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Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band Reviews

Feb 19, 2025

This is a bizzare semi-acid trip, and it also includes many of the stars of the 70's. Wild, weird, entertaining, and the music is decently performed by the various groups and individuals. Beetles purists need to understand that the Beetles signed off on this and the album--so please take your noses out of the stratosphere and have some fun.

Jan 27, 2025

Perhaps one of the worst movies in the history of motion pictures and a career killer for Peter Frampton. The bit with George Burns singing was pretty far out however. Dee Anthony, the inept manager of Peter Frampton and Robert Stigwood both should have served prison time for this monstrosity.

Jan 18, 2025

This film was strangely hard to follow. Mostly because the film stopped using actual dialogue to progress the story, and they just let the actual music do the talking. So we just gotta be like “oh, they’re there now” lol. It’s still a great time though, and if you like the Beatles you get really faithful covers from everyone in the movie. Should be rated high to be honest. 2.5/5 stars.

Aug 7, 2024

its a worst movie of all time

Jul 3, 2024

This is the greatest movie of all time. It is crystalclear that the Beatles took all their inspiration from this. And Coppola for the Godfather movie. And most probably Mozart created The Magic Flute from this. This is an eleven out of five.

Jun 28, 2024

This is my favorite movie of all time. I love how weird and whimsical it is, and every song is really good. I don't like the Beatles very much so I think every song is better than the original. I love everything about this film and I wish more people have seen it. This movie might be sugary and strange, but it is a film I believe everyone should see. Nothing will ever beat this movie. It will always hold a special place in my heart.

Nov 16, 2023

Don't listen to the haters, this movie is a classic! The Bee Gees, Peter Frampton, Steve Martin, Alice Cooper, Aerosmith, all the greats are here! How can you possibly go wrong with The BeeGees singing the Beatles. This is a must see for any music lover. Campy, fun perfection.

Feb 6, 2022

First off I do want to say that this film is not absolutely terrible, there are some charming if not fun moments overall, heck if anything the best part that holds this movie up is the amazing soundtrack, yet even with that considered this is still not a good movie. If I was asked to describe this movie it would be what you get when a group of people get together, smoke and use a ton of drugs and then create a movie based around what they saw while tripping out, and even then that really doesn't quite accurately describe the insanity that this film brings. Throughout it's runtime, I witnessed the Bee Gees punch Alice Cooper in the face, Steve Martin turning the elderly into an evil army of youth, and Billy Preston turning two men into a priest and the Pope, and those are not even the half of what this film has to offer. This film gave me huge 70's nostalgia and I was born in the 90's! Yet despite how insane this movie is, I cannot say that I hated it, I was always entertained and I can't be mad at that. This film gets a lot of hate, and while some of it is deserved, you can tell by watching it that no one is taking it seriously and if you go into doing the same you can find some joy and charm within it's ruff drug induced exterior. Do I recommend this film, yes, all things considered it passes the time and as stated before it's a trip without ever having to put your body through the effects of actually taking drugs! It's sure as heck isn't an oscar worthy movie or even a masterpiece but it's something to put on when nothing else will satisfy the itch to see something you have never seen before. I give Sgt Pepper a 5.5/10

Jul 23, 2021

Well the soundtrack is great and I feel sorry for The Bee Gees because they are the greatest artists and band ever created. Hey it was the 70s u know!!

May 26, 2021

Often one goes into a bad movie asking — to borrow the name of a highly entertaining podcast — how did this get made? Or worse, you have to stop and ask yourself, in the case of a film that ends up offending both target audiences, such as 1972s The Pink Angels, who exactly is this movie being made for? Let me reiterate: In 1978, a movie version of Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Heart Band — starring the Bee Gees and Peter Frampton — probably made all the sense in the world. The Brothers Gibb had just come off Saturday Night Fever (1977), a movie that transcended the screen and spawned a movement. Or at least a fad. But between that and Barry Gibb producing Grease's title song (and I just want to throw in that the Bee Gee's also wrote and arranged 1979's Dolly Parton/Kenny Rogers opus, "Islands in the Stream"), the boys from Manchester via the Isle of Man were on the top of the world. It truly does not get any higher a mountain and the fall, we'll soon see, does not get any further. Peter Frampton — after a journeyman career of playing in bands and being seen as a viable solo artist — had finally scored big with Frampton Comes Alive! in 1976. The album spent 97 weeks on the charts, selling 8 million copies. That number today is well nigh impossible to reach today; it equals around 13% of the overall records sold in 2016. So this ersatz Fab Four — if you will or won't — had star power, at least on vinyl. The Bee Gees had also covered the Beatles for a BBC doc in 1976, despite years of critical derision that they were simply clones of the boys from Liverpool. Stars were aligning. Even better, Saturday Night Fever and Grease came out on Robert Stigwood's RSO Label. Stigwood purchased 29 of the Beatles' best songs for use in a Broadway play and then had the brainstorm to create a film, using the aforementioned big music stars. He got Beatles' producer George Martin and Abbey Road Studios on board. And even worked with Paramount — the same studio who launched Saturday Night Fever — to get the movie greenlit. Add in what I editorialize was the kind of cocaine mountain that only the '70s and Martin Scorsese could concoct and…ladies and germs, we got ourselves a motion picture! So up until now, until that first shot of the film, this all makes sense. It's when reality allows its ugly head to intrude that we see just what an epic failure of a movie this is. Writer Henry Edwards had never written a script before. And oh, does it show. Whereas the Beach Boys' Pet Sounds directly influenced and made the audio Sgt. Peppers an aural feat, there was no such film to inspire this outing. In fact, there isn't even a story, unlike the Who's Tommy. So to get across the tale — such as it is — George Burns would be the only person to speak (he's the Mr. Kite, he of whom the song For the Benefit of… is about) with every other bit of dialogue being sung. That's right, kids! It's the hip sound of today, as frogingly croaked out by the star of Oh God! Meanwhile, the Bees Gees play Mark, David and Bob Henderson. Why those names? Don't ask! And in the starring role, Peter Frampton is Billy Shears (and not the man who took the place of the headless Paul McCartney if you believe in urban legends)!  At some point in the proceedings, my sainted wife asked if we could shut the movie off. I maniacally cackled in her face and began laughing so hard that my sides began to hurt. I had been overtaken by the delirium of this paean to excess. To wit: Every single frame is as loud and garish as possible (and not in an Alejandro Jodorowsky way). Yes, Michael Schultz, the famed director of the Fat Boys' Disorderlies (1987), Car Wash (1976) and The Last Dragon (1985) made this movie with all the technical brilliance of your father with a Super 8 at the theme park. Each song replaces the beloved guitar, bass and sitar of the Beatles with a synthesizer that only plays human farts. Every song that you adored will be personified by singers and/or actors you will grow to despise. Did you love Maxwell, of "Maxwell's Silver Hammer" fame? Then you're going to hate Steve Martin as the dentist version of him! Yes, years before Little Shop of Horrors (1986) and at the height of his stand-up fame, even Steve Martin is rendered unloveable by this fecund monstrosity of a film. Donald Pleasence is a music exec that sings poorly! They took Alice Cooper out of the asylum where he would fitfully write Welcome to My Nightmare (1975) and had him appear as the Sun King. Nobody you love is unscathed, save Aerosmith, who play the evil Future Villain Brand. A footnote here: The Bee Gees were to defeat Aerosmith in unarmed combat in the film, leading Joe Perry to walk off the set until cooler heads prevail. They are killed by the female Strawberry Fields instead, which I guess is some sort of compromise. The Bee Gees and Frampton's acting ability and chemistry make Rex Reed in Myra Breckenridge and Mariah Carey in Glitter (2001) look like Mercury Theater cast members. They mostly look emaciated, as if they were denied trips to craft services unless they got it finally right this take. By the merciful end, when a deus ex machina Billy Preston shows up to play the horn — saving the day — after Barry Gibbs decimates Golden Slumbers, you'll hate England, poofy hair, chest hair, motion pictures, actors, actresses and even your trusty DVD player. If this movie is your introduction to the Beatles, you will hate them, popular music and all music, when you come to think of it. But wait — there's more! The last scene of the movie builds the album cover of "Sgt. Pepper", but instead of Buddha and Aleister Crowley showing up, the most famous stars of the late 1970s were all invited, offered free travel and the most elite of accommodations. And who exactly showed up? Big stars, that's who! Carol Channing! Peter Allen – first wife of Liza, not Lily's dad! Keith Carradine! Nils Lofgren! Legendary fifth Beatle (when you don't count the aforementioned Billy Preston) Cousin Brucie! Sha-Na-Na! Pre-Thunderdome Tina Turner! The co-creator of Captain America, Joe Simon! Bocephus! Wolfman Jack! Obviously, the stars did not shine so brightly that day on the Culver City backlot of MGM Studios. The reviews — and box office for this film — were not kind. I first witnessed it at 3 AM on a Saturday night in 1980. I was 8 years old, so I figured that this movie would age like a fine wine. However, it has aged like a bad piece of steak, left out in the cold and rained on for over 30 years. Look — you know you've got a turkey when Marvel Comics cancels their adaption, George Perez artwork and all. But I still say, you should totally watch this movie. After all this pain it put me through, I need a support group. And this is the only way I'm going to get new members.

Feb 3, 2021

Terrible movie. Used star power to draw people in to a waste of time.

Dec 28, 2020

Wow! lol . Was that ever campy and different . Not a good move but Loved the music and idea though . Doesn’t age that well either except for the music . But I can sorta see why is a cult movie. Loved all of the stars in this too . Not sure what the rating should be lol . But the music gets most of the credit here

Nov 12, 2020

Story/Screenplay: (3.5/5) A pleasant surprise. Tying the lyrics together of 25+ Beatles' songs to get anything close to a coherent story was an achievement in itself, but the story was actually decent and somewhat interesting. Duration/Tempo: (3/5) At 1 hour and 53 minutes, it's a longer than average movie that felt about average. Would have liked to see it pared down a little to get a shorter, more focused product. Cast & Crew: (2.5/5) Being the primary protagonists of the film, Peter Frampton, Barry Gibb, Robin Gibb, and Maurice Gibb needed to excel, but their performances were not very interesting. Same for the other cast members, with a few performances being bad. Summary: (3/5) The quality of the story was surprisingly decent, but the cast was mediocre and the film felt longer than I would have preferred. A thumbs down.

Oct 28, 2020

I liked it! I was 17 when I saw it in a Midnight Madness movie marathon with friends. It was exciting and fun. We were jazzed to be allowed to go to the theatre and watch it by our parents. Maybe that's what made it special. But it really wasn't that bad.

Jul 15, 2020

All Time Favorite Movie! 🎼🎺🥁

Jun 1, 2020

Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band is stupid, cheesy, ridiculous and the epitome of a missed opportunity. How do you make a movie focusing on what is considered to be one of the most influential albums of all time and not have the Beatles show up? Keep in mind that all four members were still alive at the time. So what the hell are the Bee Gees doing in a Beatles-themed movie? Hey, to its credit, it was an ambitious idea (Les Miserables did the "sung-through story" better) and the songs are legitimately great with fun choreography but with a nonexistent plot, forgettable characters and some absolutely bizarre decisions, this adaptation doesn't do its source material justice.

May 14, 2020

I'm not sure why people trash this so much! The music is obviously fantastic. The cast is spectacular. The story is campy and cheesy to an extent but it's fun, whimsical and is very much in tune with so many movies of that time. The bringing to life of so many iconic characters from Beatles songs is fun to watch! Even the "special effects" are perfect for the period and this type of movie! Are you going to leave with a deeper level of consciousness or sense of accuracy to reality? No! Is it a fun, colorful, 90 minute journey based on some of the best music ever? ABSOLUTELY! Lighten up and enjoy the ride!!

Apr 8, 2020

Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band has a reputation of being a terrible film, but to me, that couldn't be farther from the truth. It is an entertaining musical full of songs from The Beatles. The Bee Gees and Peter Frampton are the stars and I believe they do the songs justice. We see appearances from George Burns, Steve Martin, Alice Cooper, Aerosmith, Donald Pleasence, Billy Preston, Earth Wind and Fire and Paul Nicholas. I feel that this movie is worth a view if you are a fan of these songs.

Mar 28, 2020

A guilty pleasure for us all...

Oct 14, 2019

My daughter just made me lose part of my life that will never come back.

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