First half of 1968
Rumours about a third Beatles film
Last updated on September 28, 2024
First half of 1968
Last updated on September 28, 2024
Article Jan 17, 1968 • The Beatles attend Grapefruit press launch
Article Second half of January 1968 • Apple reported to produce Twiggy film
Article First half of 1968 • Rumours about a third Beatles film
Session January 20 or 26, 1968 ? • Recording session with Roger McGough & Mike McGear
The Beatles discuss their third film project
Dec 13, 1965
During the early months of 1968, speculation and rumours abounded regarding the likelihood of the Beatles making a third film, following “A Hard Day’s Night” in 1964 and “Help!” in 1965. These rumours ceased in May with the announcement that the Beatles had entered the recording studio to work on a new LP, which would later be known as “The Beatles” or the White Album.
BEATLES TO MAKE THIRD U-A CONTRACT FILM
Despite widespread reports that the Beatles’ next film will be their own independent production, it was confirmed this week that the group will make another picture for United Artists this year – to be produced, as was the first two, by Walter Shenson. The NME understands the Beatles and Shenson have a three-film deal with U-A, and a spokesman for the group said: “There is no question of the Beatles trying to withdraw from their obligations.”
From New Musical Express, January 20, 1968
Rock flavour to the next Beatles single – India trip is imminent
[…] It is now expected that The Beatles will begin work on their next cinema film in late summer or early autumn. […]
From New Musical Express, February 17, 1968
Beatles next movie planned for June – Ringo Kong?
The Beatles’ long-awaited third film under their deal with United Artists – to follow “Help” and “Hard Day’s Night” – will almost certainly go into production in Britain this summer. Ringo Starr told NME this week: “We plan to start in June; scripts are being considered right now. I don’t know which one we’ll choose, but I’d like it if we all played more than one role.” […]
“The ideas we considered for a film western, and for us to play the split personality of one person, were fine in theory. But they just didn’t work out as a 90-minute script. So far, no one seems to have thought very much about using us more as individuals than as a group. For instance, if we could all take several roles, one minute I could pop up as a chauffeur, and the next as King Kong. I hope people would recognise me“.
From New Musical Express, March 3, 1968
BEATLE BITS
[…] BEATLES have high hopes of being able to start work on their third full-length cinema film in June. Final search for a good story undertaken by The Beatles’ Apple Films executives at the beginning of March. […]
From the Beatles Monthly Book, N°57, April 1968
Beatles shoot new film this summer
[…] “Now [George Harrison] is back, the four can get together and make some decisions on their third feature film which will definitely start this summer,” said press officer Tony Barrow. […]
From Melody Maker, April 27, 1968
BEATLES HAVE FILM IDEA
The Beatles have an idea for their next major film. But, everything is still in the embryo stage at present and until the script is actually written, it cannot be regarded as definitely on.
John and Paul have also written dozens of songs for their next L.P. which they started recording very shortly after John returned to England just before Easter. It’s unlikely that they will have an album ready for release before the Autumn, but a summer single is planned.
From the Beatles Monthly Book, N°58, May 1968
RECORD PLANS
The Beatles have now mapped out their recording plans for the rest of ’68.
They expect to have a single ready for rush-release within the next few weeks.
Now the production of the Beatles’ third film has been set back several months the boys expect to complete an album of new recordings by August for release at the end of September. Before starting on their third film, all four Beatles are anxious to record ANOTHER LP for Xmas release.
From the Beatles Monthly Book, N°59, June 1968
The Beatles Diary Volume 1: The Beatles Years
"With greatly expanded text, this is the most revealing and frank personal 30-year chronicle of the group ever written. Insider Barry Miles covers the Beatles story from childhood to the break-up of the group."
We owe a lot to Barry Miles for the creation of those pages, but you really have to buy this book to get all the details - a day to day chronology of what happened to the four Beatles during the Beatles years!
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