“Magical Mystery Tour” restored and released on DVD / Blu-ray

On this day, a digitally restored version of The Beatles’ 1967 TV special “Magical Mystery Tour” was released on DVD and Blu-Ray worldwide, except in North America (released on October 9). Giles Martin remixed the audio with 5.1 surround sound. Apple Corps announced the re-release on August 22, 2012, alongside a limited theatrical release.

The new release included an audio commentary from McCartney, interviews with former Beatles and others involved in the project, and never-before-seen footage. A deluxe edition was also available, featuring the film on both DVD and Blu-ray, a 60-page book, and a reproduction of the original mono UK double 7″ vinyl EP.

The remastered “Magical Mystery Tour” film debuted at number 1 on the Billboard Top Music Video chart for the week ending October 27, 2012.

From paulmccartney.com, October 3, 2012:

In 1967, in the wake of the extraordinary impact of the ‘Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band’ album and the ‘Our World’ satellite broadcast of ‘All You Need Is Love’, The Beatles devised, wrote and directed their third film, ‘Magical Mystery Tour’, a dreamlike story of a coach day trip to the seaside.

Apple Films have fully restored the long out-of-print, classic feature film for October 8th release worldwide (October 9th in North America) on DVD and Blu-ray with a remixed soundtrack (5.1 and stereo) and special features.

‘Magical Mystery Tour’ will be available in DVD and Blu-ray packages, and in a special 10”x10” boxed deluxe edition. The deluxe edition includes both the DVD and Blu-ray, as well as a 60-page book with background information, photographs and documentation from the production, and a faithful reproduction of the mono double 7” vinyl EP of the film’s six new Beatles songs, originally issued in the UK to complement the film’s 1967 release.

All of the packages contain a host of special features, packed with unseen footage. There are newly-filmed interviews with Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr, and other members of the film’s cast and crew, as well as a director’s audio commentary recorded by Paul.

In September 1967, The Beatles loaded a film crew onto a bus along with friends, family and cast and headed west on the A30 out of London to make their third film, this time conceived and directed by The Beatles themselves.

“Paul said ‘Look I’ve got this idea’ and we said ‘great!’ and all he had was this circle and a little dot on the top – that’s where we started,” explains Ringo. “It wasn’t the kind of thing where you could say, ‘Ladies and gentlemen, what you are about to see is the product of our imaginations and believe me, at this point they are quite vivid,’” says Paul. The film follows a loose narrative and showcased six new songs: ‘Magical Mystery Tour’, ‘The Fool On The Hill’, ‘I Am The Walrus’, ‘Flying’, ‘Blue Jay Way’, and ‘Your Mother Should Know’.

The restoration of ‘Magical Mystery Tour’ has been overseen by Paul Rutan Jr. of Eque Inc., the same company that handled the much acclaimed restoration of ‘Yellow Submarine’. The soundtrack work was done at Abbey Road Studios by Giles Martin and Sam Okell.

Special features of the deluxe edition:

SPECIAL FEATURES:

All of the packages contain a host of special features, packed with unseen footage. There are newly-filmed interviews with Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr, and other members of the film’s cast and crew, as well as a director’s audio commentary recorded by Paul.

Director’s Commentary – by Paul McCartney

The Making of Magical Mystery Tour (19m 05s)

– Features interviews with Paul and Ringo, along with other cast members and crew. Includes unseen footage.

Ringo the actor (2m 30s)

– Ringo reflecting on his role in the film.

Meet The Supporting Cast (11m 27s)

– A feature on the background and careers of Nat Jackley, Jessie Robins, Ivor Cutler, The Bonzo Dog Doo-Dah Band, Victor Spinetti, George Claydon, and Derek Royle.

“Your Mother Should Know” (2m 35s)

“Blue Jay Way” (3m 53s)

“The Fool On The Hill” (3m 05s)

– Three new edits of these performances all featuring footage not seen in the original film.

“Hello Goodbye” (3m 24s), as featured in Top of the Pops 1967

– The Beatles allowed the BBC to film them in the edit suite where they were working on Magical Mystery Tour. This was then turned into a promo by the BBC, who shot their own additional footage. It was then broadcast on Top of the Pops to mark the “Hello Goodbye” single going to No 1 in December 1967.

Nat’s Dream (2m 50s)

– A scene directed by John featuring Nat Jackley and not included in the original film.

Ivor Cutler – “I’m Going In A Field” (2m 35s)

– Ivor performs “I’m Going In A Field”, in a field. This scene was not included in the original film.

Traffic – “Here We Go Round The Mulberry Bush” (1m 53s)

– The filming of Traffic acting out their 1967 hit single “Here We Go Round The Mulberry Bush” was commissioned by The Beatles for possible inclusion in Magical Mystery Tour but was not used in the final edit.

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