Yellow Submarine

Directed By: George Dunning
Animation: Robert Balser, George Dunning, Jack Stokes,
Live-action: Dennis Abey, Al Brodax
Screen Play By: Lee Minoff Al Brodax Jack Mendelsohn Erich Segal
Uncredited: Roger McGough
Story By: Lee Minoff
Based On: "Yellow Submarine" by Lennon–McCartney
Starring: Paul Angelis John Clive Dick Emery Geoffrey Hughes Lance Percival
Narated By: Paul Angelis
Edited By: Brian J. Bishop
Music By: John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, Ringo Starr
Musical Director: George Martin
Production Companies: Apple Films, King Features, Syndicate TVC London
Release Dates: 17 July 1968 (United Kingdom), 13 November 1968 (United States)

Plot: Pepperland is a cheerful, music-loving paradise under the sea, home to Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band. The titular Yellow Submarine rests on an Aztec-like pyramid on a hill. At the edge of the land is a range of high blue mountains.

The land falls under a surprise attack from the music-hating Blue Meanies, who live beyond the mountains. The attack starts with a music-proof glass globe that imprisons the band. The Blue Meanies fire projectiles and drop apples (a reference to the Beatles' then-new company Apple Corps) that render Pepperland's residents immobile as statues, and drain the entire countryside of colour.

In the last minutes before his capture, Pepperland's elderly Lord Mayor sends Young Fred to get help. Fred takes off in the Yellow Submarine ("Yellow Submarine"). He travels to Liverpool ("Eleanor Rigby"), where he follows a depressed Ringo to "The Pier", a house-like building on the top of a hill, and persuades him to return to Pepperland with him. Ringo collects his mates John, George, and Paul. The four decide to help Old Fred, as they call him, and journey with him back to Pepperland in the submarine. As they operate the submarine, they sing "All Together Now", after which they pass through several regions on their way to Pepperland, including the Sea of Time, where time flows both forwards and backwards ("When I'm Sixty-Four"), the Sea of Science ("Only a Northern Song") and the Sea of Monsters, where Ringo is rescued from monsters after being ejected from the submarine. In the Sea of Nothing, the protagonists meet Jeremy Hillary Boob Ph.D., a short and studious creature ("Nowhere Man"). As they prepare to leave, Ringo feels sorry for the lonely Boob, and invites him to join them aboard the submarine. They arrive at the Foothills of the Headlands, where they are separated from the submarine and Old Fred ("Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds"). They then find themselves in the Sea of Holes, an expanse of flat surfaces with many holes, Ringo takes one for himself. Jeremy is kidnapped by a Blue Meanie, and the group finds their way to Pepperland.

Reuniting with Old Fred and reviving the Lord Mayor, they look upon the now-miserable, grey landscape. The Beatles dress up as Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band and steal some instruments. The four rally the land to rebellion ("Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band"). The Chief Blue Meanie retaliates by sending out the Dreadful Flying Glove, which John defeats by singing "All You Need Is Love". Pepperland is restored to colour as its flowers re-bloom and its residents revive. The original Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band are released due to Ringo's hole, and join the Beatles in combating the Meanies' multi-headed dog ("Hey Bulldog"). Jeremy performs some "transformation magic" on the Chief Blue Meanie, causing the Meanie to bloom roses and sadly concede defeat. John extends an offer of friendship, and the Chief Blue Meanie has a change of heart and accepts. An enormous party ensues ("It's All Too Much").

Review: This is one of my fondest memories of the 1960's. It still makes me laugh out loud after all these years. The story centres on a mystical and magical place called Pepperland. Where people live in perfect perpetual musical peace. Until the Blue Meanies attack and start, literally, stamp out all forms of music and happiness. To make sure the inhabitants are unable to make any music at all; the blue meanies turn them into stone statues. In Pepperland there is a band whose members are the twins of the members of the Beatles. Who are sent to find the help the people of Pepperland need to enjoy music once again.

Some of the characters you'll meet on the journey are; Chief Blue Meanine, Max, Fred, Jeremy Hillary Boob, Phd and Lord Mayor. Each has a fun and fascinating part to play in the story. Fred is sent by Lord Mayor in the Yellow Submarine to London. His challenge is to find help. He meets the Beatles, George, John, Paul and Ringo who agree to return to Pepperland and save the land from the Blue Meanies and to restore music.'

The film is really a very clever way of keeping the Beatles songs in the public mindset. With songs woven throughout the film in such a way that they bring the story to life. Throughout the film it has some of the best Dad Jokes I've ever heard. Really silly slap stick humour that may go missing on today's younger movie viewers. The voices are done by professional voice actors, with a cameo appearance by the actual Beatles at the end of the film.

It's been 54 years since it was first shown and it hasn't really lost any of it's charm or humour. The film was originally tauted as a film for the whole family. I'd say this is till true. Though humour sadly isn't really as funny as it use to be. I must be getting old. Or peoples expectations for humour is getting a bit low and smutty. Hmmmm.

M J Flack