In a lot of ways, the 1978 movie of Sgt Pepper starring Peter Frampton and the Bee Gees is just indescribably awful. However, it does have its good points, and I find myself rather fascinated. Bear with me then, gentle readers, as I parse out my interest in this silly movie.
For starters, the movie came out at what happened to be a critical point for me personally. In 1978 I was a freshman in high school, and had just discovered the Beatles. They were just a slightly obscure old cult group at that point, at least among high school kids in Rushville, Indiana. As a Beatles True Believer of not quite a year, I would have aspired to be the head priest leading prayers. It was distinctly a religious fervor.
It's hard to explain just how ridiculously eager I was to spend money to see this movie. For starters, at that point I would buy about anything with the word Beatles on it, or in any way associated. I was buying Yoko Ono albums - and trying to talk myself into liking them.
Seeing the movie at the time though, even I couldn't talk myself into liking it. This was worse than a Yoko Ono double album. What the hell kind of nonsense is this? I pretty much ended up siding with those what took the whole thing as heresy against the Fab religion - and was open to arguments that participation in this movie could reasonably be an ex-communicable offense from the Holy Mother Church. And hey, weren't the Bee Gees the leaders of the evil rival disco religion anyway?
Less than a year after the phenomenal successes of Saturday Night Fever and Grease, Robert Stigwood produced here one of the top all-time famous flops in movie and record. They were eating those cutout records for years. This movie badly tarnished or even ended the careers of most participants. I mean, this one just ATE IT.
Watching the movie now on DVD is a very different experience. Today this movie interests me most as a window on this crazy nether world called "the music business 1978." Watch the movie, and every wrong turn, and try to imagine what the creators might have been thinking to imagine that this would work. Remember, it's Robert Stigwood and the Bee Gees - only with the most prestigious song catalogue in the business to work with.
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Article comments
1 - Bennett
Thanks for this, Al. If you hadn't penned this review, I never would have known wtf was going on on that dvd.
The entire concept gave me damn-near epileptic shudders when it came out, and tho not a fan of book burning, I may have turned out for a burning of any theater that had the bad taste to show this (aparently) hideous flick.
Thanks for the chucks!
Bennett
2 - Mark Saleski
i saw this one two times in a row at the movie theatre when it came out.
me & the girlfriend.
we decided to buy tickets for the late show and actually watch the movie.
har, har, har.
3 - Mark Saleski
oh, and i like Yoko Ono records.
4 - Diana
This movie has been airing on the Universal HD channel from time to time.
I guess they scanned it in high def. It looks great.
http://www.universalhd.com
Saw all that hair in the movie and wondered whether Leif Garrett was considered for a part in it. Then at the end, he's in the closing song. Go figure.
(It was kewl seeing Bowser from Sha Na Na in there too.)
5 - valorie
I love this movie, I first saw it as a little kid, you know how everything seems majical when youre little? I still love it, it's a kind of break from reality to watch. The music kicks ass too!
6 - Paul Roy
This came out when I was in jr. high and I was already on my way to becoming a full-fledged Beatles fan. This movie actually put me over the top. No matter who is playing them, and how they are being played, the songs are so awesome - every one of them. The movie is a train wreck, and you just can't stop watching it. Now I've got to get the DVD.
7 - Al Barger
Yes Paul, those Beatle songs tend to work pretty good no matter who sings them and how. In fairness though, the Bee Gees were some pretty good singers, and their songs in particular actually came out worthwhile.
8 - gabe
I saw this movie last night, and had never really heard of it. It is a "bad" movie, but I loved it. It represents the quintessential magical qualities of 70s entertainment, at least in the way I perceive the 1970s (I was 6 when it came out). There is something quaint, innocent about it that is endearing. I don't think a movie has to be "good," or "well-made," in order to have merits. I think you agree with that. I also liked the Tom Hanks flop "Joe Versus the volcano," because of its earnestness and simple joys, even though it was not "well-made."
I have never seen such a handsome man as the Gibb brother (the older one with longer hair, gold medallion). They accentuate the lead singer form Aerosmith's lips in such a way as to impress it on one's memory and make an addictive experience out of watching it.
I enjoyed your review, as well. Your characterization of the flick enhances its kitschy apeal.
9 - Al Barger
Thanks, Gabe. This is one of those films that I end up liking despite my better judgment.
10 - Dee Jones
I too saw it in the theater the summer before my freshman year of high school but I took it very very seriously at the time. Frampton & Bee Gees were my reason for living. A local reporter wrote an accurate review of how bad the movie was and some of my classmates wrote rebuttals, we were SO offended that this adult just didn't get it. Now at the ripe old age of 41, I watched it on the Sundance Channel. I appreciate the horror of it all, but fell in love again with the Bee Gees and Frampton. As you wrote, they do have talent. In my original veiwing, I was horrified by the inclusion of Alice Cooper and Aerosmith. Today, I enjoyed their performances so much and wonder at their frame of mind when they agreed to be in this film. *Plus, they all look so young!*
I would give anything to know what the participants think of their work 27 years later. Horrified? Amused?
11 - Richard Thripp
I saw this "movie" while I was an escapee, 5 hours later I turned myself in to finish my 28-yr. sentence. I know I made the right decision now that 1 Bee Gee's gone I can relax, if only a little. I was surprised by how little we've grown as a people since 1978 was such a fantastic year for so many, yet not so good for others. Think of the disasters that didn't involve Gee Bees or Bee Gees...there weren't many, thank Jehovah. If the remains of Gibbs ever consider another adaptation I'll get baptized as I had promised my mother before she went schitzoidal.
12 - K.C.
I saw this when it first came out in the theatres. I was a 13-year-old girl madly in love with Peter Frampton and Barry Gibb. This movie was MADE for me!!! I remember sitting in the theatre, positively entranced. I can kind of understand the pre-teens who go see the Jonas Brothers feel nowadays. All that said, I still enjoy the movie, but always find myself apologizing for that fact. I don't love it because it's a great movie (which even I admit it ain't) but because, watching it now at 45 years old, I can (for a short time) be that little 13-year-old again.
13 - Steve M.
Alice Cooper must have been drunk when he proceeded to dunk his face in a cream pie - twice! The only good reason to recommend this movie is the campy performance of the late, great Frankie Howerd, one of Britain's funniest comedians ever.
14 - jdbruce1960
I've been trying to find the name of a song thats in the movie but not on the soundtrack not a beetle or beegee song about3/4 of the way thru movie a group of people are singing and dancing on stage to what the lyrics sounds like there saying"get up, dont take a back seat tonight, I wanna dance with you" if anyone knows the name please let me know thanks [Personal contact info deleted]