Beatles' 'Help!' Film: Drugs and Confusion Revealed

The Beatles' 1965 film "Help!" had a troubled production, with John Lennon admitting in a 1970 interview that he did not enjoy making it. He explained that, unlike their earlier film "A Hard Day's Night," the Beatles had limited creative control over "Help!" This scripted comedy left them feeling like mere "extras in our own movie."

Adding to the challenges, Lennon confessed in a 1980 interview that the band members were frequently under the influence of marijuana during filming. Ringo Starr corroborated this, stating that their increased drug use significantly impacted production and was visible on screen.

Lennon also expressed frustration that director Richard Lester did not communicate the film's intended farcical tone. He only came to understand the director's vision later, comparing it to the Adam West "Batman" television series.