Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band

Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band (1978)

Runtime: 111 minutes

Directed by: Michael Schultz

Starring: Peter Frampton, The Bee Gees, & Many Others

From: Universal 

What a movie to watch & announce my return to Netflix! Yes, I’ve viewed Sgt. Pepper’s many moons ago; the details as to why my memories of this being a fever dream were long forgotten. As it’s been on Netflix for ages, about time to decide if perhaps a modern viewing would change my mind… nope. That doesn’t mean I did not howl with laughter or had a bad time experiencing this again. I did not remember that Donald Pleasence w/ hair SANG-well, it was more spoken-word-let alone dressed like a 70’s cowboy in his initial appearance then wore other preposterous outfits, or the cornucopia of bizarre moments.

Musicals in general I rarely view due to my lack of interest… jukebox musicals even less so, even of a band that had many songs I dig or that those original tunes were covered by great musicians. As a rock opera horror story of the musical industry, it’s no Phantom of the Paradise… or even Josie and the Pussycats. That proves to be a subplot anyhow when the main plot involving Mr. Mustard introduces himself… and it’s baffling. I don’t fault The Bee Gees or Peter Frampton-both entities are rad.

I did love the presented message that arcades & pinball machines will lead to the downfall of a town-an attitude straight out of the 1930’s-and gives us a moment where a random lady literally pulls a giant wad of cash from underneath her short skirt!

Despite the presence of many familiar faces (whether acting or musical) the movie is a gigantic mess, usually to a hysterical degree. The story is told via the music and occasional narration from George Burns rather than any dialogue driving the story forward. There were things I loved; naturally for me, the 70’s aesthetic delighted me, whether it was the quality production design, the amazing clothing, or the appearance of Los Angeles at the time.

While the soundtrack greatly varied in quality in terms of their covers (I’m glad that other songs from the Beatles catalog were used; Sgt. Pepper’s isn’t my favorite album from them, to be frank), at least the songs from Aerosmith & Earth Wind & Fire have rightfully stood the test of time. I also appreciated that Billy Preston was the ultimate hero of the story. I’m referring to Billy Preston the musician who made awesome music-including being on the OG version of Get Back-and not Preston the person… his addiction to drugs is one thing but he was arrested for sex charges in the 90’s. Reading that on Wiki last year was greatly disappointing.

This is the sort of campy spectacle I enjoy… not modern musical disasters like Cats the movie! Sgt. Pepper’s is better than the other inexplicable musical from the 70’s involving Beatles songs: 1976’s All This and World War II. After I saw it years ago, there’s still no explanation why people thought that covers of Beatles tunes over random footage of World War II & clips from 20th Century Fox movies was a swell idea… it was not, despite the soundtrack featuring an even more impressive lineup. It had everyone from Tina Turner & Elton John to Rod Stewart, Jeff Lynne, and… The Bee Gees, no lie.