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Post by stavros on Jan 4, 2014 19:04:17 GMT -5
This short film went totally under my radar last year. www.now-films.co.uk/p.asp?id=4&c=6Thanks to an in depth conversation about all things Beatles with my nephew over the holidays he mentioned he'd seen this over Christmas here on TV. It's currently running on Sky Arts for those in the UK and Ireland. It's the story of a John Lennon who walked out on the Beatles in 1962 over disagreements to release "How Do You Do It?" and sees him aged 50 taking the bus to a job interview. He has become somewhat eccentric, bitter and disillusioned with life and how the Beatles carried on without him achieving a modicum of fame and recording such dire songs as "Mull of Kintyre" and doing their "Greatest Hits" tour after their solo careers bombed. It's slightly uncomfortable at times, full of Lennon type witticisms, snarling moments and even unspoken moments of reflection on what might have been. Sorry I can't source a video of it or even a preview for you. But look out for it if it's shown on TV or the net anywhere. Well worth the watch. Now I can give you the soundtrack which was written by Martin Carr (formerly of the Boo Radleys - most famous for their single "Wake Up Boo" back in the 1990s). soundcloud.com/martin-carr/sets/snodgrassMartin Carr is originally from the town of Wallasey, a short trip across the River Mersey from Liverpool. It is also the birthplace of Jackie Lomax (Apple Artist), Guy Massey (producer of the Beatles Re-masters) and the town where the "Silver Beetles" first played under their new name of "The Beatles" at The Grosvenor Ballrooms in June 1960.
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Post by John S. Damm on Jan 5, 2014 20:08:50 GMT -5
Wow, I think I would like to see that film! It would be kind of painful to contemplate a Lennon-less Beatles.
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Post by sayne on Jan 6, 2014 13:04:00 GMT -5
I used to think about what the Beatles would have been like without either John or Paul. In either case, I've thought they would have been moderately successful. I've thought that a John-less Beatles would have been in the Dave Clark Five, Hollies, Gerry and the Pacemakers, Bee Gees, Hermans Hermits and such, while a Paul-less Beatles would have been more like the Kinks, the Animals, Troggs, Spencer Davis Group, and the other a bit harder bands.
I don't think either incarnation would have given us Rubber Soul, Revolver, or Pepper - at least in the sonic ways we know them.
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Post by stavros on Jan 6, 2014 15:25:53 GMT -5
Sadly this is only a short film, about 25 mins long. There is not time much discussion of the Beatles other than a line from the anti-hero, the middle aged Mr O'Boogie, which describes them as "almost as big as the Hollies" and a shot of youths spraying graffiti over a "Beatles Live" poster. I dare say it'll be made available on Netflix or cable/satellite for the rest of the world as it's almost a year old now. If you can invest the time to read it the the original short story it is based on is still available in pdf form here. Snodgrass by Ian R McLeodWhilst a longer film with a bigger budget may have explained a lot more I think this short piece just makes you think what if? There's a slight surprise at the end as well.
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Post by sayne on Jan 6, 2014 19:49:25 GMT -5
If John had left the Beatles as per the premise of Snodgrass, the moderate success would have been the result of having no Ed Sullivan Show 1964, no meeting with Bob Dylan, no movies, most likely no Indian influence on George, no Royal Command Performance, no Shea Stadium, no world tours, no cartoon. That's all I can think of right now. Without John or Paul, the mania that led or was a result of the above would not have happened. IMO, they would have just been an ordinary band. Popular, but not the IT band.
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Post by joeyself on Jan 6, 2014 21:31:02 GMT -5
Interesting concept. Sounds familiar, though--what would they have done if they hadn't been successful? I can't remember just where I heard it before. Seems like McCartney stayed in music and was kind of like a Holiday Inn lounge singer, can't remember about the others. Do any of you remember what I'm trying to recall?
It also reminds me a bit of David Marks and his exit from the Beach Boys before they made it big.
I've started reading the short story, will finish it at the half of the football game.
EDIT: Finished it, and thought it OK as a concept, and not so much in the execution.
JcS
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Post by scousette on Jan 7, 2014 11:26:16 GMT -5
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Post by joeyself on Jan 7, 2014 13:22:49 GMT -5
That's the one! Thanks, Patty. JcS
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Post by stavros on Jan 7, 2014 16:54:55 GMT -5
That Liverpool Fantasy story sounds very similar in concept.
I think the acting by Ian Hart takes it beyond the level of the writing in the short story. I didn't know until today that he also played John in the movie Backbeat.
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