The Rutles - All You Need Is Cash

Starring:Dan Aykroyd, Terence Bayler, John Belushi, Jeannette Charles, Ricky Fataar, Al Franken, John Halsey, George Harrison, Eric Idle, Neil Innes, Bianca Jagger, Lorne Michaels, Bill Murray, Michael Palin, Gilda Radner, Gwen Taylor, Gary Weis, Carinthia West, Ron Wood, Henry Woolf
Director: Eric Idle, Gary Weis
Studio: Rhino / Wea
Product Type: DVD

Editorial Review:
Amazon.com
Originally hatched in 1978 as a short film parody for Saturday Night Live, this expanded, 70-minute mockumentary on a trend-setting quartet of British mop-tops bloomed into one of Eric Idle's better projects outside Monty Python. Taking the career (and hagiography) of the Beatles and inverting them quite nicely, Idle conjures up four doppelgangers who offer the familiar mannerisms but practically none of the intelligence of their models. If that sounds like the same gag that powered This Is Spinal Tap (which emerged six years later), it is, with the crucial difference that Idle's lampoon is precise where Tap was consciously generic.

In telling the saga of the Rutles, Idle (who doubles as earnest narrator and McCartney-esque Rutle Dirk McQuigley) works from a rich and immediately familiar trove of pop lore, and he has a ball revisiting and reinventing milestones from the Fab Four's fabled history. The attention to period detail helps elevate the gags further, but Idle's real secret weapon is Neil Innes, standing in as Ron Nasty, the Rutles' answer to John Lennon: it's Innes who serves as the musical architect for the wonderful Beatles parodies that give All You Need Is Cash a delicious kick, and Innes, a one-time principal in the legendary Bonzo Dog Band, is gifted enough to capture the band's lyricism and energy as well as their shifting sense of style.

Amazon.com

Originally hatched in 1978 as a short film parody for Saturday Night Live, this expanded, 70-minute mockumentary on a trend-setting quartet of British mop-tops bloomed into one of Eric Idle's better projects outside Monty Python. Taking the career (and hagiography) of the Beatles and inverting them quite nicely, Idle conjures up four doppelgangers who offer the familiar mannerisms but practically none of the intelligence of their models. If that sounds like the same gag that powered This Is Spinal Tap (which emerged six years later), it is, with the crucial difference that Idle's lampoon is precise where Tap was consciously generic.

In telling the saga of the Rutles, Idle (who doubles as earnest narrator and McCartney-esque Rutle Dirk McQuigley) works from a rich and immediately familiar trove of pop lore, and he has a ball revisiting and reinventing milestones from the Fab Four's fabled history. The attention to period detail helps elevate the gags further, but Idle's real secret weapon is Neil Innes, standing in as Ron Nasty, the Rutles' answer to John Lennon: it's Innes who serves as the musical architect for the wonderful Beatles parodies that give All You Need Is Cash a delicious kick, and Innes, a one-time principal in the legendary Bonzo Dog Band, is gifted enough to capture the band's lyricism and energy as well as their shifting sense of style.

With the blessing and on-camera participation of George Harrison, and wry cameos from Mick Jagger and Paul Simon, All You Need Is Cash is a perfect companion to the Beatles' own glorious screen comedies and a great antidote to sanctimonious pop documentaries. --Sam Sutherland

Customer Reviews:

Only a few laughs.......2007-06-16

I enjoy Monty Python and I am a big Beatles fan, so I was surprised I didn't like this movie. Basically, there are only a few laughs, and they weren't specific to the Beatles so it could've been put in any mockumentary. What also disappointed me was there was not much interaction of the Rutles - you don't get to see them talk to each other much, which could've provided many funny moments. The song parodies weren't that funny, either.

What I did like was the visual aspects of the movie - they really did get the look of the Beatles throughout the years pretty accurately. It was also good to see many of the original Saturday Night Live cast and they provided much of the few funny moments in the movie.

If you want to see a funny mockumentary, check out "Spinal Tap" and "Fear of a Black Hat". Both movies have two necessary ingredients that this movie lacked: hilarious banter between the band members and funny lyrics in the songs.

Python meets Spinal Tap.......2007-04-26

This is a wonderful spoof of the Beatles, which deserves a higher reputation than its fairly obscure standing.

Neil Innes is outstanding as 'Nasty' (i.e. Lennon), and of course was also responsible for the wonderful spoof songs ("Let it Rot" "Ouch" "A Hard Days Rut" etc"). Eric Idles presenter is a classic Python type character. The scene at the beginning where the presenter is being filmed from a moving vehicle which gets faster and faster is pure Python.

There are cameo roles for George Harrison, Mick Jagger and Paul Simon. George Harrison isn't playing himself, so you have to look a little harder to spot him.

Along with Spinal Tap (which was made 6 years later) this is the best spoof 'rockumentary'. Its very funny and I recommend it strongly.

One of the funniest movies ever made.......2007-04-10

OK, so it helps to know The Beatles inside and out to totally get this movie. Even if you don't, it's still a riot. But if you do know The Beatles, this is perfect. It's the funniest movie I've ever seen.

Idle and Innes hit a grand slam here. Every scene is hilarious, nearly every line is a complete crack-up. The Beatles needed to be spoofed and they gave their blessing for this project. My guess is they even found it funny (though I doubt John liked seeing Nasty's wife portrayed as a Nazi).

The capper is the music. Some of the songs are just brilliant rip-offs, combining two or three elements of three Beatles songs. Example, "Hold My Hand" combines "I Want to Hold Your Hand," the "Eight Days a Week" intro, and "She Loves You." Just priceless.

If you like The Beatles, you'll really like "The Rutles." If you like great comedy, you'll love this. It's a can't-miss classic!

The Rutles........2007-03-09

Saw the Video when it fist came out. It was great then, even better now!!!

The Ruttles - All you Need is Cash.......2007-01-18

Brilliant, absolutely brilliant! Idle/Innes are in rare form as the dynamic duo lovingly give the Fab Four a Pythonesque makeover. Anyone who love the Beatles and Monty Python MUST own this movie! The interviews alone are worth the price of admission! Mick Jagger.. Paul Simon.. Ron Wood.. (and see if you can spot 'THE' George Harrison). Hats off to Niles Innes for the music - 'spot on'! If you didn't know any better, you'd have thought you'd stumbled onto some old Beatles recordings that were never released to the general public. Tongue firmly planted in cheek! 'Nuff said.

Special Edition: The Rutles - All You Need Is Cash [PAL, Region Free, Import]

Average customer rating:

Special Edition: The Rutles - All You Need Is Cash [PAL, Region Free, Import]

ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

Special Editions | Fully Loaded DVDs | Features | DVD | Video
Product Features:

PAL, Region Free, requires PAL capable DVD player for the US.
DVD Special Features:
- Brand new transfer featuring previously unavailable scenes
- Further deleted scenes
- Eric Idle introduction and commentary

ASIN: 8374044187

Product Description

First screened on BBC2 in 1978, at a time when the standing of The Beatles was at its lowest, The Rutles--All You Need is Cash is the original and (pace This is Spinal Tap) best "rockumentary" spoof. Codirector Eric Idle was then enjoying success with Rutland Weekend Television, while his script displays the same feeling for the inane non-sequitur evident in his Monty Python work. The band's progress from "penniless, untalented nobodies" to "rich, untalented somebodies" is vividly brought to life--with dialogue adapted from actual Beatles interviews and newsreels, and a roster of songs sounding uncannily close to Beatles originals thanks to "Nasty" Neil Innes' genius for pastiche. Interviews with a suitably primed Mick Jagger and Paul Simon give added realism, as do cameos from George Harrison (one-time Beach Boy Rikki Fataar plays his Rutles double Stig) and Stones guitarist Ron Wood. Dan Ackroyd and John Belushi make characterful, pre-Blues Brothers appearances.

Average customer rating:

All You Need Is Cash - Special Edition
The Rutles
Manufacturer: Prism
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B00006L9WX

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