Fans' films give Beatles new hit

Unseen film of the Beatles' visit to south-west England in 1967 has been found by a Cornish film producer.

The 8mm colour footage was taken by residents and holidaymakers when the Fab Four were filming the cult movie The Magical Mystery Tour.

It will form part of a new documentary called Mystery Tour Memories.

Film producer David Lambert said eye witness accounts from fans, onlookers and the cast captured the heady days of the "swinging" 60s.

The silent film of The Beatles is augmented with contributions from people who were there at the time of the filming.

It was lucky that they thought the Beatles were more interesting than their families David Lambert

They include Paul McCartney's brother Mike, Frieda Kelly from the Beatles Fan Club and musician Spencer Davis.

Mr Lambert said: "[People] would have been on the beach and then suddenly the Beatles turned up in the Mystery Tour bus.

"Because it is silent you have that grainy amateur look. It's real."

Some of the footage is from Watergate Bay in Cornwall, Plymouth and the Atlantic Hotel in Newquay where the band was staying.

"These amateur film-makers were in the right place at the right time," she said.

"It was lucky that they thought the Beatles were more interesting than their families."

E-mail this to a friend

Printable version