BEATLES: Decoding Their Weirdest Movie (Magical Mystery Tour)
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- Опубліковано 1 лис 2023
- In 1967 the Beatles released Magical Mystery Tour, a film that bewildered their audience, and has since baffled fans for decades. What is it about? What does it mean?
Join me to have a crack at decoding, explaining and making sense of one of the strangest moments in all of Beatle history.
You can find out more about Timothy Learys book and its influence on the Beatles in my video on Tomorrow Never Knows here: • BEATLES: John Lennon, ...
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Many thanks, JH.
I've always loved this movie. I had listened to the album for years. I was a Beatles purist as very small child. The rest of my family didn't listen to music. At least I had good taste. Roll up
step right this way!
Roll up...🤔...🙄😒...🚬...😮... 🚭
Yeah, I always liked it, and the album too. Don’t know what the haters are talking’bout.
Congrats
No music at all??
The first time I watched this movie, I literally laughed out loud at many scenes as I couldn't believe what I was seeing! People shouldn't really compare this to a 'normal' movie by looking for a plot, because there isn't one! I've watch it multiple times and it does get better and make more sense over time but really, just sit back and let the madness wash over you while enjoying the absolutely brilliant soundtrack.
Absolutely.
💯
yeah its like a Warhol movie that way but with a brilliant soundtrack.
James needs to take some LSD and stop taking things so seriously. This was never intended or made to be a movie! Why do people still fail to understand this? It wasn't even released in cinemas! It was an arty, made for TV film and it's not Pauls fault it was first shown on BBC 2 in black and white. It was shown in colour shortly afterwards which Frost actually references seeing in the interview. People like the film and it has some great music, stop being so critical. And the beatles got better after the drugs. Lighten up.
One of my favorite Christmases as an adult is when I got the Magical Mystery Tour Blu Ray box set, and showing it to people who hadn't seen it yet throughout the season
I didn't know there was a Blu-Ray Box Set! Assumed it was going to be a bog standard DVD of the film or 1 option with added commentary i'd see for sale. Box Set sounds like it'll be better & now is what I'm going for. (Never seen the beeb film, i only have the L.P. but always loved it. One of my much more played albums of 2K'ish L.P.s from 45'ish yrs collecting fave's, most heard around friends with good stereos when pre W.W.W.
I was obsessed with this movie at one point.. I watched it probably 15 times in the span of a few weeks
i would put it on eternal repeat loop on a small TV in my kitchen for a week or two at a time so that you would catch random fragments of it whenever zipping into or thru the kitchen...made the kitchen into an otherworldly place
Whether u like the movie or not, the SONGS ARE CLASS!!!!!
"I am the Walrus" is arguably one of their best songs in terms of musical complexity and imaginative lyrics.
"Strawberry Fields Forever" ,is on my copy of the album, and it's up there as one of the best songs ever written. These guys were on ANOTHER LEVEL!!!!
Strawberry Fields forever is not part of the film, it was released as a double A side with Penny Lane. However I agree about it's brilliance. In the UK there was never an album for Magical Mystery Tour at the time it was a double ep and book, plus Pepper and Strawberry field were all still in the charts, what a time for popular music.
@@roberttreborable Well, I did say it was on my copy of the album. Thought that was self explanatory.
In any case the album version has now become accepted as part of their canon and catalogue of official albums.
Strawberry Fields does not belong to the album. It was recorded during the Pepper's sessions and published as a single prior to Sgt Pepper. It has been put on the US version by capital to make an album from the original double EP so they could charge more. Technically, chronologically and aesthetically does not belong to the project. I actually do not like the mess they did with that, it makes the album sketchy and confused. I also hate all these remixes... it's like taking fluo paint to "correct" the Mona Lisa.
@@za-music No shit Sherlock. SFF is a CLASSIC and could be on virtually any album from that period.
For me, it fits perfectly well in the psychedelic madness and imaginative free form art music that the Beatles were producing at the time.
@@theselector4733SFF is a classic SINGLE record coupled with Penny Lane. I like the Beatles discography AS THEY INTENDED IT. Not as some big major like Capitol chopped them to scam their fans putting on it 1 year old singles. It does not belong, it does not fit (It was recorded one year prior and it disrupts the quirky atmosphere of the original tracks). Production style does not fit either, that's why I hate every Capitol album with tracks completely devoided of context. The Beatles themselves hate them too, there must be a reason. If you think you know better than they did when they complained about it calling it a SCAM, go with it with your Fluo painted version, I rather like the originals. AS THEY WERE INTENDED BY THE GUYS. There was an ethical reason behind non album singles and an artistic reason too. I think we should start listening to them for what they were, not for what we would have liked them to be. Capitol Records sucks. MMT Capitol version is a mess of a compilation, not the masterpiece double EP that they published.
Steven Spielberg, Martin Scorsese, and others in the film industry have praised ‘Magical Mystery Tour. I agree!
Spielberg once said it was his greatest inspiration to become a director.
not surprising snce they are all in the MAGICK PYRAMID
@@user-fu2mi1nd5lua-cam.com/users/shorts1LwxXhj7jCo?si=5EcvhUX-_DEavNlo
Best documentary 👌ua-cam.com/video/VRT4IN0ymZk/v-deo.htmlsi=IOC2IQbf-C_ha5OE
MMT was the apotheosis of their psychedelic wanderings. Having had boat loads of Acid meself, something very strange happens after a certain ' tipping ' point. The first year is deep immersion into the utter fantastic changes occurring, within you, then you move into the evangelical phase, when you've mastered it, where you want to share it and shout about it from the rooftops , then it begins to get super out there weird, when you realise it's still full of surprises and can have the power to still shock you to your very core. MMT is definitely that moment where you can see Acids darkly comic aspects made manifest. It's a just like a trip. Bewildering, fun, weird and un- pindownable. In a most English manner.
Brilliant analysis! I'm so glad I viewed this.
I must tell you, I am a musician/writer myself and have experienced people like yourself, analyzing my work, and arriving at conclusions far greater and in depth than I ever had in mind while writing.
They made my work better than it was when I wrote it. In truth, they (and you) become partners in the creation of an artwork.
i don't know if the Beatles had all in mind that you detail here or not. But you have improved my experience of Magical Mystery Tour to a level I never thought it could achieve.
Well done.
I guess people weren't ready for that.
This goes to show the genius of the Beatles. They didn't just write words that went with a melody at this stage, they must have spent quite some time agonising over the meaning of every word and thinking about double meanings, hidden meanings and, in case of this film, every image you see on screen.
Even the new single Now and Then is chock full of little things that convey meaning, it's not just something they threw together.
That is what I love about the Beatles, they put so much effort into everything they did and after being a fan since I was a child in the 70s I'm still discovering new things in their music every time I have yet another Beatles phase.
They are so much more than just a band.
Your Beatles content is always amazing. Genuinely groundbreaking content when it comes to Beatles UA-camrs and just Beatle fans in general. Thanks James.
Cheers Bobby, much appreciated 🍻🍻
HIs commentary on pepper totally changed my thoughts on it. I listened to it anew, and holy crap.
@@SmokeslikelightningbandI completely agree. Such a well thought out and creative analysis. This is what it’s all about!
"IT WAS A FAKE MUSTACHE"@@Smokeslikelightningband
Well done. I've never had a problem with Magical Mystery Tour. Entertaining and progressive at the same time. The way you peeled the layers away is the next level to understanding this film. Again nice job.
This is extremely interesting. The first time I saw this movie, it was at a small town city festival, and completely out of synch, but I absolutely loved it. It turned me into a huge fan of Vivian Stanshall and Bonzo Dog. The songs were absolutely incredible, even though I was a teenager (drug fueled in the 70's) You're right though, I've seen it many times since now (in my 60's) I understand all of it. "Flying" was an absolutely fabuluous sequence.
I saw this as a teenager in the 80's. We had a copy of it on video. I actually liked the movie. I like weird things as well as mainstream movies. So I was not disappointed in it. It was basically 20 years old when I saw it and to me it represented an art house psychedelic time capsule of a bygone era so to me it was a bit of history to me.
Just finished the whole thing. Great video. Great analysis. Great channel. Can't wait for more
I dunno. I'm only 6 minutes in and I wish I could get him to get to the point! (I thought I was much further in.)
The video ,and analysis are a sterling piece of work .
@@chasleask8533This isn't a gpod video though, he's trying to look for sense in something that relishes in being nonsense. It's an art film, there is no hidden agenda, no plot. It's just whatever goes goes.
@@404TVfr He tried to look for sense , and found it .
@@chasleask8533 so a slice of toast with Elvis on it makes it worthy to call it a rock and roll star?
Victor Spinetti as Sarge, Ivor Cutler & the Bonzo's were worth the price of admission. The Beatles bits weren't bad either. John's turn as a waiter in Aunt Jessie's dream was side splittingly funny doing the Yes M'Lady in a made up Greek accented parody of Parker from Thunderbirds. Paul's video of Fool On The Hill was brilliant, especially as it was Just him and a cameraman that filmed it.
I even like the magician bits. "Spent four hours looking for the sugar".
It's a great little film, especially if you're zooted
Excellent review of this dusty gem of a film. If you're a Beatles fan you appreciate the little details and nuances of this performance. Yes I laughed hysterically at John's quirky mannerisms and humor especially the wizard scenes hahaha. MMT was the first and my favorite album I ever listened to. In my household my older brother and sister had 2 Beatles album..MMT and the White album. That's why it's so engrained in my brain more than the other albums and have warm fuzzy nostalgic feelings about it.
There was a rumour that, in the Fool on The Hill segment that Paul's trouser fly was un-done and he inadvertedly exposed his privates!
The Fabs as wizards. Ringo pulls it off best.
It's "Paul", or should I say Billy playing Viv in that scene.
"...a wafer-thin mint..."
Paul says a lot of things. He's had a lot of years to create narratives. Whether they are true or not. No one is around to dispute them.
MMT was an art film. No meaning. He was anxious to keep the band working after Brian died. He feared they'd drift apart.
He made a pie chart as a sort of framing of the film. Each of them would write a 'bit" like John feeding the spaghetti to the fat woman, etc. And they'd make some songs and try to tie it all together.
It had no meaning.
It was an amateur attempt to create something.
It failed.
Of course today it's legendary.
I love it.
I've loved it since day one.
I mean, we get to see a performance of "Death Cab For Cutie", complete with a burlesque stripper bit.
We get to see a live, (well sort of), performance of I Am The Walrus.
We get to see Paul's little film he did in France to Fool On The Hill.
And the really corny big stage show with Your Mother Should Know.
And Victor Spinetti doing the military bit....GOLD.
It's a good fun film.
No meaning.
Just an amateur attempt at a film that is laced together with Gems.
THIS! Abso-fugging-lutely this.
Yes. And Paul's "circular script' was nothing more than dividing the segments by using a clock face to represent the 1 hour running time of The TV special. It's also foolish to conflate coincidence with causation.
Coach trip"Mystery tours" were actually an established tradition in mid century England. Lennon would write Glass Onion a year later as a jab at those who would seek hidden messages in their work. These kind of specious theories would achieve critical mass with the "Paul is dead," and Manson family's " HelterSkelter."
What we have here is basic Conspiracy 101, where the narrator skips over relevant facts and obsessess over cherry picked coincidences, ostensibly to "prove" his thesis.
@@tawnieriekena7 Thank you!
I love this movie. There are no rules in film. If someone is stuck in a straitjacket about what a film should be, they'll never like it or anything like it.
Finally, a film i really love had a proper defense in the internet!! Yes, an art film following the Fellini influence, and all the things that you teach un your analisis are simply beathifull and genius. At last, justice for a film that it's really genius and inspiring.
I remember Ian Macdonald in revolution in the head stating something along the lines of the British psychedelic experience being altogether safer and warmer than the confrontational and edgy American experience (think it was his write up of Its All Too Much) comparing Magical Mystery Tour with Ken Kaseys Merry Brand of Pranksters brought this to mind
I saw the Boxing Day movie. I was 11 at the time. It has always been my absolute favourite, and still is. I’m now 67.
Astounding research, James!
Much respect from Western Australia 🇦🇺
... and from Queensland.
Many thanks mate :)
Wow. It’s exciting to even read a comment from someone who say it the day it aired. Do you remember anything in particular about watching it for the first time?
Perth
@@profile2047 Yes I do remember watching it with a bunch of my cousins and we all couldn't believe that such a trippy show was actually on BBC TV. Three years later I decided to become a bass player at the tender age of 14. And I have been playing bass in various rock and prog bands ever since.
This is quickly becoming one of my favorite channels. Great interesting work.
This was great! I've been watching this movie for many years, and now it has a whole different meaning.
In many ways, this film (and the Beatles themselves, particularly Lennon) were Monty Python before their time. The scene with the waiter loading the rather large woman's plate with Spaghetti was incredibly similar both visually and in tone to the Mr. Creosote scene in _Monty Python's meaning of Life_ --- so much so that it must have been an influence.
During the same sequence, Neil Innes plays the piano in "Death Cab for Cutie". He was with the Pythons in "Holy Grail" and on numerous other occasions
l'd guess you're American if you think British surreal humour begins and ends with Monty Python. lt has a long history, going back before Alice in Wonderland, so to say the Beatles were Monty Python before their time is quite insulting.
Here we go again, another unfounded generalization about Americans. I can only say in response, that yes, *_despite_* suffering from the *_handicap_* of being an *_American,_* I was well aware when I made my comment, of the wondrous and surreal works of Lewis Carroll and other European writers prior to The Beatles and Monty Python. I was also well aware of Carroll's influence on Lennon (Alice in Wonderland, The Walrus and the Carpenter etc.). I am and have always been an anglophile and love English literature and film. No need to be insulted friend, life is too short. I was simply pointing out, in a friendly (but not uninformed manner, as you seem to be implying) that there were similarities in approach between John Lennon's surreal and sometimes dark humor to that of Python's. I love them both --- *_despite_* being an *_American._*
George Harrison was a Pythons fan, befriended to Eric Idle and on Idles request to help, he funded the whole movie The Life Of Brian (with $ 4 Mio.). Otherwise the Phytons would have been forced to skip the project. Nobody else was interesed in this sensitive religious subject. That might light up a bit how different actors from MMT popped up again in Phyton's productions.
Even before, a whole bunch of famous rockbands like Led Zeplin, Genesis (of course) and Pink Floyd sponsored already the Holy Grail.
@@Hernal03 l never suggested your comment was uniformed, in fact l don't even know what that means, but so many Americans compare any surreal humour to Monty Python as that's the only British comedy they are aware of. The Beatles were more influenced by the Goons, as were a whole generation.
Quality. He does it over Sgt Pepper and he does it again over Magical Mystery Tour . Bravo. Really enjoyed it. Thank you.
Very welcome :)
My take on this video and now the Beatles film has me doing a rethink on what it was about and from what has been said -it now makes sense so it might not be that weird after all. I absolutely enjoy the album and it still has my ear 56 years later. The Beatles were the most remarkable band of the 20th century and are still beloved my millions of people 53 years after they broke up and that truly is Magical! Excellent video,James.
Mystery Tours were popular in the UK throughout the 50's & 60's especially with the working classes before foreign holidays were affordable.
If you watch something like Ken Anger's My Demon Brother or Inauguration of the Pleasure Dome, MMT begins to make more sense. The slide overlay sequences are truly inspired, The Beatles and Paul must have been watching Anger's stuff.
Hey James, love the channel for long time now!
The posters on the wall are of the Thelemic adaptation of 'The Rosy Cross". Used by many occult schools, such as the Rosicrucians, Golden Dawn, & Crowley's OTO (* check AIWASS & the scene of Paul 'Major McCartney' at the desk w the sign reading "I was")
Can't help but wonder if "The Eyes of Man" isn't a reference to the Isle of Man & Gerald Gardner 'father of modern Wicca'...bit of a stretch?? idk.
But the stuff on the wall is definitely a Crowley ref....multiple layers/meanings right?
Love job you did on the 'Just' video!!! Mystery Solved!!
Plz keep up the phenomenal work....SPLENDID!!!
Ahhhh right, that's why I didn't know what they were!
Figured they'd be something mystical / esoteric
Thanks for the info Chris, and glad you enjoyed the vid sir
Do what thou wilt
BRAVO😁👍
😎✌👍❤🖖
Billy could be ole Crowely's son@@fuzzyd2121
I'm not sure if "Your Mother Should Know" was one long continuous shot, but it sure looks like it. The choreography and everything about that scene is a masterpiece
My favorite scene
Hello James, Once again you have managed to analyze perfectly an impossible work of art. I wonder what the music insiders or those in the Beatles' camp would say about this amazing interpretation. I have recently started watching Fellini Films again and MMT plays out very much in the same vibe. Thanks for allowing me to understand and appreciate this work of art.
You're welcome!
And thanks for your kind comments :)
I think somehow it really should be made aware to "music insiders or those in the Beatles' camp" as well...
How about a little Sslvador Dali on the side...?😉
😎✌👍❤🖖
I enjoy your explanations of these kinds of things - you do great work! You’ve earned another subscriber
I was born in 1959. I grew up listening to The Beatles. They influenced my musical desires for the rest of my life. I consider The Beatles to be my favorite band and greatest music ever. All bands I enjoy are measured by The Beatles. I love British music. From Uriah Heep, Jade Warrior, Yes, ELP, Gentle Giant, and so many more. I wish The Beatles would have preformed some Jazz like Klaus Doldinger's Passport...
Wow! Great analysis of what is to me an enjoyable but baffling film. I saw it when first broadcast at age 11(now 67) with my brother and parents. I thought it silly and funny; the others thought it completely bizarre. Your breakdown really does help. Thank you.
Many Thanks for another beautiful, insightful analysis! It all makes sense now. Brilliant!
Fantastic analysis. I really enjoyed this video! Thanks for all the thought and effort you put into it!
19:52 the drumming Aunt Jessie wasn't 'behind the scenes footage', it was part of the work print (leaked on the HMC bootleg) where the booklet cartoon and story was ultimately based on.
This is fantastic! Excellent breakdown! Love, love, love ❤❤❤❤
My new favorite channel. Really amazing and in-dept look at this piece of art. I learned a lot. Thank you.
Really great video. I remember seeing the Blue Jay Way scene when I was about 10 years old and I was simultaneously frightened and intrigued. Love this ridiculous film.
The Beatles were beyond other bands, trying to rhyme was with cuz, or baby and crazy; because the Beatles distilled so much from culture into their concepts and songs.
thank you, Jim. well, I never thought there was much to this film, but I guess I was wrong. I'm even more convinced now, that if it'd been broadcast in color, it would've gone over better. drug trip references being clear only to a few 'insiders'.and appreciating graphic art the way I do, I have to mention how brilliant the lettering which appeared on the front of the LP, 'BEATLES' drawn w/ stars was/is. their best cover, regardless of 'Pepper.'
I wonder if Paul Weller's introduction at the start of "Happy Together" was a tip of the hat to the OG showing ("And now for those of you watching in Black and White, this one is in color"). The Jam's final album The Gift was a hint at Weller's breaking away into The Style Council, who also had their own MMT with Jerusalem to support The Cost of Loving.
TheJAM is one of my favorite bands@@raleighbronkowski4224
A very interesting video and interpretation.
About first view of "Magical Mystery Tour" ...
I had read so many places, that it was rubbish, that I didn't expected much. I bought the DVD simply as a collectors item. But of course I watched it. And it brought me in such a cheerful mood. And so - well, if something makes you happy, it's impossible to call it rubbish.
So that's what it has been for me: something merry and joyful. Never thought much about hidden meanings in it. But I guess you got a point. It all makes sense.
Watch it every Christmas season. Love it. :)
My mom got me this album for my 5th birthday. Gotta love it!
Thanks for sharing your insights! Your posts are always a tasty treat!
Another brilliant analysis. I really enjoy these videos you put out. Very thoughtful and deep.
This analysis is just astonishing. lol I don't know where you find the time for these videos, but deeply appreciated, mate. lol
When it talks about 4 or 5 wizards\tourers\etc it is because YOU, the audience member can choose to be one of the wizards. You can choose to take the ride and to be one of the magical makers. It even has you in front of a chemistry set of your own.
Hey I'm very interested in this comment's meaning, can you explain further.
James you are a frequent guest in my home ala UA-cam, and you are quite a great story teller man! Thanks for the company and the forever interesting videos on my favorite bands!! Happy hollidays
this is the best channel for beatles and oasis fans. if u both like me you are in the right place.. please keep with this content james and thank you for all work to gather all the information
all around the world you gotta spread the word , d'you known what i mean?
the word is LOVE , the first step for a revolution
Wow, that was a fantastic analysis. So well researched and logically laid out. What a joy to watch. Magical Mystery tour is the most seminal and favorite album in my life and I love the movie. Thanks !
First off, love this video. Brilliant explanation. But i do remember seeing this on TV when i was around ten . The " I am the Walrus" scene was very memorable and probably sparked my love for the weird and esoteric.
Yes, at first watch, it strikes most everyone as silly, trivial, chaotic, undisciplined, and bla, bla, bla. But, when the dust settles after a number of viewings, you cease to look at what's missing and just enjoy what's there. And, what's there is pure Beatles. It's pure Beatle creativity, energy, experimentation, imagery, imagination and music. And it's wonderful!
At this point, the *only* thing I don't like about it, is that it's less than an hour and it comes to an end much too soon.
Interesting analysis, James. Keep up the good work!
I've never seen somebody analyze MMT like this. It does add up, I don't know how long you worked on this theory but it's very well done. I'm going to subscribe right now. Even if others don't believe all you've come up with, your effort and imagination to explain MMT movie is about so should definitely be respected. I really enjoyed this and wasn't expecting anything much.. Bravo James and Thank you. Goodnight-sue
Thanks Sue!
In answering your question on how long it took to script and finish this beast - two weeks non-stop.
I am so tired now hahahahaha
The edit alone took 5 days. Which was just absolute murder.
I am very much enjoying a few days off now with my Mrs!
Glad you enjoyed the vid 👍👍
Well Deserved!@@JamesHargreavesGuitar
That's the only Beatles film I've not seen yet. Help is my personal favourite. Brilliant deep dive like the others! :)
I love your TAKE on all these songs, albums and movies. Thank you for these.
Thanks for this very original contribution to Beatles content!
I like how the Beatles cast British comedic actor Nat Jackley probably in the hopes that he'd come up with funny bits...but he was just as confused as everyone else involved in the movie!
I loved the movie! it was fun and the music was GREAT!
Astounding perception James, I do believe you have cracked this. I have always thought that there simply MUST have been an explanation behind what appeared to be random filming. Well done & thank you. I can now understand this with more reasoning. {Clever lads them Beatles} - And you !
Great review of the most bizarre movie and period of the Beatles career :) I love this movie when I am in the mood for it. All the music is great as always. Great channel James. Loving your content mate
I always knew it was about taking a LSD trip for the longest time, but this takes it to a whole new level.
Will forever be my fave. Brilliant video!
It's about PID and Billy's arrival as well
Wow you make it seems like the Beatles were deep philosophers and mystics. It could explain their world wide crazy popularity.
I grew up in that time but in a different language and different culture. I didn’t speak or understood English. Never saw their movies. So the Beatles were for me like the Eiffel tower is to an American: just a symbol of a foreign culture that anyone can identify. Never thought there was any depth to their music but nevertheless I enjoyed it. Your analysis really opens up a lot of boxes in the understanding of the end of the xxth century. Very interesting thank you.
I LOVE this film. Mystery Tour has always been my favorite Beatles album🤙🏼🌴
same my favourite movie
I always tried to find meaning in the images that I loved the music of so much. Thanks for the illumination
Whoa ! Great work, dude! Not having the vinyl in hand like the old days, I was still able to appreciate many of the references to specific songs and images. I have been a slave to the wonderful power of music 🎶 ever since 1965; my first dj assignment. Granny started it. We wore the first Temptations records out. Ever since then I actually listen to lyrics and let it all become a great experience. Air guitar star if there ever was one! All of your insights were eye opening and have fleshed out a skeleton of an idea. I will quite likely be hearing from you again. Thank you 😊
Great work. Thanks for the enlightening analysis.
Interesting I saw the film when first broadcast on the BBC TV (unfortunately in black and white), at that age I didn't get it but loved the Music. Fool on the Hill resonated with me, "He never listens to them, he knows that their the fools" to me, it saying do your own thing, don't follow the crowd, if your not into something. Perhaps that's why I never smoked although my friends did... I am the Walrus, brilliant reminds me of Lewis Carol nonsense poems, so English. I now love this film, I take from it the message be yourself whatever that is... P.S although I saw the film on release, I never thought about a Hippy bus in America, it was always a bus tour.... I think Dewsbury was just a place which came to mind, I don't think they thought about Leeds, or Paul would have said it's near Leeds .
It's entertaining and has great songs. Not a movie, just a 1 hour B&W TV Special. Looks way better in color !!
Brilliant! I was thinking of that “seven levels” soundbite the whole time!
Paul & John at that time were 25 & 27 and spent the time of their adulthood in touring, recording, interview, tv specials etc. Where did they find the time to become so proficient with psichedelia and occult? Evidently they have been manovoured from powerful forces which kept hidden
John was married with a son, Paul was a young bachelor however
Read 2023 version of Memoirs, mind blowing indeed
When did they have time to even light one cigarette, that's the part that confuses me the most 😅
There’s a really great fan-edit of this that reorganizes the scenes and makes it a bit more of a standard travelogue adventure. It’s still a trip, but it’s honestly more watchable!
Brilliant analysis, reluctant as I was to view yet another I-am-the-true-Beatles-whisperer-docu I could not let go. You would not deny this guy a serious listen ...
As a kid I absolutely loved it. Later in life I loved it too for a while😊
New drinking game: take a sip every time this guy says the movie doesn't have a plot 😂
The plot is PID and showing Billy's arrival as leader of the beatles
@@user-fu2mi1nd5l I don't believe Paul did. He simply retired.
Why all the PID clues then, even continuing into the solo years?@@perfectomoosic
I remember seeing it on ITV on Boxing Day 1967. I was 13 so thought it was cool. Still do.
I believe John’s fav album was the White Album. As he said because his songs are some of his best!
Great deep dive! I noticed someone already got the "Rosy Cross" reference, so I'll just comment that I hope that there are others who did as well. It's apparent that the film's harshest critics were never "on the bus", but then again "The Fool" never cared for real reasons ("So we boobed!" while the film continued to be a major influence).
Really really enjoyed this in depth review ✌️♥️
I think if the BBC had aired a Felini film on that Boxing day the general public would not have liked it either.
7 levels of consciousness.
The 8th is .......... beyond words.
Transcendence. 🕉
i love the album . i spin it as much as abbey road, revolver and pepper.
Having seen MMT a few times (I videotaped it off of Disney around the time of the Anthology TV airings, along with a Sgt. Pepper making of documentary), my take was that they were lost after losing Brian, and were just trying to keep busy to not really think about it.
I have to second that! All four Beatles have said basically the same thing many time i n interviews and books...are we analying and putting too much into this film here? Putting it on a higher pedestal than it deserves? I think so. And I am an extreme Beatles Fanantic.
You and the other Fab lovers are better off "Living with eyes closed"@@thomastimlin1724
Well done. I enjoyed your analysis very much.
brilliant, simply brilliant; logic impeccable. well done!🖖
I think in terms of The Beatles legacy this movie was just an unintentional foreshadowing of an MTV music video format that took off about 20 years after the movie had been released
This is extremely interesting, keep them coming 🙂
Wow!!! Just watched this analysis. GREAT!! Haven't seen "Magical Mystery Tour" the movie since on videocassette in the '80s. I'm going to have to watch it again. I've never taken acid, but the "circle of life" analogy and the "seven layers" seems to make sense. Feel like I was on a "trip" watching this!!! The ancients wrote of this, in the "Tibetan Book of the Dead" which you mentioned, and also in the Hindu vedic scripts of the Mahabharata, also the ancient Egyptians etc. Timothy Leary was very interesting too. I don't think drugs are the answer, but I do think enlightened awareness is. Thanks for this great video analysis. Finally, it all (almost) makes sense!! Took some of us nearly 56 years to get it!!! And I'm only just 61!!
You definitely have something here. Fascinating analysis!
Spielberg says it was a classic taught in art schools. Scorse said the moving camera was ahead of it's time. I was lucky enough to see at my friends colour TV. Loved it at the age of 15 and still love it. US wake up !
Even with an interpretation i think the film is patchy, but it has some great visuals and moments. And the tunes are some of the best in popular music history.
I didn't get to see this film until about 20 years after it's release. To say I was confused is an understatement. However, no matter my confusion I thoroughly enjoyed it. Maybe not as much as A Hard Days Night or Help! but still was entertained by it. Back to the confusion, your interpretation of the film has cleared that up completely and now I'm scrambling to get my hands on a copy because now I'm sure it'll make sense. A little sidenote that wasn't mentioned but in the 90's(I think)there was a band named Deathcab For Cutie. Another project for me as I have no idea what their music is like. Anyway, thanks mate for your insightful post.
I was thinking about Deathcab for Cutie the band when he said that.
Yes!!! What a video to comment first on. Nice one James!!! 😊😉
Was all I watched in 97 lol so starved in those days of Beatles video just Iam the Walrus,Fool on the hill and Blue Jay way and the 'spaghetti dream' I absolutely loved it 😊😊😊
Very interesting! Now I want to see the movie again.
Wow! This was INSANELY interesting. Thank you for this. I'm gonna watch it again at some point.
I wouldn't have gotten all this outta the movie.....thanks....❤
If you want to understand any of the Beatles’ 1965+ work, it just takes three little letters
I thought that everyone knew "Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds" was about John's son Julian's drawing of his schoolmate Lucy. I have seen the drawing. Lucy was a real person who died somewhat recently. Nobody would believe her when she said the song was about her, and I suspect this video will go a long way towards furthering that.
Also, "I Am the Walrus" was (after the first couple of lines were written) generally a reaction to teachers at Quarry Bank High School analyzing Beatles lyrics. John intended to put a stop to that by deliberately writing nonsense lyrics. With the aid of Pete Shotton he included lines from an old poem from his school days intended to disgust people.
Without mentioning the influence of Ken Kesey and the Merry Pranksters "on the bus" and their improvised filming of their psychedelic tour of the U.S., which John and Paul had both mentioned in other interviews in reference to MMT, then I'm sorry, your analysis comes up a bit short.
He did mention ken kesey when he was talking about the aesthetic of the bus though. I think his analysis missed the mark a but but it's still fun to listen to his ideas. I think James has sadly been brainwashed by drug war propaganda, reinforced by the christian church's stance on drugs and the psychedelic experience. As far as the music goes though, that doesn't matter. And that's what this channel is about really
This is so well done.