The Beatles Films Podcast

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Latest Episodes:

Concert for George (with Nothing Is Real's Steven Cockcroft): part 2 Nov 24, 2025

Show notes

It's part 2 and we're getting into it: what were the standout performances? There's a lot to choose from: Eric Clapton, Billy Preston, Ringo Starr and Paul McCartney all had a go, but what motivated their song choices? We also discuss Paul in particular: less secure than Ringo in his relationship with George Harrison, it's fascinating to watch Paul tread carefully through his contributions, and we talk about the credit he deserves for how he handled this. What would a Paul McCartney tribute concert look like and who would appear at it?

You can find ways to watch and listen to the Concert for George at https://concertforgeorge.com
We insist you listen to Steven's podcast with Jason Carty, Nothing Is Real: https://www.nothingisrealpod.com
You can also find their Radio Ulster series Back to the Irish, which examines the Irish connections of the Beatles and other artists, on BBC Sounds: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/b079m78n
Prince's performance on While My Guitar Gently Weeps at George's Rock n Roll Hall of Fame induction in 2004: https://youtu.be/dWRCooFKk3c
The Art of McCartney compilation album that Matt likes a lot more than Steven does: https://open.spotify.com/album/4iZ49yyqqCiB4B1NVV98lM
The Prince's Trust Rock Gala 1986, where Paul performed I Saw Her Standing There, Long Tall Sally and Get Back: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hivErCQ7R6I

Meet the Beatles Films Podcast

The Beatles Films Podcast is hosted by Matt Looker and Ed Williamson. We're both film writers and Beatles fans. Between us we've written for TheShiznit.co.uk, Total Film, Den of Geek and Virgin Media.

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Concert for George (with Nothing Is Real's Steven Cockcroft): part 1 Nov 17, 2025

Show notes

As reluctant as he famously is to talk about it, Steven Cockcroft, one half of the Nothing Is Real podcast, attended the George Harrison tribute concert on 29 November 2002. So when it came to discussing the 2003 concert film we thought, Who better to invite on as a guest? Part 1 of our conversation touches on our memories of George's death in 2001, how Steven got a ticket, which artists were confirmed when, and which were rumoured, and the differences between the DVD's two versions: the full concert and the edited theatrical release.

You can find ways to watch and listen to the Concert for George at https://concertforgeorge.com
If you haven't listened to Nothing Is Real you must. Steven Cockcroft and Jason Carty created the the gold standard of Beatles podcasts, and they are sorely missed: https://www.nothingisrealpod.com
You can also find their Radio Ulster series Back to the Irish, which examines the Irish connections of the Beatles and other artists, on BBC Sounds: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/b079m78n
BobFest in 1993 was officially known as The 30th Anniversary Concert Celebration, a Bob Dylan tribute: https://www.bobdylan.com/albums/the-30th-anniversary-concert-celebration
Tom Hanks's episode of Desert Island Discs, in which he chose an unlikely Beatles song and spoke movingly about how they helped him through childhood loneliness: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/b079m78n
The Martin Scorsese concert film The Last Waltz: https://share.google/DQgykliRFBj1vxoMx

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Son of Dracula (1974) Nov 10, 2025

Show notes

Ringo Starr and Harry Nilsson playing Merlin (yes, the wizard) and the son of Dracula: what could possibly go wrong? Well, a fair bit as it turns out: some baffling choices are made and it can't quite make up its mind what it is, but at least Ringo enjoyed being a producer, didn't he? No, not really. Still, he had a bar in his Apple Films office, at least.

Watch the film in this fairly ropy VHS transfer: https://youtu.be/cfkHN_QxNcw
Or in this weird but fascinating HD upscale made using AI: https://youtu.be/1o9zHsyl-3U
The Irish actor who played Merlin in the BBC series is Colin Morgan: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2959880
Woody Allen's 1966 film What's Up, Tiger Lily? where he redubbed a Japanese spy film to make it a comedy: https://share.google/4D2x2eAJnUsmysiq7
The other Apple Films productions we mention are Raga: https://youtu.be/bvwf53_ZPEM
Little Malcolm and His Struggle Against the Eunuchs: https://youtu.be/XOxABAk0scU
Did Britain Murder Hanratty? https://youtu.be/HGl9tzMNtpE
An agreement between France and Great Britain to build what became the Channel Tunnel was signed in 1973, so perhaps it was in the news at the time? That's our best guess anyway: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Channel_Tunnel#History
Nilsson's Son of Schmilsson album: https://open.spotify.com/album/522ynXVXJEFsiozNTy6rbt

Meet the Beatles Films Podcast

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Paul is Dead (2018 British short film) Nov 07, 2025

Show notes

It would've been remiss, having just covered the German Paul is Dead, not to do a quick bonus episode on this lovely little short from British writer-director George Moore. He imagines a Lake District writing retreat in which the Beatles wake up after a drug-fuelled night to discover Paul McCartney is dead, and go about trying to recruit local shepherd Billy Shears as a replacement. We talk about the characterisations used for the group and how much that allows a comprehensive story to be told in just 12 minutes, the references to the Strawberry Fields Forever video and A Hard Day's Night, and what it tells us about Ringo Starr's emotional intelligence.

Watch the film: it's great and it's only 12 minutes. https://vimeo.com/273978693
Poker Face, the Natasha Lyonne show Matt mentions: https://share.google/QjGG4FhuJ2Iz1YQ59
Police Squad! https://share.google/WXk1K6SFYwTAZxQVC

Meet the Beatles Films Podcast

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Paul is Dead (2000 German film) Nov 03, 2025

Show notes

We really enjoyed Hendrik Handloegten's 2000 film, which uses fandom and the old Paul is Dead mystery trope to great effect in a coming-of-age story. Tobias maybe has some stuff going on at home, and at 13 is on the cusp of noticing girls, and the film perfectly shows how kids get obsessed and wilfully believe outlandish things because the fantasy is more appealing than reality.

We go down the rabbit hole of the Paul is Dead theory ourselves, and ask: is there anything in it? (No, no, there isn't.)

There are other versions of the film online, but this one doesn't cut out the music: https://ok.ru/video/4866916879014
Some songs from the Paul is Dead novelty subgenre: The Ballad of Paul by The Mystery Tour: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1nFQpyAXBc0
Brother Paul by Billy Shears and the All-Americans: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wPUycDF-ypg
So Long Paul by Werbley Finster: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GuGpldj1Uog
We're All Paul Bearers by Zacherias & The Tree People: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VRubiFAZS9Y
The appalling "The Last Testament of George Harrison (Paul McCartney Really Is Dead)": https://youtu.be/Rhjtly9KTqE
Other coming-of-age films we mention in which kids get obsessed with something as a reaction to family disruption: Super 8; Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret; The Goonies; Boyhood. We didn't mention it but you could add Stand By Me to that list too.

Meet the Beatles Films Podcast

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Good Ol' Freda Oct 27, 2025

Show notes

We look at Ryan White's 2013 documentary about Freda Kelly, employed by Brian Epstein and The Beatles from 1962 to 1972, and president of their fan club. How influential was she in what became Beatlemania? We discuss her obvious empathy with and yet professional distance from the Beatles' female fans, and her instinctive understanding that a personal connection with fans strengthens the relationship. Also, this small film made with Kickstarter funding secured the rights to use four Beatles songs: how?

Watch the film on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ucoGodRvzX8
The interview with Freda and Ryan White for the iTunes launch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cvMticJSYqM
New Zealand's performance in the 2010 World Cup, as tweeted by Ed and retweeted by Russell Crowe: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2010_FIFA_World_Cup#Group_F
Other Ryan White films and series mentioned are Good Night Oppy: https://share.google/f55I0xmygF4ttj6UJ
The Case Against 8: https://share.google/3RPhWLFhVPEmRVcHV
Assassins: https://share.google/pR0CNS8MuXJ9rnsrX
Pamela: A Love Story: https://www.netflix.com/title/81590934
The Keepers: https://www.netflix.com/title/80122179
When we recorded this we discussed Freda's cameo in Backbeat, playing George Harrison's mother giving him scones before they sail to Hamburg. Then when we watched it we weren't convinced it was her. A bit of digging revealed it's a Liverpudlian actor called Frieda Kelly, who was active in the 80s and 90s. IMDb incorrectly adds Freda, not Frieda, to the cast list. Justice for Frieda! https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0446394

Meet the Beatles Films Podcast

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Ebony and Ivory Oct 20, 2025

Show notes

Strap in for Jim Hosking's deliberately provocative and frustrating take on the "genesis of a song" story. In fictionalising a meeting between Paul McCartney (Sky Elobar) and Stevie Wonder (Gil Gex) at Paul's Scottish cottage, and throwing narrative structure and logic out the window, is he poking fun at how seriously classic rock fans take these stories? We discuss the comedy of repetition, how it can force you to reinterpret simple statements by overexposure to them, and, briefly because it can't be avoided, prosthetic penises.

In the UK you can watch the film on Kanopy, a free streaming service available if you have a library card. But note the films available to you depend on which library you're registered with, so it might not be included: https://www.kanopy.com/en/product/15627467
Watch the trailer: https://youtu.be/Y2ebFMjJujw
The video for Paul's solo version: https://youtu.be/JNsh6uMFNTc
Clarification: when we say it was the second most successful single of Paul's career including Hey Jude, we should say it was the one that ran for second-longest at number one in the US charts. He of course had bigger sellers, like Mull of Kintyre.
The full clip of Andy Kaufman's I Trusted You: https://youtu.be/TSYV-nEE300
The "We Are The World" documentary The Greatest Night in Pop on Netflix: https://www.netflix.com/title/81720500
The full SNL sketch, with Eddie Murphy as Stevie Wonder and Joe Piscopo as Frank Sinatra: https://youtu.be/0h2jZtuRuic
Paul's quote about working with Stevie is from his book The Lyrics.

Meet the Beatles Films Podcast

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Borrowed Time: Lennon's Last Decade Oct 13, 2025

Show notes

Alan G Parker's latest Beatles-related documentary is about John Lennon's last ten years - or maybe the last 15 or so? We look at the film's unfocused approach, its long, seemingly unedited anecdotes, and the perspective lent it by its choice of talking head contributors. We also discuss its use of AI animation, from both a creative and ethical perspective.

You can currently watch Borrowed Time on Prime Video. If not it's widely available digitally, and as we mention, it had a Blu-ray and DVD release too.
Watch the trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xQpCDjvjLSI
Ed mistitles Kenneth Womack's excellent book, John Lennon 1980: The Last Days in the Life, but he's read it, we promise: https://kennethwomack.com/books/beatlesbooks/john-lennon-1980-the-last-days-in-the-life/

Meet the Beatles Films Podcast

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Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story Oct 06, 2025

Show notes

A film that contains one of the most famous cinematic depictions of the Beatles: Jack Black, Paul Rudd, Justin Long and Jason Schwartzman's brief cameo as Paul McCartney, John Lennon, George Harrison and Ringo Starr in Rishikesh, India is widely quoted and memed. We ask what assumptions it makes about the Beatles' personalities. How responsible was the Yellow Submarine film for how a generation, particularly in America, thinks of the Beatles' individual characters and does that play a role here?

The film itself parodies music biopics so of course there's a lot else to talk about. We discuss the tropes of the music biopic. How many of them will there be in the Sam Mendes Beatles films?

The theatrical version of the film: https://www.justwatch.com/uk/movie/walk-hard-the-dewey-cox-story
"American Cox: The Unbearably Long Self-Indulging Director's Cut" is on YouTube for free: https://youtu.be/8UdDZ9xmcfk
Beatles scene, with the deleted bits: https://youtu.be/6frgnqTo1eM
Ray https://www.justwatch.com/uk/movie/ray-2004 and Walk The Line https://www.justwatch.com/uk/movie/walk-the-line
An "artist hits on the famous riff" scene from Straight Outta Compton: https://youtu.be/XC61gApOFac
David Krumholtz, who plays a manager in Ray, and in Walk Hard: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0472710
The Springsteen: Deliver Me from Nowhere trailer: https://youtu.be/oQXdM3J33No (Krumholtz is a record exec in this too)
The Tim Robinson sketch: https://youtu.be/6v1qNVZmofI
Limmy's Wrong Way Down a One Way Street: https://youtu.be/LW7Iv-V1-Jo

Meet the Beatles Films Podcast

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John Lennon and George Harrison on The Frost Programme 1967: transcendental meditation debate Sep 29, 2025

Show notes

On Friday 29 September 1967, John Lennon and George Harrison appeared as guests on The Frost Programme, whose host David Frost had just interviewed Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, with whom the Beatles were then prominently associated in the press. They discussed their newfound practice of transcendental meditation and the public were interested enough that the two appeared again, five days later, on Wednesday 4 October to continue the discussion, this time in front of a questioning audience of academics and doctors.

We discuss first how remarkable it is that pop stars were given a platform like this to debate theology, and how different the environment was compared to today's discussion programmes, in that everyone was given time to make their points without interruption, and the two Beatles weren't condescended to or shouted down. It's interesting too to note the group dynamic: George is the much-more serious leader here and John takes a back seat, adding humour but not undermining their points.

Watch the Friday 29 September 1967 broadcast: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GpYg2H34piw
The Wednesday 4 October 1967 broadcast (note the YouTube video is mislabelled as 29 September): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hUGkbNu06-k
Dr John Allison's paper, Respiratory Changes During Transcendental Meditation, published in The Lancet on 18 April 1970: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S014067367092427X
Details of the BBC Third Programme broadcast of King Lear from 29 September, which the Beatles mixed live into I Am The Walrus: https://learningonscreen.ac.uk/shakespeare/search/index.php/title/av68007