Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band (1978)

If it weren't for a couple of inspired performances, as well as the time-capsule weirdness of it all, Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band would be definitively unwatchable. This misguided effort to dramatize the classic Beatles album (the Fab Four had nothing to do with it, thank goodness) also includes tunes from other Beatles LPs, strung together in lumbering '70s rock-opera style. Peter Frampton, then at the crest of his brief run at the top, stars as Billy Shears, with the Bee Gees wearing the glossy day-glo band jackets from the Pepper album cover. Earth, Wind & Fire turn in a spirited revamp of "Got to Get You into My Life," and Aerosmith thrash their way through "Come Together"; but most of the performances are pretty awful. Out-and-out novelties include Steve Martin doing "Maxwell's Silver Hammer" and George Burns (but of course) warbling "Fixing a Hole." This high-profile 1978 flop helped kill the hot streak (Saturday Night Fever, Grease) of record and movie producer Robert Stigwood and sink his RSO movie-music empire. --Robert Horton Amazon.com

Cult classic- expect cheesiness!

If you expect this movie to be a prolific account of the Beatles catalog, expect to be disappointed. This is by far, the cheesiest movie I have ever seen. What I love about it, is the way it captures the pop culture scene of the late 70s. With the idolatry of artists like Elvis, the Beatles, Led Zeppelin... I think the late 70s really taught us to enjoy a whole type of music. Incorporating the Bee Gees, Frampton, Aerosmith, Earth Wind & Fire into one movie breaks down the barriers of music.

The only speaking part in this film goes to the wonderfully entertaining George Burns. Giving Robin Gibb a speaking part probably would have ruined the movie, but the covers are beautiful. Aerosmith 'Come Together' and EW&F 'Got To Get You Into My Life' remain radio hits, and the reason I wanted to see the movie.

And besides, where else can you find a Star Wars-like battle between a demented Steve Martin and 70s heartthrob Peter Frampton?

Enjoy- I sure did! July 17, 2008

Memories

This movie is still as good as I remember. It is so good to see George Burns. June 30, 2008

A SPLENDID TIME IS GUARANTEED FOR ALL?

The 70's did have a dark side. Those who have seen the movies ROLLER BOOGIE or MOMENT BY MOMENT know a little something about that; but we're not talking about ordinary bad cinema, here. We're talking about soul-sucking, cosmic darkness. We're talking about...

. . .SGT. PEPPER'S LONELY HEARTS CLUB BAND.

The film may have been conceived in a spirit of merriment, but watching it feels like playing shuffleboard at the absolute insistence of a bossy shipboard social director. When whimsy gets to be this overbearing, it simply isn't whimsy any more.

The point behind turning Peter Frampton and the Bee Gees into the Beatlesque band of the title was, presumably, to lure both young rock fans and members of the rocking chair set. But the plan has its drawbacks. However much of a fan rave Mr. Frampton may have been, he's a musician, not a movie star, and even a plot that merely requires him to look sad, peppy or joyful from time to time is more than he can manage.

In the role of Mr. Frampton's brother, Paul Nicholas, (nasty Cousin Kevin in Ken Russell's film of The Who's TOMMY), provides a particularly unhelpful contrast, since he is every bit as lively as the singer is stiff. Still, Mr. Frampton looks like Marlon Brando beside the even more wooden Brothers Gibb.

Even if the Bee Gees aren't natural-born cutups, their principal job here is to perform a number of Beatles songs. This sounds as if it ought to be child's play, but the musical numbers are strung together so mindlessly that the movie has the feel of an interminable variety show.

Characters are named, invented or introduced to one another simply to provide excuses for the various songs. This reaches a pinnacle of idiocy when a character named Strawberry Fields (Sandy Farina) sings "Strawberry Fields Forever" to her beau, Billy Shears (Mr. Frampton), who has been knocked unconscious. "Living is easy with eyes closed / Misunderstanding all you see," Strawberry sings, for absolutely no good reason. Even worse, when the screenplay has Strawberry killed (temporarily - DON'T ASK) so that a few sad songs can be sung, Mr. Frampton is obliged to croon "Golden Slumbers" to the woman in a see-through coffin!

There are three brief sequences good enough to put the rest of the picture to shame. Steve Martin, cackling his completely unhinged rendition of "Maxwell's Silver Hammer," is a reminder that the film is otherwise humorless. Billy Preston, doing a flashy, rousing dance to the tune of "Get Back," makes the other hoofers look sadly two-left-feet. And Aerosmith, singing a piercing rock version of "Come Together," bring a taste of the 60's to a movie dead-set on both exploiting and soft-pedaling that era.

The lowlights (in a movie full of them) include George Burns (who also narrates) crooning "Fixing a Hole," and Donald Pleasence (as a sleazy Robert Stigwood-like record producer) attempting a bit of "I Want You." To bear witness to either of these moments is to die a little. You WILL cringe and say "Oh, that's just not right."

Still, a splendid time IS guaranteed for all (who have a warped sense of humor and an iron tolerance for the ridiculous.) June 29, 2008

SGT. PEPPER'S LONELY HEARTS CLUB BAND

This movie is kinda out dated, but it's still a good movie for the time it came out.
I didn't know "Donald Pleasant" was in this movie, same guy that played in the "HALLOWEEN" series.
This has alot of different stars I did know that was in this movie like "AEROSMITH","STEVE MARTIN" & "PETER FRAMPTON".
Over all this a very well done movie as long as your old enough to remember when the movie came out.LOL
I rate this movie a 9 from 1to10!! April 28, 2008

Call me strange, but...

(Written by Karen T. Fahel) I realize that I am one of a very select few who actually LIKES this movie...and that includes the cast! However, like it I do. I was a teenager and a fan of Peter Frampton and the Bee Gees when this movie came out, so I have that connection. It's so much fun to see who-all shows up: Steve Martin; Alice Cooper; Earth, Wind and Fire; Aerosmith (in one of the funniest fight scenes in movie history); Billy Preston...and the surprises at the end!

In Summary, the little town of Heartland is guided by its Mayor (George Burns) and Sgt. Pepper's band. When the original band retires due to the death of its leader, the baton (or, I should say, horn) is passed down to the Sgt.'s young grandson, Billy Shears and his 3 friends - the Henderson brothers. They are given an opportunity of a lifetime but, when they leave the town, the evil Mr. Mustard takes over for his boss, FVB. Can Billy & his friends succeed with their music, save Heartland from FBV, and Billy and his love, Strawberry Fields, live happily ever after? April 16, 2008

More reviews at Amazon.com ...