John and Yoko: A Love Story
John and Yoko: A Love Story | |
---|---|
Genre | Carson Productions |
Original release | |
Network | NBC |
Release | December 2, 1985 |
John and Yoko: A Love Story is a 1985 American
Plot
On August 19, 1966, protestors burn their Beatles records and paraphernalia after Lennon says The Beatles are more popular than Jesus. When a firecracker is thrown onto the stage the group decides to stop touring.
John meets
In 1968, The Beatles and their partners travel to
John and Yoko stage art exhibitions and plant acorns for peace. John is arrested for possession of hashish, and Paul bails him out. Yoko miscarries John's baby. John, Yoko, Kyoko, and Julian are hurt in a car accident. Paul marries Linda Eastman, and John marries Yoko in Gibraltar. He starts playing with Yoko's Plastic Ono Band.
John and Yoko stage "
A year later, Yoko's ex-husband Tony Cox refuses to let Yoko see their daughter Kyoko, in breach of the granting of joint custody. Yoko takes Kyoko during a trip to Mallorca, Spain, but is charged with kidnapping.
In 1971, John and Yoko emigrate to New York, where he records his hit solo album Imagine. They are threatened with deportation, spied on, and their house is bugged. Tony is jailed for denying access to Kyoko. Yoko obtains full custody of Kyoko but does not know where she is.
Upset at
In 1974,
John decides to retire to raise Sean for the first five years of his life, becoming a house spouse while Yoko runs a business. Three years later, Julian visits John and has a jamming session with him and three-year-old Sean. Kyoko wants to visit for Christmas but is unable to, leaving Yoko sad.
In 1980, John is amazed by
On December 8, after a recording session, John suggests they go on tour when the album is released. Yoko asks that they go and eat, but John wants to go home and see Sean. After arriving, John hears his name called, and turns to face a man pointing a gun at him and about to shoot.
Main cast
Actor | Role |
---|---|
Mark McGann | John Lennon |
Kim Miyori | Yoko Ono |
Kenneth Price | Paul McCartney |
Peter Capaldi | George Harrison |
Phillip Walsh | Ringo Starr |
Richard Morant | Brian Epstein |
Rachel Laurence | Cynthia Lennon |
Vincent Marzello | Anthony Cox |
John Sinclair | George Martin |
Matthew Marsh | Elton John |
Catherine Strauss | Linda Eastman |
Val McLane | Aunt Mimi |
Mike Myers | Delivery Boy |
Production
The production of the movie required various song rights only available from Yoko Ono, thereby granting her some control over the content.[1] John J. McMahon was executive producer, and Sandor Stern wrote and directed. Stern was chosen after a script by Edward Hume was rejected by Ono after it depicted too much drug abuse.[1]
Mark Lindsay was originally considered for the role of John Lennon. Yoko Ono had been deeply involved in the production and had herself been initially impressed with his audition and approved his casting prior to discovering his full name was Mark Lindsay Chapman. She then nixed his casting on the grounds it was "bad karma" as his name was similar to Mark David Chapman.[2] Lindsay was quietly paid off and the role went to Mark McGann. Eventually, Lindsay did portray Lennon, in the film Chapter 27 (2007), which ironically had Mark David Chapman as the lead character.[3]
Mike Myers has an early uncredited appearance in the film as a young deliveryman.[4]
Reviews
John J. O'Connor's review in The New York Times praised the acting of McGann and Miyori in the title roles. However, he found the movie to be often "ploddingly dull" and the songs the "best part of the show."[1]
References
- ^ a b c O'Connor, John J. (December 2, 1985). "NBC'S 'JOHN AND YOKO: A LOVE STORY'". New York Times. Retrieved July 13, 2010.
- ISBN 0-918432-80-4.
- ^ Grove, Martin A. (2008-03-26). "'Chapter 27' answers 'Who'd do a thing like that?'". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 2020-07-29.
- ^ Warder, Robin (2012-07-17). "Before They Were Stars: Mike Myers in "John and Yoko: A Love Story"". The Back Row. Retrieved 2020-07-29.
External links
- John and Yoko: A Love Story at IMDb