over a heavily tinted Iceland landscape. The 1997 re-release of the film features gloriously digitally enhanced colour, which adds to this affect. The sounds track was also re-mixed and re-mastered by the genius, which originally produced The Beatles albums, Sir George Martin.
Beatles fans will enjoy "Magical Mystery Tour", if for nothing else, as it is, in essence, a string of music videos. It features the only ever performance of "I am the Walrus", by John Lennon. Also, any material that documents the group's creativity, no matter how obscure, is not to be ignored. Therefore, if you are looking for some 1960's madcap madness, this short film is just for you.
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