Beatles News Briefs 12/24/08: Film with McCartney score to finally debut on U.S. DVD
- "The Family Way," the 1966 film starring Hayley Mills with a score by Paul McCartney is finally coming to U.S. DVD Jan. 27. The movie, about a young newly married couple dealing with anxiety over their sexual relationship, also stars Hywel Bennett as Hayley's husband and Hayley's father, John Mills. The film, which has been available on DVD in the UK and Canada, was written by Bill Naughton and produced by John Boulton. It was a serious departure for Mills, a former star of Walt Disney movies including "Pollyanna," and became a bit notorious because of a scene with some brief nudity. Mills fell in love with Boulton, who was 33 years older than she was, and they were married in 1971 and divorced in 1977. A son from the marriage, Crispian Mills, became known in the '90s as the lead singer and guitarist for the very Beatle-influenced group Kula Shaker. The original score from the film is available on CD in the U.S., the UK and Canada. An interpretation of the score by Andre Moisan is also on CD in the U.S., the UK and Canada.
- A violinist who played on "Eleanor Rigby" and other '60s songs is petitioning Parliament to extend the period in which he can be paid royalties on his work, reports Bloomberg.com. Patrick Halling is one of 28 musicians who filmed a video last month that urged British Prime Minister Gordon Brown to change European Union law so the copyrights on the songs they played on will be extended to 95 years, as it is in the U.S.
- Will Lee of the Fab Faux talks about the two days of playing the Beatles' White Album, "Let It Be" and "Abbey Road" this weekend with the group in an interview on Hidden Track. Lee played with George Harrison in the Hari and the Hijack Band show at Royal Albert Hall in 1992. "It was like a dream. When George Harrison called me on my answer machine I thought my brother was screwing with me. He does a great George Harrison, so when I got the message I called my brother the next day and I said 'Great job doing George on the phone. It was so convincing.' He said, 'What are you talking about?' I said, 'Uh oh. Let me call you right back.' I went back and sure enough the number was legitimate. The next thing I knew I was over there doing his shows. It was so incredible," he says in the interview.
- Want to get the catalog for Yoko Ono's huge exhibit at the Baltic Centre for Contemporary Art in the UK? You can get it here.
- For more Beatle news, Abbeyrd's Beatles Page Beatles News Briefs
Have our Beatles Examiner posts delivered conveniently
to your inbox. Just click SUBSCRIBE below. (And we promise we'll never send spam or give out your information.)
Write to us at beatlesexaminer@gmail.com