The Beatles

Magical Mystery Tour (EMI)

[rating: 4/5]

George Harrison once referred to the Magical Mystery Tour as a charabanc trip: a piss up/sing-a-long coach ride. Paul McCartney, while denying it was his concept in the band’s Anthology, claimed that Spielberg cited the film as ‘influential’. Essentially a sixties art film concocted by the Beatles as their first project since the passing of their manager Brian Epstein earlier in 1967: most Beatles’ fans have seen it at least once and in spite of the great music, it’s not a film that inspires repeated viewings. A psychedelic road movie, the best part about this scrubbed up print is McCartney’s director’s commentary. It provides a fresh insight into how the Fabs made the film and eschews a warmth brought on by looking fondly back through the mists of time. As McCartney once said, it’s worth watching the film for John Lennon’s sublime ‘I Am The Walrus’. Famously broadcast in B&W on Boxing Day, it is now, as it has been for years, in glorious colour. Skirt around the star icons on the main menu page and you’ll find a few choice ‘Easter Eggs’ alongside the additional extras. Songs include ‘The Fool On The Hill’, ‘Blue Jay Way’, ‘Your Mother Should Know’ the aforementioned ‘I Am The Walrus’ and the title track. Frankly, it’s never looked so good.

Mitchell Peters