Curling

50 years ago today, on March 17, 1965 one of my top favorite scenes from the movie, Help! was filmed:  The curling scene.    I love the whole scene----from the Beatles actually curling, to George getting the bomb and then yelling out that it is a "Fiendish Thingy" to Mal Evans popping up out of the ice and ask for "white cliffs of dover."   And then you hear the story in Anthology about how the Beatles took off running and ran and ran and smoked a reefer and it just adds to the scene. 

Beatles skiing

Whoever had the brilliant idea of putting the Beatles on skis must not have known how uncoordinated they all are!  

Ringo interview with Derek and Dave

This is an interview by Derek Taylor and Dave Hull of KRLA for The Beat magazine.   They were in the Bahamas and interviewed the Beatles.   This interview with Ringo seems to focus a lot on Ringo's recent marriage to Maureen.   I can just feel that Ringo wanted to say, "listen----she told me that she was pregnant, and so I asked her to marry me.   I love Maureen and we were most likely going to get married eventually, but the baby on the way sped up the whole thing.   That is what is up."   But of course he couldn't  say that.    

Hullabalooer and Ringo

KRLA the Beat

March 31, 1965

Derek:  Good morning, Ringo

Ringo:  Good morning, Derek.  Good to see you again.

Derek:  Good to see you, Ringo, particularly in weather like this.  Is it too hot for you?

Ringo:  Uh…it gets a bit hot when you’re staked in the sun and have to lay there for half an hour or so, fully dressed.

Derek:  Why the red paint all over your suit, Ringo?

Ringo:  Well, it’s…the film is basically a chase film and it’s about a ring, and it starts off where they’re going to sacrifice a girl, and they paint everyone they sacrifice red, you see…this tribe…but they can’t sacrifice the girl because she hasn’t got this magic ring on which she sent to me because I wear rings.  And so they’re after me now and they can’t get the ring off and so they’re going to sacrifice me…and that’s why I’m red.

Derek:  And the paint has been put on you so they could sacrifice you?

Ringo:  Yes.

Derek:  How many times have you been painted up now?

Ringo:  Oh, about four or five times.

Derek:  Do you like filming?  It seems hard work for you.  You always seem to be the one out on your own while all the other Beatles are in bed.

Ringo:  Not all of the time.  Some of it.  I’ve enjoyed filming anyway.  It’s just that I hate to get up in the mornings.  That’s the only drag.

Derek:  What tie do you have to get up in the morning, Ring?

Ringo:  Malcom woke me up at 25 to seven this morning.

Derek:  How do you stand the separation so soon after getting married?

Ringo:  Oh, you know, you just when we were getting married that I would have to leave to come out here for the film and we just got used to the idea.  It’s a bit of a drag, y’know.  But there was no point fetching Maureen because we’re working like lunatics and we don’t have a day off when we’re on location.

Derek:  It wasn’t a question then, really, of having a Caribbean honeymoon, which is many people’s dream?

Ringo:  No, no.  Well, we didn’t have an England one…never mind the Caribbean one.

Derek:   how long were you actually away from London?

Ringo:  We got married on a Thursday and went back on a Sunday night.

Derek:  It was quite a dramatic story, which broke at a very good time of day, too.   How long was it planned before it happened?

Ringo:  Well, we decided to get married two weeks to the day, and it started getting planned from then.

Derek:  Well, let me say congratulations because everyone who knows you, and knows you both, is delighted.  I think it was a marvelous move and I’m sure you thought so too or you wouldn’t have done it.

Ringo:  Well, thanks a lot, Derek.  I thought it was a good move.

Derek:  It means that at least we won’t have to deny or confirm the quires, “Is Ringo married,” so will you now say into the mike something for all time, on record, “I married Maureen Cox.”

Ringo:  I married Maureen Cox.  I’m very happy…and her name is now Maureen Starkey.

Derek:  Which is no bad name and we’re all very happy.  Tell me, the other Beatles in the film…are they detached form you for a time as they were in ‘A Hard Day’s night?’”

Ringo:  Yes, just a short time.  Not too long this time, though.

Derek:  In this film there’s no question of you falling out at all?

Ringo:  No, no.  Well, as I say, I get captured and things and they’re looking for me, and when they’re looking for me you won’t’ see me on the screen, and when I’m sort of being captured and taken away you’ll see me and not  them.

Derek:  Is the film in Technicolor?

Ringo:  Yes, yes.  Well, it’s in some color.  I don’t know if it’s in Technicolor or one of the other colors.

Derek:  It’s a beautiful day, Ringo.

Ringo:  It’s marvelous.  I think it must be getting 75 or 80 degrees.

Derek:  It’s a different climate form California, of course, because I think there is more humidity coming in from Florida.

Ringo:  Well, it’s very hot if you get into the town.   It’s not so bad while you’re on the beach, but while you’re in town it’s hard going, y’know….you sweat like a pig.

Derek:  this sort of climate suits me very well, which his really why I came to live in California.   Dave Hull just walked up.

Ringo:  Yes, I’ve noticed.  Hi, Dave.

Dave:  Hi Ringo.  I think it’s my turn to toss a few questions at you.

Ringo:  Yeah, I sort of expected that.

Dave:  Speaking of Maureen again, are you happily married?

Ringo:  Yes, very happily, thank you.

Dave:  Good.  That’s very good.  I know all of your fans..there are a few dissenters but I’m sure most of your fans.

Ringo:  I hope I haven’t upset anyone too much.

Dave:  No.  I don’t think it has.  Most of your fans are quite happy if you’re happy.  I know that’s they well they feel.

Ringo:  Well that’s good.  Thank you.

Dave:  The time you were in the States, in Hollywood, and in Los Angeles in particular, I asked you a question, “What about Maureen? And your answer was:  “Maureen who?”  Do you know the Maureen that I meant now?

Ringo:  Yes, yes.  Yes, but I mean…when I was last in the States there was nothing…no thought about getting married or anything.  I just used to take her out a lot and other people as well, you know.   And I got back and about November/December we sort of went out together, just the two of us, all the time.  I didn’t go with anyone else or anything, and then three weeks before we got married I asked her to marry me.  And then two weeks form the day before we got married we started setting up the wedding.

Dave:  How did she feel about not being with you on this particular trip?

Ringo:  I don’t know, really.  I don’t think she likes it.  When I phone her says, you know, “I miss you,” and things like that.  And I miss her.   But you know, we’re working every day and there would be nothing for her to do and she’s busy with all the family because none of the family came to the wedding, only her mother and father and mine, and she’s sort of going around being congratulated by the aunties and uncles, you know.  So, she’s doing that job while I’m doing mine.

Dave:  that’s good.  Yesterday—to get back to the movie for just a moment---yesterday there was—not a mishap, but the car is which they were shooting you and John and Paul and George, slammed into the tree a little hard.  Is that correct?

Ringo:  Yesterday?   That was about four days ago---three days ago.  None of us were in the car.  George was on top of it when it smashed into the tree, and it’s all part of the film…so…

Dave:  Oh, it is?

Ringo:  So there was no great danger.

Dave:  They are shooting some of this in Austria?

Ringo:  Next Wednesday we go back to Britain for two days and then we fly out to Austria for eight days, and then we finish the film in Britain the next two months.

Dave:  Listen, it has been awfully nice of you to take this time, Ringo.

Ringo:  It’s my pleasure.

Dave:  Best of luck to Mrs. Starkey.

Ringo:  Thank you very much.   I’m still not really used to that name:  Mrs. Starkey.

First things first

March 13, 1965-- the Beatles and wives make it to Austria and right away a press conference was held.   I have never been able to find out a whole lot of information about this press conference, but I haven't give up hope. 

Beatles movie a Blast!

KRLA's Beat magazine had two disc jockeys fly to Bahamas to spend time with the Beatles during the filming of Help! (which at that point didn't even have a real name).    One of them was Derek Taylor, who has a rich history with the Beatles and the other was Dave Hull.    I am going to be reproducing the articles that they wrote and the interviews they did with the guys over the next few days.

Beatles Movie a Blast!

March 17, 1965

Derek Taylor’s report

The Beatles are fine.  They feel fine, they look fine, act brilliantly, sing better than ever.  On and off-set they have the air of assured young men who have it made.  They may not ever claim to be the greatest act showbiz has ever known, but they certainly look it and certainly are.  I hadn’t seen them for three months and of course, they hadn’t changed too much.  But the feature which struck me most was that they looked more mature.  They have more assurance than ever; they are no longer boys.

As Peter Evans, Britain’s most important entertainment columnist wrote in the London Daily Express:  “They are man-talking adult beneath those little-boy haircuts.”

Evans came away from meeting them in the Bahamas, soured.  He wrote a biting attack of their off-stage attitude to the press and described them as “rude and arrogant.”

The Beatles were quite unworried by this.  They shrugged their shoulders and forgot about it (who know what the Beatles go through in the way of pressure, strain, traveling, heat and so on were very annoyed by the article. 

Said the film’s publicity officer, Tony Howard – a good man and an honest one, “I like Peter Evans and he is entitled to his views.”

But Peter’s views are not shared by the other journalists who came here to the Bahamas.

Tony Howard told me, “You know yourself that the Beatles are extremely patient.  They are particularly nice to unimportant people form small newspapers or radio stations.  The only thing they ask of people is that they should be honest and direct as them. 

“We had 45 press-men and radio people here in five days.  The Beatles met them all.  And out of those 45, only Peter Evans attacked them.  Maybe he had a difficult time with them.  Maybe he didn’t.  Whatever happened, it was unusual.  The journalists have been thrilled with the Beatles’ cooperation. “

Well, Dave Hull and I were very, very happy with the way things went.  The Beatles were great.

They gave me a wonderful welcome and it was just like old times.  We went out to dinner together under the blue Bahamian skies, visited clubs, laughed about funny things that had happened in the past. 

The film should be marvelous.  It is full of action.  Paul is shrunken to thumb-size for one wild scene.  There are four Ringos at one time.

Also there are 11 songs, the Bahamas background; scenes in the Alps and in London.  Ringo is nearly murdered for his precious ring.  The film is shot in colour and it will be one of the huge events of the cinema in 1965.  Release-date USA and UK:  around August 1.

Watch out for more film news and some inside news on the Beatles’ lives in next week’s KRLA Beat.

Dave Hull’s report

If I wasn’t a complete raving, total Beatlemaniac before, then I certainly am now!

What an experience!  After spending four days with them in the Bahamas while they filmed portions of the second movie, I feel as wrung out as a piece of laundry.

There is so much to tell I’m sure neither Derek Taylor nor I will be able to do much more than scratch the surface during this edition of the Beat.  But we’ll continue it from week to week until you have the whole story…the whole book is more like it, because anyone could write a book after spending a few days with those guys.

They are so full of life and mischief that they’re perpetual motion machines.  They really wear a person down—even the old Hullabalooer himself.

My previous associations with the Beatles had mostly been in situations where they were crowds all about or near impossible schedules to meet so that we were unable to really sit down and talk for more than a few minutes at a time.

But this trip was completely different.  Although they are working about 12 hours a day on the movie, there is a much more relaxed and casual atmosphere. 

After inviting Derek and me to visit them, they were great hosts.  Completely friendly, relaxed and outgoing.  

To our surprise, Derek and I found that anyone going to the Bahamas where they’re shooting the film is allowed to see the Beatles.  The included visiting them on the set!

Tourists were constantly snapping pictures of them, and the Beatles actually seemed quite happy about it.  They even took the time and trouble to speak to a lot of the visitors.

I’ll pass along a few of the experiences that occurred while we were there.

At one point, Ringo, who plays a very unusual role – is painted by a savage.  That particular scene had to be shot six times, and each time an expensive suit was ruined.

The script called for a giant idol to rise out of the sea on cue.  For some reason, the thing fell over, breaking off two of the arms.  With boats, a blimp and helicopter required to set it right again, the arms were finally welded back on at a tremendous cost. 

While Malcolm Evans, the Beatles’ road manager, was filming a bit as a channel swimmer, a huge sting ray came in close to shore – evidentially to see what was going on (you find Beatlemaniacs in every form).  The director quickly ordered Malcolm and the Beatles out of the water.  A diver was sent to scare it off.  I didn’t envy the diver a bit, because that thing was about 20 feet in diameter and was so huge that everyone on shore could see him out there.

We had some great time with John, Paul, George and Ringo and other members of the company.  We asked them every question we could think of and got replies to almost all of them.  Derek is covering some of those points in his report in the Beat this week and together we’ll take up some of the questions and answer them item by item.

Right now I have to sit back and catch my breath while trying to recuperate form an acute attack of Beatlemania. 

Returning home

On March 11, 1965 the Beatles returned back to London from filming Help! in the Bahamas.   You can see here the special menu the Beatles could order from on the flight, which was autographed by the four.   Ringo is seen carrying a large package, which he reported was a gift for his new bride.   What it is, I am not too sure.  

Beatles Love Bahamas, but Feeling far from mutual

I thought this newspaper article from 50 years ago today was quite interesting!

Photo by Henry Grossman

photo by Henry Grossman

 

Beatles Love Bahamas, but Feeling far from mutual

Tuesday March 9, 1965

Ocala Star-Banner

Back home in England the Beatles may be great, but since their arrival here they’ve done little to endear themselves to the press or public.  

The entertainers got off to a bad start last December when Beatles George Harrison arrived with his girlfriend, Patti Boyd for a hush-hush week’s stay with Dr. W.T. Strach, the Beatles’ business manager.

Efforts by local officials then to keep reporters and fans away led to a near-riot at the airport.

When the four mop-tops arrived Feb. 22 to film a movie, they gave local fans the slip by being whisked from their plane in an automobile, not allowing even a glimpse of them.

Charges of “ignoring their fans” were denied by Brian Epstein, the Beatles’ personal manager, who claimed this was an arrangement by local authorities.

But the Beatles’ behavior here is generally resented.  They’ve refused to pose for any photographers and fans have been unable to get autographs as the entertainers rush back and forth in fast cars and dodge autograph seekers. 

Photographers have been subjected to foul language and the public generally has come in for similar treatment. 

Tony Howard, their publicity manager, today denied reports that Ringo had burned the hand of Pete Gardner, manager of a restaurant, with a lighted cigarette.

“When I told Ringo about it, he went into a fit of laughter, saying he couldn’t understand how anyone would think he could do such a thing,” Howard said.   “The whole thing was just a joke.”

Howard admitted that Ringo did gesture toward Gardner’s hand with a cigarette but he said he had no intentions of burning him.

In spite of the bad press they have received here, Howard said the Beatles loved the Bahamas and plan to return for a holiday as soon as their schedule permits.

Commenting on adverse publicity, Howard said, “I think they’ve come to expect this kind of thing.  It probably happened because the people were getting a bit bored with all the nice things which have been said about the Beatles and the newspapers were just looking for a new angle.   The boys feel that recent statements about them in print are quite wrong or vastly exaggerated and as far as they are concerned, they’ve clear consciences and nothing to regret.”

Filming of the movie, so far unnamed, has proceeded on schedule and the Beatles are due to leave Wednesday.  Full preparations are being made to allow fans a good view of the Beatles on their departure.  They will arrive at the airport an hour before scheduled takeoff

During the weekend the Beatles broke their daily “work and bed’ routine and dined with Sir Harold and Lady Christie on Friday and tourist minister Sir Stafford Sands on Saturday when they met the governor of the British Crown Colony, Sir Ralph and Lady Grey.