Cuts in Beatles Film Annoy Venture Girls

 

Cuts in Beatles Film Annoy Venture Girls

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Sevenoaks Chronicle

January 5, 1968

    Girls of Sevenoaks Venture Corps took part in the Beatles controversial Magical Mystery Tour shown on BBC television on Boxing Day, were disappointed that scenes in which they appeared were heavily cut.

     In the final scene, where the Beatles sang "Your Mother Should Know." The girls marched through the lavish set dressed in their Venture Corps uniforms. 

    I met five of the girls at Cherry Swift's home at 9 Hillingdon Rise Sevenoaks, and they gave me their views on the film, which was criticized in national reviews. 

    Cherry, 15, enjoyed the film but, like most of her colleagues, was disappointed about their scene. "I thought they could have made more of that," she said.  "About four coach loads of dancers were used in that scene, but when it was shown on Boxing Day, you hardly saw any of them."

     Contrary to popular opinion that the film had no beginning, middle or end. Diane Baldwin, age 14 of 34, Orchard Close Sevenoaks, thought it had all three. "It did have a beginning and a middle when they were going places and the end when they had the big finale." She was disappointed that the public did not see one of their members, Susan Mackrell of the New Inn, St Johns Hill, Sevenoaks, presenting flowers to one of the Beatles. "You only saw a quick flash of that, whereas when they filmed it, there was much more."

     Janet Dyke, age 16, of 3 North Down Road, Kemsing, said, "The film was more for younger people than older people." This, she said, was why most of the complaints came from elderly viewers. 

    Shirley Smith, age 16, of 43, Hillingdon Rise, like the film. But added, "I was disappointed that they left out the bit where we saluted."

 Linda Cuthbert, age 14 of  8 Garden Road Sevenoaks, simply said, "It was all right. I could not see what all the fuss was about."