Trailer
Plot summary
A cult whose rites call for human sacrifice is about to offer a woman to its goddess when the priests see that the sacrificial ring is not on her. Ringo, the Beatles' drummer, has it. The woman they meant to sacrifice sent it to him because she is a fan of the band. Clang, the chief priest, travels to London with cult members and the high priestess Ahme to recover the ring, and their attempts to lift it from Ringo without his noticing fail. They confront him in an Indian restaurant, where he learns what the ring means to them. He would hand it over, but it will not come off his finger. A pair of mad scientists is also after it.
Cast
Did you know?!Facts and trivia about Help! (1965)
Can contain spoilers, watch the movie first.
- During the restaurant sequence filmed in early April, George Harrison began to discover Indian-style music, which became a key element in later Beatles songs such as "Norwegian Wood".
- Neither John Lennon nor Paul McCartney could compose a good title song from the film's previous name, so Help! was settled on as its title later in April and Lennon wrote the song "Help!" that same night.
- Exhausted by their writing, recording and touring schedule, the Beatles were hesitant to make another film after Help!, which was their last full-length scripted theatrical film.
- Filming began in the Bahamas on 23 February 1965, where Ringo Starr said the Beatles had to wear light clothing for hot-weather scenes even though it was winter and the weather was actually cool.
- A sequence with Frankie Howerd and Wendy Richard was filmed for Help! but left out of the final edit because of its length, though it was kept in the film's novelisation.
- The ski scenes were shot at Obertauern, a small village in Austria, chosen partly because the Beatles were less likely to be recognized there than at a larger resort popular with British tourists.
