A Salute to the Beatles: Once upon a Time
| A Salute to the Beatles: Once upon a Time | |
|---|---|
| Starring | David Frost (narrator) Peter Brown |
| Country of origin | United Kingdom United States |
| Production | |
| Producer | David Frost |
| Running time | 60 minutes (approx.) |
| Original release | |
| Network | ABC (US) |
| Release | 21 May 1975 |
A Salute to the Beatles: Once upon a Time (also known as David Frost Salutes the Beatles)[1] is a 1975 television special about the English rock band the Beatles. It was presented and produced by English TV presenter David Frost for the American Broadcasting Company (ABC) network, and aired as one of Frost's Wide World of Entertainment specials, on 21 May 1975.[2] The program documents the career of the Beatles from their popularity in Liverpool in the early 1960s, through the era of Beatlemania and unprecedented commercial success and cultural influence, to the band's demise amid the business problems surrounding their Apple Corps enterprise.[3] The film includes archival footage and latter-day interviews with Beatles associates such as George Martin, Derek Taylor and Mal Evans.[4] Commentary on the band's influence on popular music is provided by David Essex, Chuck Berry and Bobby Vinton.[5]
A Salute to the Beatles was one of the first television projects to explore the Beatles phenomenon in detail.
Author Robert Rodriguez recognises A Salute to the Beatles as a possible "blueprint" for the Rutles' 1978 pastiche of the Beatles' story, All You Need Is Cash, in which Eric Idle narrates in the clipped style of Frost.[7] While acknowledging its lack of precedence at the time, Rodriguez describes the ABC special as "staggeringly incomplete and almost naïve in its approach to its subjects".[8] The program was not officially released on video but has long circulated in bootlegged form.[2][9]
References
- ^ Badman 2001, pp. 64, 161.
- ^ a b c d Madinger & Easter 2000, p. 168.
- ^ Rodriguez 2010, pp. 331–32.
- ^ a b Rodriguez 2010, p. 332.
- ^ a b c Badman 2001, p. 161.
- ^ Badman 2001, pp. 63–64, 161.
- ^ Rodriguez 2010, p. 331.
- ^ Rodriguez 2010, pp. 331, 333.
- ^ Pieper 2012, p. 157.
Sources
- Badman, Keith (2001). The Beatles Diary Volume 2: After the Break-Up 1970–2001. London: Omnibus Press. ISBN 978-0-7119-8307-6.
- Madinger, Chip; Easter, Mark (2000). Eight Arms to Hold You: The Solo Beatles Compendium. Chesterfield, MO: 44.1 Productions. ISBN 0-615-11724-4.
- Pieper, Jörg (2012). The Solo Beatles Film & TV Chronicle 1971–1980. lulu.com. ISBN 978-1-4092-8301-0.
- Rodriguez, Robert (2010). Fab Four FAQ 2.0: The Beatles' Solo Years, 1970–1980. Milwaukee, WI: Backbeat Books. ISBN 978-1-4165-9093-4.
External links
- David Frost Salutes the Beatles at IMDb
