The Beatles Bible

The Beatles Bible
The Beatles Bible
  • Share this page:
  • Share
  • Home
  • History
  • Songs
  • Albums
  • Discography
  • People
  • Features
  • Books
  • Map
  • Gallery
  • Fab forum
  • Store
  • Subscribe:
  • RSS icon RSS
  • Email envelope icon Email
  • Twitter icon Twitter
  • Facebook icon Facebook
iTunes & App Store
Home > Beatles diary > Film and video > Filming: Hey Jude, Revolution

Filming: Hey Jude, Revolution

1.30pm, Wednesday 4 September 1968 (43 years ago)

On this day The Beatles filmed promotional films for Hey Jude and Revolution at Twickenham Film Studios.

They arrived at the studios at 1.30pm and worked until evening. The set, at the studio's stage one, had been assembled over the previous three days.

Only The Beatles' lead and backing vocals were recorded live, although instruments and amplifiers were set up. The Musicians' Union had placed a ban on miming, and the live vocals were attempt to hide this.

The completed films - two for each song, both in colour - were directed by Michael Lindsay-Hogg, whom had worked with The Beatles on the clips for Paperback Writer and Rain in 1966.

Hey Jude was the first to be made, and featured Paul McCartney seated at an upright piano, John Lennon and George Harrison on a nearby podium with guitars, and Ringo Starr positioned on a drum riser behind them.

A 36-piece orchestra was also assembled, the members wearing white tuxedos, and 300 extras were brought in for the finale. The latter had been recruited after 20 students handed out leaflets in the area, and The Beatles' assistant Mal Evans invited a number of fans from outside EMI Studios.

At least three takes of Hey Jude were filmed, and the most commonly-seen promo was an edit of takes one and three. In each of them McCartney sang along to the studio vocals, and ad-libbed live during the extended ending.

The Hey Jude film had its world premiere on 8 September 1968 on Frost On Saturday, presented by David Frost. To make it seem as though The Beatles were on the programme, David Frost visited Twickenham on this day to record an introduction.

We made a film in front of an audience. They had brought people in for Hey Jude. it wasn't done just for David Frost, but it was shown on his show and he was actually there when we filmed it.
George Harrison
Anthology

The group also performed the David Frost show's theme tune, written by George Martin and titled By George! It's The David Frost Theme. Afterwards Frost appeared on camera to introduce the Hey Jude performance.

Beautiful. Absolute poetry. Welcome back to part three, as you can see, with the greatest tea-room orchestra in the world. Right? Beautiful, beautiful. Absolutely, beautiful. As you can see, making their first audience appearance for over a year, ladies and gentlemen, The Beatles!
David Frost

At that point The Beatles broke into an impromptu rendition of Elvis Presley's It's Now Or Never, although this was edited out of the broadcast.

For the Revolution clips The Beatles overdubbed a new vocal track onto the studio version. Paul McCartney performed the scream during the introduction, and the 'shoo-be doo-wop' backing vocals from the slower, then-unreleased Revolution 1 were sung.

The only contemporary UK screening of the Revolution clip was on the BBC's Top Of The Pops on Thursday 19 September.

  • Share this page:
  • Share
« Previous post: Ringo Starr rejoins The Beatles
Next post: Recording: While My Guitar Gently Weeps »
Also on this day...

  • 1964: Live: Milwaukee Arena, Wisconsin
  • 1963: Live: Gaumont Cinema, Worcester
  • 1962: Recording: How Do You Do It, Love Me Do
  • 1960: Live: Indra Club, Hamburg

Want more? Visit the Beatles history section.

Related articles:

  • Television: The Frost Programme
  • Hey Jude
  • Television: David Frost Presents...
  • Television: A Degree Of Frost
  • Television: Ringo Starr and Peter Sellers on Frost On Saturday

Filed under: Film and video, Television

Leave a reply

Please note that there may be a delay before comments can be approved for publication. We reserve the right to edit for length and/or content. Comments not in the English language may be discarded, and offensive, irrelevant or spam ones will be ignored. For more information please read the full comments policy.
Click here to cancel reply.


  • Latest posts

    • Paul McCartney's star unveiled on Hollywood Walk of Fame
    • Paul McCartney to headline Queen's diamond jubilee concert
    • US album release: Kisses On The Bottom by Paul McCartney
    • UK album release: Kisses On The Bottom by Paul McCartney
    • Abbey Road to offer studio time to wealthy hotel guests
    • US publishing rights for six early Beatles songs are sold
    • Paul McCartney live at Echo Arena, Liverpool
    • Paul McCartney live at Manchester Evening News Arena, Manchester
    • Paul McCartney live at Olimpiyskiy Arena, Moscow, Russia
    • Paul McCartney live at Hartwall Areena, Helsinki, Finland
  • On this day in Beatles history

    • 1966: John Lennon and Ringo Starr visit Scotch Of St James nightclub, London
    • 1964: Live: Carnegie Hall, New York City
    • 1963: Live: Astoria Ballroom, Oldham

    Want more? Visit the Beatles history section.

  • Twitter updates

  • Things we said today

    • Lars-Olof Ström on Let It Be... Naked
    • Christopher Hight on Revolution 9
    • Tubescreamer on All My Loving
    • Christopher Hight on I Want You (She's So Heavy)
    • Christopher Hight on Being For The Benefit Of Mr Kite!
  • From the forum

    • The Abbey Road Medley in The albums
      By robert, 1 hour ago
    • The "Incredibly Impossible to Derail This Thread" thread in All together now
      By kedame, 10 hours ago
    • Did John have any disorders? in John Lennon
      By The Strawberry, 17 hours ago
    • New Member in Forum rules and help guides
      By mithveaen, yesterday
    • I Don't Blame Yoko in Yesterday... and today
      By MeanMrsMustard, yesterday
  • In the gallery

    mexico_i_want_you_shes_so_heavy_ep The Beatles at Tittenhurst Park, 22 August 1969 John Lennon, 1966 The Beatles in 1969
  • Translator

  • Beatles for sale

  • Top Ten Club

    • Fab forum
    • The Beatles' songs
    • Beatles photo gallery
    • The Beatles and drugs
    • The Abbey Road cover photography session
    • Days in the life: The Beatles' history
    • The Beatles' albums
    • Kisses On The Bottom
    • John Lennon and Yoko Ono record Two Virgins
    • Beatles discography
  • Can buy me love

    The Beatles Bible is run for the love of anything and everything to do with The Beatles. If you've learned something new about the band and wish to show your appreciation, why not make a small donation via PayPal? It'll help with server costs, Beatles books etc...
  • Thinking of linking

    • thebeatles.com
    • johnlennon.com
    • paulmccartney.com
    • twitter.com/paulmccartney
    • paulmccartneyofficial.tumblr.com
    • georgeharrison.com
    • twitter.com/GeorgeHarrison
    • ringostarr.com
    • applerecords.com
      Beatles Bible logo by Yer Logos/The Beatles In 3D
  • Come together

    This site is in no way associated with or endorsed by The Beatles, Apple Corps Ltd, associated organisations or any members of The Beatles or their representatives. It is intended as a tribute to the greatest group of all time, to try - in a small way - to help introduce their music to new generations of fans.

© 2008-2012 The Beatles Bible. All rights reserved. | Contact us | About this site | Privacy policy | Words of love: 1,111,140

Top of page

loading Cancel
Post was not sent - check your email addresses!
Email check failed, please try again
Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email.