Imagine: John Lennon

Last updated

Imagine: John Lennon
Imagine john lennon ver2.jpg
Theatrical release poster
Directed by Andrew Solt
Written byAndrew Solt
Sam Egan
Produced byAndrew Solt
David L. Wolper
Narrated by John Lennon
Cinematography Néstor Almendros
Music byJohn Lennon
The Beatles
Distributed by Warner Bros.
Release date
  • 7 October 1988 (1988-10-07)
Running time
106 minutes
CountryUnited Kingdom[ citation needed ]
Budget$6.5 million [1]

Imagine: John Lennon is a 1988 documentary film [2] about English musician John Lennon. It was released on 7 October 1988, two days before Lennon's 48th birthday (and nearly eight years after his death).

Contents

The film chronicles Lennon's life and musical career as a member of the Beatles and as a solo artist. It features recordings that had not been released prior to the film: an acoustic demo of "Real Love" taped in 1979 (an alternate recording of which would be finished by the Beatles for 1996's Anthology 2 ) and a rehearsal take of "Imagine" in mid-1971 before the final take was captured. [3] The film was commissioned by Yoko Ono in 1986. None of the three former Beatles, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, or Ringo Starr, agreed to participate in the film, though they reportedly mostly approved of it. [1]

Imagine: John Lennon, with its wealth of archival footage and narration, received generally positive reviews. The film's soundtrack was also successful in the United States, reaching No. 31 on the charts and going gold.[ citation needed ]

Synopsis

The film is narrated by John Lennon from over 100 hours of interviews, [1] [4] and also features interviews with his first wife Cynthia Lennon; his second wife Yoko Ono; his sons Julian and Sean Lennon; record producer George Martin; and his and Ono's personal assistant May Pang. Lennon discusses living with his aunt Mimi during his early childhood, as well as his relationship with his mother Julia prior to her death when he was a teenager. He recalls meeting Paul McCartney and forming the band the Beatles with him, George Harrison, and Ringo Starr; Lennon and his first wife Cynthia recount that his massively successful career with the Beatles inhibited him from helping raise their son Julian.

Lennon's career as a member of the Beatles is chronicled, including his writing of the song "Help!", the controversy that ensued in the United States after Lennon remarked that the Beatles were "more popular than Jesus", and the release of the album Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band . Lennon recalls meeting Yoko Ono at the Indica Gallery in London, where she was preparing an art exhibit. Some months later, Ono visited Lennon at his home, where they recorded Two Virgins . After divorcing Cynthia, Lennon married Ono, and the two spent their honeymoon advocating for peace with their Bed-ins for Peace campaigns. The documentary shows a heated exchange between Lennon, Ono, and cartoonist Al Capp at a bed-in in Montreal, Canada, with Capp criticizing the cover artwork of Two Virgins and the couple's motivations for the bed-in, as well as insulting Ono. [4]

Following the Beatles' break-up, Lennon and Ono continued their peace activism. The film includes footage of New York Times journalist Gloria Emerson expressing skepticism towards Lennon and Ono's anti-war campaigning, much to Lennon's annoyance. Lennon is shown recording songs for his album Imagine , including "How Do You Sleep?" and "Oh Yoko!", as well as performing live at a concert at Madison Square Garden. Also shown is footage of Lennon interacting with a young drifter who appeared at his estate in Tittenhurst Park in England, asking about the deeper meanings of the lyrics of Beatles songs; Lennon expresses that he writes songs about himself and his life, or simply writes "nonsense songs", and invites the man inside for a meal. [1] [5]

Lennon's "lost weekend", an 18-month period which he spent separated from Ono in Los Angeles and New York City in the company of May Pang, is briefly touched on. The film also notes attempts by the US government to deport Lennon. Lennon discusses the birth of his son Sean, his ensuing hiatus from the music industry, and the subsequent release of the album Double Fantasy . With the murder of Lennon in 1980 in hindsight, Ono, Cynthia, Julian and Sean provide some closing thoughts about him and their relationships with him. The documentary concludes with footage of Lennon performing the song "Imagine" on a white grand piano from the song's music video.

Production

Lennon and Ono in 1980, shortly before his murder Lennons by Jack Mitchell.jpg
Lennon and Ono in 1980, shortly before his murder

Imagine: John Lennon was commissioned by Yoko Ono in 1986. [1] David L. Wolper was credited as a producer of the film, though he was limited to a mostly advisory role due to heart bypass surgery. [1] Ono was impressed by films Wolper produced about the 1984 Summer Olympics and the centennial conservation-restoration of the Statue of Liberty, and sought him out to produce Imagine, wanting someone "capable of having an objective eye". [1] Ono provided director Andrew Solt and his crew access to film and videotapes from the family's extensive collection. [1] [4] Combined with newsreel footage, the filmmakers had around 230 hours of material to work with. [1]

Comparing the film to the 1988 biography The Lives of John Lennon by author Albert Goldman, a book whose critics (including Ono) have asserted presents an unfairly negative representation of Lennon, Solt stated that "We decided to try to tell John's story in John's words. To basically let John tell his story directly to the audience, so the audience can decide. John was very, very honest about who he was. [The Lives of John Lennon] is such a skewed view of the guy, when [Lennon] really went out of his way to tell us what he was going through. I don't think we were all duped by him for 20-some years, and it was big sham. I don't buy it." [1]

Solt called the film "an open view of John that is basically showing us many different facets of his personality: the angry John, the outspoken John, the critical John, the hurt John, the outrageous John, the egomaniac John, the publicity seeker, the sensitive recluse. If there had been film of John in some of the situations that [The Lives of John Lennon] claims he was in, we would certainly have used it." [1]

Release

Imagine: John Lennon was released on 7 October 1988, weeks after The Lives of John Lennon was published. [1] Ono called the timing of the documentary's release "a beautiful coincidence. In the sense that the truth of what John was like is really revealed in this film, and that it came out at a time when somebody was trying to tarnish John's image and bring out a fictional image of him into the world. The phony image of John might have stuck a bit if there was nothing counteracting it." [1] It was released to VHS video in 1989, and to DVD in 2005. [6]

Reception

Imagine: John Lennon received generally positive reviews. On Rotten Tomatoes, the film has an approval rating of 92% based on 13 reviews, with an average rating of 7.35/10. [7]

Roger Ebert, in his review of the film for the Chicago Sun-Times , gave it three out of four stars and called it "the portrait of a man who was complex, sometimes confused, not always very happy, but a great artist all the same." [5] Christopher Hicks of Deseret News called Imagine: John Lennon "far from a perfect film, glossing over certain aspects of Lennon's life, and with a narrative structure that jumps around occasionally without transitions [...] however, there is a tremendous power to this film - it has humor, poignancy, tragedy and a sweetness that is hard to resist." [4]

Reactions from the former Beatles

According to Solt, though former Beatles Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr did not agree to be interviewed for the film, they all mostly approved of it. [1] Solt stated that "Paul was very positive. You could tell by the way he reacted and was singing along that he was enjoying it. [...] He knew every one of John's solo songs from all those years, and he was singing along with them, too. [...] Harrison had some comments about John having such a strong character. [...] and Ringo was very emotional and very broken up, very affected by the movie." [1] After a screening in which Solt and McCartney were in attendance, McCartney reportedly said "A good lad he was!" [1]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">John Lennon</span> English musician and member of the Beatles (1940–1980)

John Winston Ono Lennon was an English singer, songwriter and musician. He gained worldwide fame as the founder, co-songwriter, co-lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist of the Beatles. His work included music, writing, drawings and film. His songwriting partnership with Paul McCartney remains the most successful in history.

The Beatles Anthology is a multimedia retrospective project consisting of a television documentary, a three-volume set of double albums, and a book describing the history of the Beatles. Beatles members Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr participated in the making of the works, which are sometimes referred to collectively as the Anthology project, while John Lennon appears in archival interviews.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Klaus Voormann</span> German musician and artist (b. 1938)

Klaus Otto Wilhelm Voormann is a German artist, musician, and record producer.

Apple Records is a British record label founded by the Beatles in 1968 as a division of Apple Corps Ltd. It was initially intended as a creative outlet for the Beatles, both as a group and individually, plus a selection of other artists including Mary Hopkin, James Taylor, Badfinger and Billy Preston. In practice, the roster had become dominated by the mid-1970s with releases of the former Beatles as solo artists. Allen Klein managed the label from 1969 to 1973, then it was managed by Neil Aspinall on behalf of the Beatles and their heirs. Aspinall retired in 2007 and was replaced by Jeff Jones.

"How Do You Sleep?" is a song by English rock musician John Lennon from his 1971 album Imagine.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Plastic Ono Band</span> Rock band

The Plastic Ono Band were a rock band formed by John Lennon and Yoko Ono in 1969 for their collaborative and solo projects based on their 1968 Fluxus conceptual art project of the same name.

"I've Got a Feeling" is a song by the English rock band the Beatles from their 1970 album Let It Be. It was recorded on 30 January 1969 during the Beatles' rooftop concert. It is a combination of two unfinished songs: Paul McCartney's "I've Got a Feeling" and John Lennon's "Everybody Had a Hard Year". The song features Billy Preston on electric piano.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Real Love (Beatles song)</span> 1979 song by John Lennon

"Real Love" is a song written by the English musician John Lennon, formerly of the Beatles. He recorded six demos of the song in 1979 and 1980 with "Real Life", a different song that merged with "Real Love". In 1988, the sixth take was posthumously released for the documentary soundtrack Imagine: John Lennon. In 1995, his demo was completed by his former Beatles bandmates as part of the Beatles Anthology project, along with "Free as a Bird".

<i>Imagine: John Lennon</i> (soundtrack) 1988 soundtrack album by John Lennon

Imagine: John Lennon is a soundtrack album of popular music compiled for the 1988 documentary film Imagine: John Lennon from songs written or co-written by John Lennon. Originally released that year as a double album, it now remains available on one CD.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Ballad of John and Yoko</span> 1969 single by the Beatles

"The Ballad of John and Yoko" is a song by the English rock band the Beatles that was released as a non-album single in May 1969. It was written by John Lennon and credited to the Lennon–McCartney partnership, and chronicles the events surrounding the wedding of Lennon and Yoko Ono. The song was the Beatles' 17th UK number-one single and their last for 54 years until "Now and Then" in 2023. In the United States, it was banned by some radio stations due to the lyrics' reference to Christ and crucifixion. The single peaked at number 8 on the US Billboard Hot 100. The song has subsequently appeared on compilation albums such as Hey Jude, 1967–1970, Past Masters, and 1.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">I'm So Tired</span> 1968 song by the Beatles

"I'm So Tired" is a song by the English rock band the Beatles from their 1968 double album The Beatles. It was written and sung by John Lennon, though credited to Lennon–McCartney. Lennon wrote the song during the Beatles' stay in India about insomnia he was having due to constant meditation and because he missed Yoko Ono. The song was recorded in the same session as another White Album song, "The Continuing Story of Bungalow Bill".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sexy Sadie</span> 1968 song by the Beatles

"Sexy Sadie" is a song by the English rock group the Beatles from their 1968 double album The Beatles. The song was written by John Lennon in India and credited to Lennon–McCartney. Lennon wrote the song during the Beatles' stay in India in response to the Maharishi Mahesh Yogi's alleged sexual advance on actress Mia Farrow. The song has been considered an early example of a diss track.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tittenhurst Park</span> Former home of John Lennon and Ringo Starr

Tittenhurst Park is a Grade II listed early Georgian country house in Sunningdale near Ascot, Berkshire. It was famously the home of musicians John Lennon and Yoko Ono from 1969 until 1971, and then the home of Ringo Starr and family from 1973 until 1988. Starr sold the property to Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, the President of the United Arab Emirates, in 1989.

<i>Let It Be</i> (1970 film) 1970 documentary by Michael Lindsay-Hogg

Let It Be is a 1970 British documentary film starring the Beatles and directed by Michael Lindsay-Hogg. The film documents the group's rehearsing and recording songs in January 1969 for what was to become their twelfth and final studio album Let It Be. The film includes an unannounced rooftop concert by the group, the last public performance of the four together.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Free as a Bird</span> 1995 single by the Beatles

"Free as a Bird" is a single released in December 1995 by English rock band the Beatles. The song was originally written and recorded in 1977 as a home demo by John Lennon. In 1995, 25 years after their break-up and 15 years after Lennon's murder, his then surviving bandmates Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr released a studio version incorporating the demo.

"Grow Old with Me" is one of the final songs written by John Lennon. It was first recorded by Lennon as a demo while in Bermuda. A handwritten lyric sheet for the song is dated July 5, 1980 Fairyland Bermuda. The song was first released on the posthumous album Milk and Honey in 1984. It was also rumored to be among the songs planned as a possible reunion single by his former bandmates during the making of The Beatles Anthology.

The Beatles Anthology is a documentary television series on the career of the Beatles. It was broadcast on UK television in six parts on ITV between 26 November and 31 December 1995, while in the United States it was seen as three feature-length episodes on ABC between 19 and 23 November 1995. It was released in greatly expanded form as an eight-volume VHS set and an eight-disc LaserDisc set on 5 September 1996. The series was re-released on DVD in 2003, with an 81-minute special-features disc.

The Beatles were originally a quartet, but only Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr remain.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Early 1970</span> 1971 single by Ringo Starr

"Early 1970" is a song by English rock musician Ringo Starr that was released as the B-side of his April 1971 single "It Don't Come Easy". A rare example of Starr's songwriting at the time, it was inspired by the break-up of the Beatles and documents his relationship with his three former bandmates. The lyrics to the verses comment in turn on Paul McCartney, John Lennon and George Harrison as individuals, and the likelihood of each of them making music with Starr again. In the final verse, Starr offers a self-deprecating picture of his musical abilities and expresses the hope that all four will play together in the future. Commentators have variously described "Early 1970" as "a rough draft of a peace treaty" and "a disarming open letter" from Starr to Lennon, McCartney and Harrison.

<i>The Beatles: Get Back</i> 2021 documentary series by Peter Jackson

The Beatles: Get Back is a documentary television series directed and produced by Peter Jackson. It covers the making of the Beatles' 1970 album Let It Be and draws largely from unused footage and audio material originally captured for and recycled original footage from the 1970 documentary of the album by Michael Lindsay-Hogg. The docuseries has a total runtime of nearly eight hours, consisting of three episodes, each of duration between two and three hours covering about one week each, together covering 21 days of studio time.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 Rense, Rip (6 October 1988). "A Director's Search for John Lennon". The Los Angeles Times . Retrieved 12 October 2020.
  2. ↑ Hochman, Steve, ed. (1999). Popular Musicians Volume 2: The Doobie Brothers – Paul McCartney. Salem Press. p. 636. ISBN   978-0893569884.
  3. ↑ Jacobson, Colin (30 November 2005). "Imagine: John Lennon (Deluxe Edition) (1988)". DVD Movie Guide. Retrieved 20 August 2009.
  4. 1 2 3 4 Hicks, Christopher (7 October 1988). "'Imagine' Gives Surprising Glimpses into Lennon's Life". Deseret News . Retrieved 12 October 2020.
  5. 1 2 Ebert, Roger (7 October 1988). "Imagine: John Lennon movie review (1988)". RogerEbert.com . Retrieved 12 October 2020.
  6. ↑ https://www.discogs.com/master/1196014-John-Lennon-Imagine [ bare URL ]
  7. ↑ "Imagine: John Lennon (1988)". Rotten Tomatoes . Retrieved 12 October 2020.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.