The Rutles: All You Need Is Cash (1978) (TV)

User Rating:

7.3/10   

Directors:

Eric Idle
Gary Weis

Writer:

Eric Idle (conceived and written by)

Release Date:

22 March 1978 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Music

Tagline:

The Rutles, a living legend that will live long after other living legends have died.

Plot:

Charts the adventures of the prefab four, possibly the most famous band of all time.

Plot Keywords:

Beatles | Spoof | Rock Music | Imaginary Band | Fake Documentary

Cast

Eric Idle	...	Dirk McQuickly / Narrator / Stanley J. Krammerhead III,Jr.,Occasional visiting professor of applied narcotics at the University of Please Yourself Ca.
John Halsey	...	Barry Womble
Ricky Fataar	...	Stig O'Hara (as Rikki Fataar)
Neil Innes	...	Ron Nasty
Michael Palin	...	Eric Manchester, Rutle Corp. Press Agent / Lawyer
George Harrison	...	The Interviewer
Bianca Jagger	...	Martini McQuickly
John Belushi	...	Ron Decline, The most feared promoter in the world
Dan Aykroyd	...	Brian Thigh, Ex-Record producer who turned down the Rutles
Gilda Radner	...	Mrs. Emily Pules
Bill Murray	...	Bill Murray the K.
Gwen Taylor	...	Mrs. Iris Mountbatten / Chastity
Ron Wood	...	Hells Angel
Terence Bayler	...	Leggy Mountbatten
Henry Woolf	...	Arthur Sultan, The Surrey Mystic

Also Known As:

All You Need Is Cash (USA)

Runtime:

76 min

Country:

UK | USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White | Color

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Australia:G (DVD rating) | Singapore:PG | UK:12 (video rating)

Filming Locations:

Abbey Road Studios, Abbey Road, St. John's Wood, London, England, UK

Company:

Above Average Productions Inc.

Trivia:

Eric Idle mentions in his "memoir" available on the DVD what the actual Beatles thought of the film. According to him, George Harrison was very supportive and encouraged him, Paul McCartney was disapproving at first but relented when he found that Idle grew up near Liverpool (though his wife Linda always loved it), Ringo Starr said that he enjoyed it "after 1968", and John Lennon (along with Yoko Ono) adored it.

Goofs:

Anachronisms: In one scene the Pre-Fab Four are in front of a wall with some graffiti in it. The words spell the name of a group that didn't form until 1972: Be Bop Deluxe.

Quotes:

Narrator: In 1966 the Rutles faced the biggest threat to their careers. Nasty in a widely quoted interview had apparently claimed that the Rutles were bigger than God, and was reported to have gone on to say that God had never had a hit record. The story spread like wildfire in America...

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Saturday Night Live: Eric Idle/Kate Bush (#4.8)" (1978)

Soundtrack:

Let's Be Natural

not quite the Beatles ...

This affectionate spoof of The Beatles rise to fame and fortunes after their split was a collaboration between a couple of Pythons, some of the SNL cast, and Neil Innes of the Bonzo Dog Band. It's an interesting combination, which grew from bits in the Rutland Weekend Television show.

With a soundtrack featuring the likes of 'Ouch!' (instead of Help!); 'Get Up And Go' (instead of Get Back), and an animated 'Cheese and Onions', you just know this is going to be silly. The thing is that the songs by Innes are just brilliant, as memorable as anything the Fab Four did.

But The Rutles are The Prefab Four, so let's concentrate on their story. Eric Idle has the most roles to play as well as being the Rutles' version of Macca, and narrates the thing throughout. Neil Innes is the Lennon equivalent, complete with cute Scouse accent, while John Halsey (as Barrington Womble, forever known as Barry Wom) is the Rutles' Ringo, and Rikki Fataar is the George equivalent, Stig. Their story basically equates to the Beatles' - except that their manager Leggy Mountbatten goes to Australia, where they have to resort to contacting him through the Ouija board (and by letters); they form a company to produce other acts - which fails - and end up playing their last gig on a London rooftop. There's even a spoof of the broadcast which featured 'All You Need Is Love'.

The SNL guys - Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd, Gilda Radner, and John Belushi - fit in just fine. Alongside them are Mick Jagger and Paul Simon playing themselves talking about the Rutles ... as well as a sneaky appearance from Python friend and financier George Harrison as a reporter.

If you're a Beatles fan or a fan of anyone connected with this, you'll love it.