Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band

Starring:Peter Frampton, Barry Gibb, Robin Gibb, Maurice Gibb, Frankie Howerd, Paul Nicholas, Donald Pleasence, Sandy Farina, Dianne Steinberg, Steve Martin, Aerosmith, Earth Wind and Fire, Alice Cooper, Billy Preston, Stargard, George Burns, Carel Struycken, Patti Jerome, Max Showalter, John Wheeler
Director: Michael Schultz
Studio: Universal Studios
Product Type: DVD

Amazon.com

If it weren't for a couple of inspired performances, as well as the time-capsule weirdness of it all, Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band would be definitively unwatchable. This misguided effort to dramatize the classic Beatles album (the Fab Four had nothing to do with it, thank goodness) also includes tunes from other Beatles LPs, strung together in lumbering '70s rock-opera style. Peter Frampton, then at the crest of his brief run at the top, stars as Billy Shears, with the Bee Gees wearing the glossy day-glo band jackets from the Pepper album cover. Earth, Wind & Fire turn in a spirited revamp of "Got to Get You into My Life," and Aerosmith thrash their way through "Come Together"; but most of the performances are pretty awful. Out-and-out novelties include Steve Martin doing "Maxwell's Silver Hammer" and George Burns (but of course) warbling "Fixing a Hole." This high-profile 1978 flop helped kill the hot streak (Saturday Night Fever, Grease) of record and movie producer Robert Stigwood and sink his RSO movie-music empire. --Robert Horton

Customer Reviews:

bee gees.......2007-06-08

great to have - the boys are at their best and it is a good rememberance piece

Rating of zero is generous.......2007-05-24

I'll challenge anyone who may think they are a bigger fan of the Beatles than myself, however, this is the absolute WORST movie I had ever had the displeasure of viewing in my life. I simply cannot understand how the Beatles could have given the rights to their music to an outfit who could make such a disaster. This is actually painful to watch; you'd get more enjoyment out of watching paint dry. Don't waste your money.

Hidden classic.......2007-05-14

I had known that The Beatles made movies to go a long with some of their albums, like Help! and Yellow Submarine, but I had never heard of this one. My husband had seen it as a child and recently made me rent it and boy am I glad! This movie is amazing! We ended up purchasing it shortly after. It stars the Bee Gees and Peter Frampton with tons of special guest stars. This may sound strange, but their performances are amazing and they add a whole new dimension to the album. The whole movie seems to parallel The Beatles rise to fame and the sex, money and corruption that goes along with it. I think this movie is a classic and I would recommend it to anyone and everyone.

Bad and Good.......2007-05-11

This is a bad movie but I still love it. I remember seeing this in the theatre when it first came out. Okay, it's cheesy and kind of stupid but sometimes you just gotta take what you like and forget about the rest. I love the Bee Gees and I love these songs. I especially love Robin singing "Oh Darlin," and Aerosmith (as the FVB- Future Villian Band)singing a really cool version of "Come Together." Awesome.

Fluff, but a lot of fun.......2007-05-10

When I first saw this movie in 1978, I wasn't expecting a movie on the level of, say, "Gone With The Wind" (which is another of my favorite movies). I knew it would be silly but that was ok. I was a fan of Peter Frampton and the Bee Gees and the chance to see them on the big screen was simply too good to pass up.

I have just seen the movie on television a couple of days ago. I have to say after almost 30 years I still enjoy it as much as I did then. I recall a review stating it was "Not bad on a hot summer day. . ." (KC paper 1978) and I still agree. It's just a fun way to spend a couple of hours. All of the music is quite good but there are a few standout performances -- Dianne Steinberg/Stargard "Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds", Peter Frampton "The Long And Winding Road", Barry Gibb/Bee Gees "A Day In The Life", George Burns "Fixing A Hole", Robin Gibb/Bee Gees "Oh Darling", Aerosmith "Come Together" and Earth Wind And Fire "Got To Get You Into My Life". Of course all the stars in the finale, and just the fun of seeing how young everyone looked then.

This movie is good clean family fun and I'd recommend it. Especially to someone who still loves the seventies.

DVD:

DVD List

DVD

DVD

The Magic of Fellini

Soldier Soldier - Series 3 - Part 1

Batman - The Animated Series - The Legend Begins

DVD: In the Heat of the Night

To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything! Julie Newmar