| Beatles
film rediscovered |
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| Fans
gather around Paul McCartney in Plymouth. |
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A
'lost' film of a visit by The Beatles to Plymouth in 1964 has been
rediscovered. Missing since the 1970s, the film features an interview
with Paul McCartney at a time when the band's longevity was being
questioned. |
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Rare film
footage of the Beatles visiting the South West in the 60s which some
thought had been lost, has been rediscovered.
It was filmed when the Fab Four were at the height of their success
and Beatlemania was gripping the nation.
Misplaced in the 1970s, the reel of black and white film had been
stored away in a box under the wrong heading.
The footage was found by staff at the South West Film Archive in Plymouth
who came across it in a section marked 'sport'.
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| Reporter
Michael Rhinehold interviewing Paul McCartney. |
The rediscovered
film features a news interview by local television reporter Michael
Rinehold.
Filmed in Plymouth during the band's visit in October 1964, amazingly
it proves that people were questioning the bands prospects for future
success.
The footage shows Paul McCartney responding to these doubts.
"All the business that there may be small crowds and things,
it doesn't worry anybody except newspaper men who maybe use it as
a good angle," he said.
"They say ha ha the Beatles must be finished because there are
no crowds there, but you know that sort of thing doesn't matter.
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| Fans
were ecstatic to see The Beatles in Plymouth. |
"Records
matter, whether a place is sold out or not matters and we are doing
ok on those things thank you."
So how come any footage came to be buried in the sport section of
the South West Film Archive for 30 years?
"We think it may have been taken out and dropped into a news
programme in the early 70s when there were some reports of the Beatles
possibly splitting up," explained archive director Elaine Hoskin.
In its raw form - the film offers a rare glimpse of the Beatles relaxed
relationship with the press and the acceptance that its ok to smoke
during a news interview.
And if nothing else it acts as a charming reminder of a period in
the 60s when Beatlemania ruled.
Article first published: 21st October 2004
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