Help!

In their second feature with director Richard Lester, who oversaw the massive hit A Hard Day's Night, the Beatles again aim for a mix of goofy comedy and sterling pop music. There is slightly more of a plot this time, though it is a patently ridiculous one: a sacred ruby ring comes into Ringo's ...more

Help! offered one outwardly noticeable difference from 1964's A Hard Day's Night: it was in color. If it seemed less fresh, that was because it built on the techniques of the earlier film. As with A Hard Day's Night, the acting abilities of the Fab Four, along with a bizarre and thin plot, made way for the performance of a number of songs. In a way, Help!, with its emphasis on new songs, campy performances by pop stars, and lots of action to fill up the screen, is a forerunner to music videos. ...more