The Beatles’ 1967 TV special, Magical Mystery Tour, has been a source of some controversy for many years.
The Beatles in Magical Mystery Tour
At the time of its original showing (as a TV special), it was panned critically and considered the first chink in the armor of the Beatles creative output. 45 years later, it’s a different story.
Sure the storyline is very loose, or even non-existent, but this was first shown in the winter or 1967 – right of the heels of that famous acid filled summer. So the influence of psychedelic experimentation (in music, film, and art) was at an all-time high and Magical Mystery Tour is a prime example of a psychedelic product. The film, which made its debut on October on Blu Ray (and re-issued on DVD as well) does merit a deeper investigation.
Now, if you are looking for an actual story, it’s not here. What is here is a time period piece and great proof of a time of free (or drug induced) thinking and experimentation that we will most likely never see again by such a major band as the Beatles.
The best part of the Magical Mystery Tour film are the videos that are weaved into the story. While they make no sense to the storyline (again…if there really is one), it is hard not to get caught up in the stellar clips for Fool on the Hill, Your Mother Should Know, and the highlight of the entire movie, I Am The Walrus.
Walrus was one of John Lennon’s best works with the quartet. Clever and confusing wordplay, with a haunting yet irresistible hook, it is possibly the finest psychedelic song ever and the clip of the band lip-syncing the song was masterfully done.
The extras on the Blu Ray (and DVD) are amazing. Commentary from Paul McCartney (who was the film’s director) is great as is the The Making of Magical Mystery Tour feature which has Beatle interviews and unseen footage.
As with some other Beatle movies, this too may only be available for a short time. And the music, videos, and extras alone are more than enough reason to own this piece of the Beatles’ legacy.
