Backbeat (1994)

Director:

Iain Softley

Writers:

Iain Softley (writer)
Michael Thomas (writer)

Release Date:

15 April 1994 (USA)

Genre:

Biography | Drama | History | Music

Tagline:

He Had To Choose Between His Best Friend... The Woman He Loved... And The Greatest Rock 'n' Roll Band In the World.

Plot:

A dramatization of the Hamburg, Germany phase of the Beatles' early history.

Plot Keywords:

Stuart Sutcliffe | John Lennon | Germany | Beatles | Paul Mccartney

Awards:

Nominated for BAFTA Film Award. Another 4 wins & 1 nomination

Cast

Sheryl Lee	...	Astrid Kirchherr
Stephen Dorff	...	Stuart Sutcliffe
Ian Hart	...	John Lennon
Gary Bakewell	...	Paul McCartney
Chris O'Neill	...	George Harrison
Scot Williams	...	Pete Best
Kai Wiesinger	...	Klaus Voormann
Jennifer Ehle	...	Cynthia Powell
Marcelle Duprey	...	Singer
John White	...	Sailor 1
Bernard Merrick	...	Sailor 2
Nicholas Tennant	...	Sailor 3
Finola Geraghty	...	Model
Rob Spendlove	...	Arthur Ballard
Charlie Caine	...	Lord Woodbine

Also Known As:

BackBeat - Die Wahrheit über die Beatles (Germany)

Runtime:

100 min

Country:

UK | Germany

Language:

English | German | French

Colour:

Black and White | Colour (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby | LC-Concept Digital Sound

Certification:

Singapore:M18 | Argentina:13 | South Korea:18 | Australia:M | Finland:K-14 | France:U | Germany:12 | Iceland:L | Norway:15 | Spain:13 | Sweden:11 | UK:15 | USA:R

Filming Locations:

Cheney Street, London, England, UK

Company:

Channel Four Films

Trivia:

According to director Iain Softley, he knew that Stephen Dorff and Sheryl Lee would be perfect for their roles as soon as he met them.

Goofs:

Miscellaneous: At the end of the film, text describing subsequent events is superimposed over shots of a beach. One paragraph notes that Klaus Voormann played bass on John Lennon's album "Imagine" and designed the Beatles' "Revolver" album cover, but although the former title is placed in quotation marks, the latter is not.

Quotes:

Stuart Sutcliffe: I like the blonde but I prefer the brunette.
John Lennon: Blondes have more fun.
Stuart Sutcliffe: Says who?
John Lennon: Swedes.

Movie Connections:

Version of Stuart Sutcliffe: The Lost Beatle (2005) (TV)

Soundtrack:

Please Mr Postman

Good Film, Even Better Soundtrack

I really enjoyed this film, I do however doubt that i would have enjoyed it as much if it hadn't been for the absoloutely storming soundtrack made up of Fifties covers which you believe would have been played by the Beatles at that stage in their careers. Add to that the fact that the Band used to create the sound of the Beatles consisted of some of the leading musicians of the 90's. They bring their own interpretation to the music just as you believe the Beatles would have done, The only exception to this is the Drum beat which tends to sound more like the 90's than the 60's that being said it does make it more accessable to a contemporary audience.

Now as for the actual film itself, It was built on an interesting story about Stuart Sutcliffe, John Lennons best friend, Choosing between music and Art, the latter enevitably wins out with the help of Astrid. Much of the story is of a Tug Of war between John lennon trying to keep him involved in the music and Astrid who sees his artistic potential. It's a story that has been played over and over again but is refreshed in the context of surrounding characters that you feel you already know.

The Characteristically funny Lennon, Business like McCartney, Shy Harrison all come across very comfortably. But they are merely bit characters as this film is more about the choices of sutcliffe than it is about the fab four.