Help!

Also known as Eight Arms To Hold You

1965 musical comedy-adventure film starring the Beatles

Film · TMDB

6.9

An obscure Eastern cult that practices human sacrifice pursues Ringo after he unknowingly puts on a ceremonial ring (that, of course, won't come off). On top of that, a pair of mad scientists, members of Scotland Yard, and a beautiful but dead-eyed assassin all have their own plans for the Fab Four.

Released: 1965-07-2992 minDir: Richard LesterComedy, Music, AdventureBudget: $1.5M

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Cast

George Harrison as George
John Lennon as John
Paul McCartney as Paul
Ringo Starr as Ringo
Leo McKern as Clang
Eleanor Bron as Ahme

Themes

surreal
musical
cult

~23 min read

Article

Help! is a 1965 British musical comedy-adventure film directed by Richard Lester, starring the Beatles and featuring Leo McKern, Eleanor Bron, Victor Spinetti, John Bluthal, Roy Kinnear and Patrick Cargill. The second film starring the Beatles following Lester's A Hard Day's Night (1964), Help! sees the group struggle to protect Ringo Starr from a sinister eastern cult and a pair of mad scientists, all of whom are obsessed with obtaining a sacrificial ring sent to him by a fan. The soundtrack was released as the band's fifth studio album under the same name.

Help! had its Royal World Premiere at the London Pavilion Theatre in the West End of London on 29 July 1965 in the presence of Princess Margaret, Countess of Snowdon and the Earl of Snowdon. While not reviewed at the time with the same high level of admiration as their first film, Help! is now credited with influencing the development of music videos.