Paul McCartneyhas made just a handful of movie appearances and cameos in his 60-plus years as one of the world’s biggest pop stars. His earliest partswere in Beatles movies, naturally, and later on, his love of film would prompt him to take on writing and acting duties in his biggest solo movie showcase.
It’s indeed somewhat surprising that McCartney, an avowed film fan, hasn’t made more big-screen appearances. Of course, being a prolific musical artist, he hasn’t always had a lot of time to indulge in an acting hobby.
WhenMcCartney has appeared in movies,he’s shown himself to possess a likable presence and a breezy charm, and a sunny sense of humor.
Eat the Rich
Cast
Eat the Rich is a British comedy released in 1987, directed by Peter Richardson. It follows the story of Alex, a disenchanted waiter, who, along with a group of cohorts, rebels against the upper class. Simultaneously, General Karprov and Spider conspire to exploit the anarchists for political sabotage.
Eat the Richis a wild satire about a group of anarchists taking over a posh restaurant and surreptitiously serving human flesh to their high-class guests. The cast is filled with famous music figures in cameo roles, including Lemmy of Motorhead, Shane MacGowan of The Pogues, Bill Wyman of the Stones, and Jools Holland.
McCartney also makes an appearance inEat the Rich,playing a character billed only as “Banquet Guest.” In his one scene, the tuxedo-wearing star is sitting among other well-dressed guests at a very elaborate event, when some of the movie’s signature anarchy breaks out.
Amid all the wacky mayhem, Banquet Guest is roughed up a little by uniformed staff. “I’m with the group,” he insists, possibly a Beatles joke, but it’s hard to tell.Eat the Richwas not well-reviewed and currently sits at 35% on Rotten Tomatoes.
Firmly established as a chart-topping solo star by 1984, McCartney felt ready to return to the big screen, again playing himself.With a script penned by the star,Give My Regards to Broad Streetcharts a day in the life of McCartneyas he deals with pop star business.
Perhaps inspired by Hitchcock, or by Ringo’s magic ring inHelp!, McCartney feels compelled to write in a MacGuffin in the form of some missing master tapes. Otherwise, the movie centers on McCartney, his wife Linda McCartney and pal Ringo Starr living the pop star life.
Give My Regards to Broad Streetimprobably spawned a computer game for the Commodore 64 and ZX Spectrum.
McCartney attempts to enliven his very loose story with dream sequences, but these flights of fancy land with a thud.Roger Ebertsaid in his one-star review that the film “is about as close as you may get to a non-movie, and the parts that do try something are the worst.”
The premise ofGive My Regards to Broad Streetmay broadly resemble that ofA Hard Day’s Night, but that’s where the similarities end. The earlier film is a giddy bit of fun centered on the Beatles’ unique personalities. McCartney’s 1984 flop is a meandering vanity project from a colossal pop star who could’ve benefited from someone telling him no.
The film grossed just $1.4 million on a budget of $9 million, and currently sits at 25% on Rotten Tomatoes.
After following the guidance of Richard Lester onA Hard Day’s NightandHelp!, the Beatles took the creative reins for their third film, collectively being credited as its writers, directors, and stars. By all accounts,McCartney was the main force behind the movie’s conception, though he seems reluctant to take credit.
Inspired by author Ken Kesey’s exploits with his Merry Pranksters aboard their repurposed school bus “Further,”Magical Mystery Tourpromises a whimsical adventure starring the Beatles. What it delivers is so aimless and disappointing that McCartney felt compelled to go on television and apologize for the debacle.
Magical Mystery Tourwas released as a TV movie on BBC1, but the color film was broadcast in black-and-white, contributing to its dismal public reception. Its historical value is undeniable, however, as it features music-video-like clips of several Beatles classics, including “I Am the Walrus.”
Rolling Stones guitarist Keith Richards famously inspired Johnny Depp’s performance as Captain Jack Sparrow in thePirates of the Caribbeanfranchise. So when it came time for someone to play Jack’s father onscreen, Richards was the only logical choice.
Having cast a Rolling Stone as a relative of Jack Sparrow,Piratesproducers felt they needed a Beatle for the next movie.Depp himself recruited McCartney,who agreed to sign on as Uncle Jack, the brother of Richards’ Captain Teague.
McCartney’s very brief appearance as an imprisoned Uncle Jack gives him time to sing a bit of the ancient Liverpool folk tune “Maggie May,” once covered by the Beatles, and to tell his nephew an old joke that he finds annoyingly familiar.
McCartney may look even more ridiculous than Richards in his pirate regalia, but he gives a better performance than his old rock-and-roll rival, showing off his strong comedic delivery, with some fun zingers as Jack Sparrow is dragged away to his cell.
A Hard Day’s NightandHelp!may have succeeded in crossing the Beatles over to cinematic success, but the films did not fill the lads with a desire to keep shooting movies. Instead of another live-action film, their next release would be an animated one,for which they would shoot only a single tacked-on scene.
Yellow Submarinestars animated versions of the Beatles, given voice not by the real band, but by actors doing their best impersonations. McCartney and company only show up at the very end, in a contractually-mandated appearance, that sees them clowning in front of a black backdrop before leading the audience in an “All Together Now” sing-along.
Pixar’s John Lasseter has praisedYellow Submarineas an animated film that helped legitimize the art form.
Though the real Beatles had limited involvement in the film,Yellow Submarineis widely beloved, thanks to its fine music and artful animated style. It sits at 96% on Rotten Tomatoes, just two percentage points behindA Hard Day’s Night.
FollowingA Hard Day’s Nightwas never going to be easy. Richard Lester is back in the director’s chair forHelp!, there’s a bigger budget, and there’s almost a plot. ButThe Beatles’ second cinematic sojournwas given a lukewarm reception by critics, relative to the wild enthusiasm for their 1964 classic.
McCartney’s big scene sees him being accidentally reduced in size by a shrinking solution meant to help Starr get the ring off.
Help!sees the Fab Four once again playing themselves, in a wacky adventure rendered in dizzying style by Lester. The whisper-thin plot centers on Ringo Starr’s magic ring, and efforts to protect him from those who want to steal the trinket, which has become stuck on his finger.
McCartney’s big scene sees him being accidentally reduced in size by a shrinking solution meant to help Starr get the ring off. The scene was pulled off using a giant ashtray and boot, with McCartney wearing nothing but a discarded chewing gum wrapper.
Help!may not have been as big asA Hard Day’s Night, because nothing could be, but it did well enough at the box office, grossing $12 million on a budget of $1.5 million. It now sits at 89% on Rotten Tomatoes.
A Hard Day’s Night
It may have been released all the way back in 1964, butA Hard Day’s Nightstill feels incredibly fresh and retains its power to thrill and delight. It’s a great showcase for the Beatles’ music, and their zanyGoon Show-influenced sense of humorwhile providing a fascinating glimpse of Beatlemania at its height.
McCartney and his bandmates play themselves as they engage in cheeky antics during the 36 hours leading up to a television appearance. What could’ve been a silly bit of promotion becomes, in the hands of director Richard Lester, a cinematic landmark.
McCartney’s easy charm is on full display alongside the dry wit of George Harrison, the spiky sarcasm of John Lennon, and the whimsical oddness of Ringo Starr. Weirdly, Lester gives McCartney a fictional grandfather, played by popular British comedic actor Wilfrid Brambell, who becomes the lads’ happy accomplice as they romp about London.
Lester’s movie subtly pokes fun at the frenzy around the Beatles, while generating its own mischievous electricity. The director unleashes so many fresh cinematic tricks that critic Andrew Sarris famously calledA Hard Day’s Night“the Citizen Kane of jukebox musicals.” Roger Ebert gave it a spot on his Great Movies list.
