Backbeat

How true to life was the movie Backbeat? Did Paul, George or Ringo have any comments about it?

Derek

'Derek'

Paul didn't like that the John character performed 'his' songs such as Long Tall Sally and others. As far as I remember 'John' performed most every song on the film. May'be that actor was the best singer...(or was it miming/playback)? It(the film) wasn't too true to the story although it has it's moments. It's a nice film.

Actually ALL the actors mimed the songs ... and Yes, it's a nice film

It's the most accurate dramatic portrayal that exists.

It was developed with the direct help of Astrid Kircher who was the german photographer that took the early and famous photos of the band and influenced how they wore their hair and dressed. Astrid and John were pretty close and Stuart left the band to live with her ( before he died).

What I think is very accurate is the film work and scenery, the 'dive' of strip club bar, the cheap rooming house. This indeed was the story of the Beatles.

Paul's only complaint was that the John character sings 'Long Tall Sally' in one sequence. John was a huge Little Richard fan .. so I don't know if there was a time when he may of also sang it ( although it did become Paul's 'cover' song ).

- Derek

When it was reported in the news in 1993 that the film was in production, Paul and George issued statements expressing their opposition to a movie about the Beatles' Hamburg days. I don't know if they changed their mind when the movie came out a year later.

I know Cynthia Lennon had reason to pick out faults in in it.

I hate the little 'assumptions' the screenwriters made, which were most likely entirely out of character. Like John Lennon walking on stage and saying 'The name's Lennon - John Winston Lennon'. John -HATED- his middle name! Why would he introduce himself in this way except to show the movie audience that the screenwriters did their homework?