| Beatles film rediscovered | |
|  | | Fans gather around Paul McCartney in Plymouth. |
| | A 'lost' film of a visit by The Beatles to Plymouth in 1964 has been rediscovered. Missing since the 1970s, the film features an interview with Paul McCartney at a time when the band's longevity was being questioned. |
| | | Rare film footage of the Beatles visiting the South West in the 60s which some thought had been lost, has been rediscovered.
It was filmed when the Fab Four were at the height of their success and Beatlemania was gripping the nation.
Misplaced in the 1970s, the reel of black and white film had been stored away in a box under the wrong heading.
The footage was found by staff at the South West Film Archive in Plymouth who came across it in a section marked 'sport'.
 | | Reporter Michael Rhinehold interviewing Paul McCartney. |
The rediscovered film features a news interview by local television reporter Michael Rinehold.
Filmed in Plymouth during the band's visit in October 1964, amazingly it proves that people were questioning the bands prospects for future success.
The footage shows Paul McCartney responding to these doubts.
"All the business that there may be small crowds and things, it doesn't worry anybody except newspaper men who maybe use it as a good angle," he said.
"They say ha ha the Beatles must be finished because there are no crowds there, but you know that sort of thing doesn't matter.
 | | Fans were ecstatic to see The Beatles in Plymouth. |
"Records matter, whether a place is sold out or not matters and we are doing ok on those things thank you."
So how come any footage came to be buried in the sport section of the South West Film Archive for 30 years?
"We think it may have been taken out and dropped into a news programme in the early 70s when there were some reports of the Beatles possibly splitting up," explained archive director Elaine Hoskin.
In its raw form - the film offers a rare glimpse of the Beatles relaxed relationship with the press and the acceptance that its ok to smoke during a news interview.
And if nothing else it acts as a charming reminder of a period in the 60s when Beatlemania ruled.
Article first published: 21st October 2004
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