Help! offered one outwardly noticeable difference from 1964's A Hard Day's Night: it was in color. If it seemed less fresh, that was because it built on the techniques of the earlier film. As with A Hard Day's Night, the acting abilities of the Fab Four, along with a bizarre and thin plot, made way for the performance of a number of songs. In a way, Help!, with its emphasis on new songs, campy performances by pop stars, and lots of action to fill up the screen, is a forerunner to music videos. Compared to earlier music films starring Elvis or Frank Sinatra, Help!'s pacing and approach are much more frenzied. Lester seemed to find the right tone for Help!, creating an enjoyable portrait of the Beatles and never allowing the film to take itself too seriously. His style would later be co-opted by Bob Rafaelson for the Monkees' television series in the '60s and has continued to influence rock musicals like Spice World in 1998.
Condition:NEW. Brand New Factory Sealed
Product Details
Actors: John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, Ringo Starr
Directors: Richard Lester
Format: Blu-ray, NTSC, Widescreen
Language: English
Region: Region B/2 (Read more about DVD/Blu-ray formats.)
Aspect Ratio: 1.77:1
Number of discs: 1
Rated: NR (Not Rated)
Studio: Capitol (Universal)
DVD Release Date: June 25, 2013
Run Time: 153 minutes
Cast & Crew
The Beatles Themselves
Leo McKern Clang
Eleanor Bron Ahme
Victor Spinetti Prof. Foot
Roy Kinnear Algernon
Patrick Cargill Superintendent
John Bluthal Bhuta
Alfie Bass Doorman
Warren Mitchell Abdul
Peter Copley Jeweller
Bruce Lacey Lawnmower
Thomas Baptiste
Ronnie Brody
Blake Butler
Golda Casimir Cleaner in Temple
Vera Cook
Eve Eden
Rupert Holliday Evans Priest, Thug
Mal Evans Cross Channel Swimmer
Mary Ford
Gretchen Franklin Woman in Street
Joe Gibbons
Stewart Guidotti
George Harrison
John Lennon
Jeremy Lloyd
Alex MacIntosh
Andrea Malandrinos Austrian Waiter
Louis Mansi
John Louis Mansi
Paul McCartney
Zienia Merton
Dandy Nichols Woman in Street
Susan Reid
Edith Saville
Ringo Starr
Jenny Till
Ian Wilson
Technical Credits
Richard Lester Director
Neil Aspinall Executive Producer
Marc Behm Original Story, Screenwriter
Jonathan Clyde Producer
Dinah Greet Costumes/Costume Designer
Julie Harris Costumes/Costume Designer
George Harrison Songwriter
John Lennon Songwriter
Paul McCartney Songwriter
Arthur Newman Costumes/Costume Designer
John Pellatt Production Manager
Cliff John Richardson Special Effects
Walter Shenson Producer
Ray Simm Art Director
John Victor Smith Editor
Ken Thorne Score Composer, Musical Direction/Supervision
David Watkin Cinematographer
Roy Whybrow Special Effects
Charels Wood Screenwriter
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