Update (11/23/07)

Steve:

I just picked up a copy of the regular (Not the boxset) Help! DVD, and looking through the booklet, on the last page, in the credits, I see this: "1812 Overture by Beethoven." Tchaikovsy wrote the 1812 overture, if I'm not mistaken. How could they screw this up like that?

Update (11/12/07)

Good Day Steve,

First it was hard for me to pick up a copy of HELP! In most of the retail outlets due to the fact that either they only had 3 or 4 copies That came in or the fact that the shipments were late with it. I did get my copy late last night and stayed up late to view it. If you have the original MPI 1997 or ’98 version that first appeared when DVDs were produced, you can throw that copy right Out your window. As they say in the trailor,DON’T WORRY! HELP IS ON THE WAY! Well it is, the new restored,remaster copy Of this DVD blows away all the other HELP! VHS and DVD that were issued at one time. Apple finally got it right with it’s Reconstruction of this movie. First and utmost,a Beatles movie shown in WIDESCREEN! It is perfect the way this was done.

If you remember the re-issue of Yellow Submarine that came out in 1999,the widescreen was off! It was done completely wrong. The cartoon heads were cropped off and the view from left to right was not impressive at all.The HELP! DVD widescreen is Perfect. There’s more viewing of the temple scene along with the Bahamas and even out in the field with the songs, I Need You and The Night Before..

Now the clean up print of this movie was awesome! The colors are very vivid and allot was not shown in the original releases of HELP! The Beatles “House” in the early part of the movie has the paint on the wall green and blue. With the exception of the “grass” on the floor being green,the house paint on the walls our blue and green and it’s very bright. The snow scene of Ticket To Ride Is very,bright white. Yes,even Ringo’s red paint is truly red as can be. Great job they did on that. The audio is the one that stands out. The opening sequence of the Beatles singing HELP!,Lennon’s strumming his rythem guitar Can truly be heard. It’s almost like he’s strumming too hard,it’s that intense. Your Going to Lose That Girl studio scene was Also noticeable with a louder piano and bongos throughout the song and even Harrison’s guitar solo. It’s really like you're standing in front of them without earplugs.The other songs were just as spectacular even the intro to Ticket To Ride. Also the audio through out the movie was re-done. When the Beatles talked or even Lennon’s little mumble,they can Be heard clearly. Leo Mckern (Clang) and Eleneor Bron who are in the movie, say there lines very cleary,so it’s Very enjoyable to listen too them. Also I pick up something that the VHS and old DVD of HELP! possibly missed. When Clang pokes his head from the street sewer ,before the Beatles start to sing You’ve got to hide Your Love Away, You Can actually hear the sound of Clang lifting up that massive sewer stopper from the road that the VHS and old DVD didn’t have! So other then that,the audio was out of this world music and dialouge wise. Disc 2 had your extra bonus’ including Richard Lester and Eleneor Bron remininsing about there time on he set. The so call “lost” scene with Wendy Richards is only shown in stills so it’s sort of misleading because people are going To thing there’s footage of it. There isn’t. Also Frankie Howard who was a British comic who played MEAN MR. MUSTARD In the 1978 Sgt.Pepper movie was also cast with Wendy for HELP! According to Lester ,the Beatles felt uncomfortable working With him as Frankie was uncomfortable working with the boys. Not only that, the scene didn’t work in the movie,sort of out of Place with the other scenes,so they left it on the cutting room floor. Neil Aspinall also there with his comments mostly laughing Through out his interview you can hardly understand what he’s saying.(Left over ’65 pot?) Lester also talked about how he came up with the Follow up to A Hard days Night. That he didn’t want to do a “sequel” ,but A movie that centers the Beatles along with actors around them for support. Also on the disc they had 2 different movie trailors along with footage of them at the premiere in 1965. Yes Apple,Congradulations! You finally fixed up a Beatles’ movie correctly and enjoyable to watch. Orginally A Hard days Night & Let It Be were my top 2, but after this reconstruction, HELP is on the way to everybodys hearts. I did purchase the Big, Deluxe version of this as a collector only. Yes it was very pricey. Hopefully kept sealed, it will go up In value. I’m not sure if it’s a LIMITED EDITION. Thanks Steve.

Hello Steve,

My copy did include discs, however, the two little foam rubber pads that hold the discs had become unstuck, and the discs were floating loose in the book. This caused some abrasion on disc 2, but did not affect play, thankfully. I can't believe they would rely on those stupid foam pads to hold the discs in place! Other than that, I was impressed by the set's quality. I do believe, however, it is overpriced. To me it should retail somewhere in the $75 range. The restoration is nice, fits my flat screen perfectly, and the DTS 5.1 sound is truly amazing. It was like hearing some of these songs for the first time; I even enjoyed the Ken Thorne instrumentals!

I popped the new Help DVD into my player and went straight to Audio Options, where I was disappointed to find only two choices: DTS 5.1 and PCM Stereo. No Dolby Digital 5.1. Most DVDs provide both 5.1 options, and I 've run into this problem only once before.

Steve:

Just recieved my Help Deluxe set....and Terry Ott will love this. I opened up my booklet and NO DVD'S..All the extras but no discs.

See if anyone else had this happen too or if I am an isloated case

Update (10/23/07)

Update (9/30/07)

Hi, Steve--

I was fortunate to get to see a sneak preview screening of the restored "Help!" last week here in L.A. I have to tell you, I've never seen this film ever look good before - this restoration is pretty unbelievable. Rich color (restored from the original faded camera negative, I understand), full 1.66:1 aspect ratio and 5.1 Surround - really a great experience. And, of course, it's still a very funny movie! A lot to look forward to!

Update (9/13/07)

In the press release for upcoming DVD release of “HELP!” it states that one of the DVD extras will be a a Missing Scene - interview and photographs, featuring Wendy Richard. I found this photo and some info about the missing scene on a Wendy Richard web site (see below). She played the part of Miss Brahms in the hit 70’s and 80’s British television show “Are You Being Served?” still shown on various PBS stations throughout the country.

The cover of the new "Help!" DVD

STOP WORRYING...HELP! IS ON THE WAY!

APPLE CORPS LTD PROUDLY ANNOUNCE THE DVD RELEASE OF THE BEATLES FILM 'HELP!', OCTOBER 30TH

Apple Corps Ltd have announced the eagerly anticipated DVD release of The Beatles' second feature film 'Help!' on October 30th (October 29th ROW) which will be marketed and distributed by EMI Music.

Directed by Richard Lester, who also directed the band's debut feature film 'A Hard Days Night', 'Help!' made its theatrical debut in 1965. The story follows The Beatles as they become passive recipients of an outside plot that revolves around Ringo's possession of a sacrificial ring, which he cannot remove from his finger. As a result, he and his bandmates John, Paul and George are chased from London to the Austrian Alps and the Bahamas by religious cult members, a mad scientist and the London police.

In addition to starring the Beatles, 'Help!' has a witty script, a great cast of British character actors and features 7 classic Beatles tracks, including:

'Help!'

'You're Going To Lose That Girl'

'You've Got To Hide Your Love Away'

'Ticket To Ride'

'I Need You'

'The Night Before'

'Another Girl'
The DVD will be a 2-disc set. Disc 1 will feature the original film digitally restored with a newly created 5.1 soundtrack, while Disc 2 contains an hour of extra features, including:

The Beatles in Help! – 30 minute documentary about the making of the film with Richard Lester, the cast and crew. Includes exclusive behind the scenes footage of The Beatles on set.

A Missing Scene – Featuring Wendy Richard

The Restoration of Help! – An in depth look at the restoration process.

Memories of Help! – The cast and crew reminisce.

Theatrical Trailers – 2 US trailers and 1 Spanish trailer.

1965 US Radio Spots - Hidden in disc menus.
There will be 2 editions of the DVD - a standard digipack and a deluxe boxed set that will contain a reproduction of Richard Lester's original annotated script, 8 lobby cards and a poster, plus a 60-page book with rarely seen photographs and production notes from the movie. Both the deluxe book and the standard booklet feature an introduction by Richard Lester and an appreciation by Martin Scorsese.

(Watch the 'Help!' DVD trailer here. )

CAST
The Beatles: 

John………..………………………………………………………...John Lennon
Paul………………………………………………………………Paul McCartney 
George……….…………………………………………………George Harrison
Ringo……….…………………………………………………………...Ringo Starr

Clang………………………………………………………………….Leo McKern 
Ahme…………………………………………………………………Eleanor Bron 
Foot…………….........................................................................Victor Spinetti 
Algernon…………........................................................................Roy Kinnear
Superintendent........................................................................Patrick Cargill
Bhuta………………......................................................................John Bluthal 
Jeweller……………………………………………………………...Peter Copley
Doorman…………………………………………………………………Alfie Bass
Abdul…………………………………………………………..…Warren Mitchell 
Lawnmower………………………………………………………...Bruce Lacey
Cross channel swimmer……………………………………………...Mal Evans
Women in street……………………Dandy Nichols and Gretchen Franklin

PRODUCTION
Director ……………………………………………………………Richard Lester 
Producer ………………………………………………………...Walter Shenson
Screenplay…………………………………..Marc Behm and Charles Wood
Story by………………………………………………………………..Marc Behm 
Director of Photography…………………………………………David Watkin
Production Manager……………………………………………….John Pellatt 
Art Director………………………………………………………Raymond Simm
Colour Consultant and Titles………………………………...Robert Freeman
Costume Designer…………………………………………………….Julie Harris 
Musical Director………………………………………………………Ken Thorne
Songs composed by…………………..John Lennon and Paul McCartney 
                                                                                and by George Harrison
Songs performed by………………………………………………...The Beatles
Songs produced by……………………………………………..George Martin 

Billboard: Beatles' 'Help!' Expanded For New DVD

(6/29/2007) An inside source tells Matt Hurwitz that a two-disc DVD reissue of "Help!" should be coming by the end of the year. It'll be digitally restored and featuring a remixed soundtrack. A second disc will include rarities, but no further details on what. (Must credit Abbeyrd's Beatles Page with link http://abbeyrd.best.vwh.net/fabnews.htm if using this material elsewhere.)