The Beatles: Help! (film) ©1965

The Beatles: Help! (film) ©1965 Help! is a 1965 British musical comedy-adventure film directed by Richard Lester, starring The Beatles and featuring Leo McKern, Eleanor Bron, Victor Spinetti, John Bluthal, Roy Kinnear and Patrick Cargill.. Director: Richard Lester Starring: John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, Ringo Starr, Leo McKern, Eleanor Bron, Victor Spinetti, Roy Kinnear Cinematography: David Watkin Musical Director: Ken Thorne Songs: Lennon-McCartney, George Harrison Plot An eastern cult (a parody of the Thuggee cult) is about to sacrifice a woman to their goddess, Kaili. They notice that she is not wearing the sacrificial ring. Instead, Ringo Starr, drummer of the Beatles, has the ring, sent to him by the intended victim, who is a fan of the Beatles. Determined to retrieve the ring and sacrifice the girl, the chief priest, Clang, several cult members, and high priestess Ahme leave for London. After failed attempts to steal the ring without Ringo noticing, they confront him in an Indian restaurant. Ringo learns that he will be the next sacrifice if he does not give up the ring. However, the ring is stuck and he cannot take it off. The Beatles are chased around London by members of the cult. After a jeweller fails to cut the ring off, the band resorts to the bumbling efforts of a mad scientist and his assistant; when his equipment has no effect on the ring, the scientist decides that he must somehow acquire it. Amhe comes to the Beatles’ rescue, and tries to shrink Ringo’s finger to get the ring off with ease, but the cult and the scientists ambush the band’s home, causing Ahme to drop the syringe in shock, shrinking Paul instead. The band runs to the Austrian Alps and narrowly escapes a trap there, thanks to Ahme, who is secretly aiding the Beatles. To stay safe, they ask for protection from Scotland Yard. They are hidden in Buckingham Palace, narrowly avoiding capture by the scientist. Later at a pub, Clang sets a trap for Ringo involving a trap door and a tiger. Then they flee to the Bahamas, followed by the police officers, the scientist, and the cult members. After Ringo is nearly captured, the police have the other Beatles pose as him in order to ensnare the cult members. Despite their best efforts, however, the scientist catches Ringo and hides him aboard a boat where he intends to cut off his finger to get the ring. Ahme rescues Ringo by giving the scientist a shrinking solution in exchange. The two of them dive into the ocean to escape, but Ringo cannot swim and they are both captured by Clang and his followers. In the end, when Ringo is about to be sacrificed on the beach, the ring suddenly comes off. He puts the ring on Clang’s finger, who is then chased by his own cult as the song “Help!“ plays. Cast John Lennon as himself Paul McCartney as himself George Harrison as himself Ringo Starr as himself Eleanor Bron as Ahme Leo McKern as Clang John Bluthal as Bhuta Patrick Cargill as the Superintendent Victor Spinetti as Foot Roy Kinnear as Algernon Alfie Bass as Doorman Warren Mitchell as Abdul Peter Copley as Jeweller Bruce Lacey as Lawnmower Durra as Belly Dancer Mal Evans as Channel Swimmer (uncredited) Gretchen Franklin as Neighbour (uncredited) Dandy Nichols as Neighbour (uncredited) Jeremy Lloyd as Restaurant Patron (uncredited) John Louis Mansi as Priest / Thug Viviane Ventura as Girl on the sacrificial altar (uncredited) Songs “Help!“ “You’re Going to Lose That Girl“ “You’ve Got to Hide Your Love Away“ “Ticket to Ride“ “I Need You“ “The Night Before“ “Another Girl“ Runtime: 92 min 33 sek Country: UK Color: Color Language: English, Russian Release Dates: 29 July 1965 (UK) 11 August 1965 (US) Production Co: Walter Shenson Films, Subafilms