Talk:Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band (film)

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Contents 1 Beatles' Reactions 2 Plot summary 3 The Story Behind the Film 4 July 21, 1978: A date which will live in infamy! 5 Other tidbits 6 The guest descriptions 7 Fair use rationale for Image:Billy Preston.jpg 8 Fair use rationale for Image:Sgtpepperdvd.jpg

[edit] Beatles' Reactions

There's nothing on the page concerning how the actual Beatles reacted to the film. Did they react or pan it entirely? --Pittsburghmuggle 13:16, 1 September 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Plot summary

OK, I guess I'll do it. But I'm going to hate myself in the morning. =^_^= --Dennis The TIger 05:03, 12 August 2006 (UTC)

[edit] The Story Behind the Film

In the summer of 2003, I compiled this report on the making of the film and it's release. This was compiled from various websites, so feel free to check my credibility.

In 1974, a stage version of the album had opened under the guise of Bee Gees and RSO Records manager, Robert Stigwood. After seven weeks of atrocious reviews the play closed, but, as screenwriter Henry Edwards noted, “If there’s one rule that stands above all in Hollywood, it’s that if at first you don’t succeed, don’t, under any circumstances, try again. Mr. Stigwood was preparing to break this rule.” Edwards, a long-standing New York Times film critic, met Stigwood in April of ’76 to discuss bringing a retooled version of the production to the screen. Despite skepticism that the album could not be transferred onto celluloid, or that any Beatles-esque film for that matter was possible, Edwards was hired and set to work on the script. Edwards’ ‘inspiration’ came after comparing his situation to that faced by Hollywood writers in the 1930’s—who’d constructed plots around previously written material—and after witnessing the “romantic approach” a new pop-star, Peter Frampton, had infused into his music. “Old-fashioned sentiment and melody were in, and it seemed to me that a contemporary pop movie should reflect this return to romance. Mr. Stigwood listened to these ideas, aware that giving them his O.K. would result in a film as unconventional as it would be expensive. Grinning, he said, ‘It has the right feel to me.’” With hindsight, it’s easy to see that Edwards and Stigwood had learned nothing from the legendary 1975 musical/nostalgic fiasco At Long Last Love; namely, building a story around established material does not guarantee success. Edwards continued to work on the script, running into the inevitable difficulties of using all those Beatles songs to advance his ‘plot.’ Problems were solved through relaxation by wining and dining at Stigwood’s tax-evasion estate in the Bahamas; whenever, that is, Stigwood was not off producing the films Saturday Night Fever and Grease. The press started to latch-on. At the start of 1977, such luminaries as Bob Hope, Elton John, Rock Hudson and Doris Day were reportedly being considered for roles. Instead, the aforementioned cast was assembled, along with a couple of relative unknowns from RSO: Sandy Farina, and Paul Nicholas as Billy’s brother, Dougie, whom had just won modest success from a disco LP. George Burns was brought aboard because the town was set in the USA, but Frampton and the Gibbs all sported English accents! Then, at a meeting at Stigwood’s Acapulco hillside retreat just before production started, Stigwood announced they were over his allotted $12 million budget. Stigwood encouraged a melee of penny-pinching ideas, including scrapping entire scenes and location filming. Determined to continue the production but “do it for less,” this may explain the lowered-budget feel that is sometimes all-too-apparent in the film. Finally, at 7 am on October 3, 1977, 300 extras crowded into what had once been Andy Hardy’s old town square at Universal’s Century City to witness Peter Frampton and The Bee Gees perform the band’s opening number. Two weeks later, The Bee Gees, knowing full well the mess that lay ahead, were unsuccessfully lobbying Stigwood to be excused from the production. The lack of script was ever present, as was direction from Chris Bearde—whom had pulled his teeth on variety shows and was replaced by Michael Schultz—and the ‘choreography’ from Patricia Birch, veteran of several trippy films. The cast had no choice but to grin and bear it. Alice Cooper, on a pass between alcoholic treatments (which may explain his spaced-out appearance), had three days to film his scenes and record his vocals. And when KISS, originally chosen to play FVB, refused to be in the movie, sighting threat to their image (they probably read the script), Aerosmith was brought on board. But Steven Tyler almost walked after he refused to be murdered by Frampton in the film, so the scene was redone to make his demise look like an accident (it doesn’t look that way on film, though).

In the spring of ’78, Stigwood was on top of the world. Fever and Grease ruled the box office, and RSO Records was pounding out the soundtracks to both films. Then, just before this film’s release date, things started to go wrong. For some reason, Peter Frampton and The Bee Gees went to court over who would receive top-billing for this debacle. The budget ballooned to $18 million. In June, Peter Frampton was seriously injured in a car accident while in the Bahamas and was unable to attend the film’s premier in Times Square. It was better he did not: Billy’s attempted suicide at the film’s conclusion prompted the audience to yell “Jump! Jump!” Stigwood forged ahead undaunted. By the July 24 release date, two million copies of the double-album soundtrack had been pressed; along with ‘The original’ Beatles recording. The add campaign lifted a line from ‘Being For the Benefit of Mr. Kite’ and declared “A Splendid Time is Guaranteed for All.” The only “Splendid Time” to be had was by critics whom gleefully tore the film apart. Beatles fans staged boycotts and bought the original Sgt. Pepper, which rose onto the charts once more (see, people do have taste), while the soundtrack is said to have returned triple-platinum to the stores (meaning even the bootlegs refused to sell!). The producers lost nearly a third of their investment, and RSO records went under. VH-1 would later place the movie at #76 among their 100 Most Shocking Moments in Rock’n Roll. Over the years, an urban legend sprouted that the film has Bad Karma which permeates all who graced it's scenes. While Steve Martin quietly buried his first film role (and singing career), Donald Pleasence bounced back with his turn as Michael Myers in that fall’s cult-slasher Halloween, and Earth Wind and Fire’s cover of ‘Got To Get You Into My Life’ actually reached #9 on the charts, it was downhill for the rest of the gang. Their album, Spirits Having Flown, would sheen The Bee Gees’ career, but the disco backlash a year later took them out of the limelight. Sandy Farina’s following album tanked, Alice Cooper sank into a decade of alcoholism, Aerosmith didn’t chart the top forty again until 1987, George Burns had one flop after another, and Billy Preston almost disappeared altogether. But the majority of flack was aimed at Frampton. His movie-career vaporized, and he would spend nearly twenty years in submission. (154.5.166.187 04:46, 2 March 2007 (UTC))

[edit] July 21, 1978: A date which will live in infamy!

I actually liked this movie when it came out - I was twelve, and I knew nothing about the Beatles beyond their hit singles - but having since become a diehard Beatles fan, I spend a good deal of my time warning people who weren't around at the time not to see it! It's the Cleopatra of rock musicals!!

(Captain Caveman 22:23, March 31, 2007 ET US/Canada)

[edit] Other tidbits

Mick Jagger was supposed to play the Future Villain at first, according to George Martin in his autobiography, so Aerosmith was actually the third choice!

I read in Entertainment Weekly that three million copies of the soundtrack were sold but eight million were printed! Is this right?

Maurice Gibb is the only cast member other than George Burns with dialogue. At the start of "Getting Better," Maurice, as drummer Bob Henderson (Bob?), counts in the beat.

Look for Pat Cranshaw, who played Andy on the TV series "Alice," as a Western Union messenger.

(Captain Caveman 22:33, March 31, 2007 ET US/Canada)

[edit] The guest descriptions

I replaced the guest descriptions because the "guests" are one thing about this movie that I found very interesting. I wanted to know who these people were, why they were invited, etc. I was hoping at some point to be able to match the guest list to the guests' locations in the lineup, either by listing them in order, or keying to a still picture. Mpaloutz 15:44, 13 May 2007 (UTC)

At the film’s conclusion, the cast gathers atop a grandstand for a rousing rendition of the Sgt. Pepper reprieve. But the producers decided to end their film with a bang; a modernized tribute to the original album’s cover. For a production of such poor taste, the creators managed to ream onto the grandstand virtually every major musical artist from the late ‘70’s. At a cost of a half-million dollars, these celebrities were flown in first-class from around the world and housed at choice accommodations for one day’s filming. Unfortunately, we only catch brief snippets of ‘Our Guests at Heartland’ during the hand-clapping finale, which is a shame: any footage of these stars leaving and departing the set is bound to be more interesting than the entire film. (205.250.167.76 02:25, 22 May 2007 (UTC))

[edit] Fair use rationale for Image:Billy Preston.jpg

Image:Billy Preston.jpg is being used on this article. I notice the image page specifies that the image is being used under fair use but there is no explanation or rationale as to why its use in Wikipedia articles constitutes fair use. In addition to the boilerplate fair use template, you must also write out on the image description page a specific explanation or rationale for why using this image in each article is consistent with fair use.

Please go to the image description page and edit it to include a fair use rationale. Using one of the templates at Wikipedia:Fair use rationale guideline is an easy way to insure that your image is in compliance with Wikipedia policy, but remember that you must complete the template. Do not simply insert a blank template on an image page.

If there is other other fair use media, consider checking that you have specified the fair use rationale on the other images used on this page. Note that any fair use images uploaded after 4 May, 2006, and lacking such an explanation will be deleted one week after they have been uploaded, as described on criteria for speedy deletion. If you have any questions please ask them at the Media copyright questions page. Thank you.BetacommandBot 01:09, 1 June 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Fair use rationale for Image:Sgtpepperdvd.jpg

Image:Sgtpepperdvd.jpg is being used on this article. I notice the image page specifies that the image is being used under fair use but there is no explanation or rationale as to why its use in this Wikipedia article constitutes fair use. In addition to the boilerplate fair use template, you must also write out on the image description page a specific explanation or rationale for why using this image in each article is consistent with fair use.

Please go to the image description page and edit it to include a fair use rationale. Using one of the templates at Wikipedia:Fair use rationale guideline is an easy way to insure that your image is in compliance with Wikipedia policy, but remember that you must complete the template. Do not simply insert a blank template on an image page.

If there is other other fair use media, consider checking that you have specified the fair use rationale on the other images used on this page. Note that any fair use images uploaded after 4 May, 2006, and lacking such an explanation will be deleted one week after they have been uploaded, as described on criteria for speedy deletion. If you have any questions please ask them at the Media copyright questions page. Thank you.BetacommandBot 03:54, 6 June 2007 (UTC)