The Yellow Submarine DVD calls this short feature a 'making of documentary' in the special features menu, but it seems to be more like a little introduction piece that was shown as part of a cinema presentation, like an extended trailer. There are some nice but brief shots of lovely mini-skirted colouring girls (most of whom are smoking at their desk and one is missing a few teeth). Then the narrator then rattles off a list of influences ranges from Homer to Tolkien, Dante, Swift, Welles, Carol, Baum and Verne before comparing the Beatles music to the paintings of Chagall.
Supervising director George Dunning and Heinz Edelmann get a few sentences in, but since their voices are part of the narration and we don't actually see them speak, it might just as well have been the narrator putting on another voice. Heinz (if it really is him) does offer some interesting tidbits on the design of the cartoon Beatles, the way the walk and the way they are introduced.
The script is described as 'a sort of open end Rorchach. Then we're back to listing all sorts of various art forms that popped up in the Sixties are mentioned as inspiration for the film itself. Also note that the Beatles appear in a lot of behind the scenes snippets, making it seem like they actually have more to do in the film than their actual appearance (the trailer is guilty of the same crime).
7 out of 10
Supervising director George Dunning and Heinz Edelmann get a few sentences in, but since their voices are part of the narration and we don't actually see them speak, it might just as well have been the narrator putting on another voice. Heinz (if it really is him) does offer some interesting tidbits on the design of the cartoon Beatles, the way the walk and the way they are introduced.
The script is described as 'a sort of open end Rorchach. Then we're back to listing all sorts of various art forms that popped up in the Sixties are mentioned as inspiration for the film itself. Also note that the Beatles appear in a lot of behind the scenes snippets, making it seem like they actually have more to do in the film than their actual appearance (the trailer is guilty of the same crime).
7 out of 10
