You have questions. I have some answers.
Back in the early ’70s there was a film called “All This and World War II.” It was a strange film, having old war footage with a soundtrack of Beatles songs from various artists. Back then I think they had a soundtrack tape. I was just wondering if the film was available on DVD.
There’s a rather strange history behind this film, originally released in 1976 with, as you remember, wartime footage mingled with Beatles songs covered by an array of artists including Elton John, Bee Gees, Rod Stewart, the Brothers Johnson and Peter Gabriel. Ear Candy magazine called it “perhaps one of the most bizarre movies in rock and roll.” I saw it on cable many years ago, and bizarre is an understatement. Still, it was expected to be a big hit — the two-record soundtrack was lavishly boxed, with a booklet — but it was far less than that. It lasted less than two weeks in theaters (most famously, one critic said its PG rating stood for “perfectly ghastly”) and it has never made it to home video.
While the original film can be hard to find, the director, Tony Palmer, revisited the concept for a film that was released on DVD in 2016, “The Beatles and World War II.” (Again, the songs are covers, not Beatles originals.) “It’s not quite the same film,” he told Ear Candy. “I have re-edited great chunks of it. But I’ve used much of the same material, and of course many of the same songs.” As for those songs, the original soundtrack got a CD release about 10 years ago and you can find it from several online retailers; I have also seen used copies of the old vinyl version on sale for as little as $3.
With the drama “Suits” due back on air on USA Network, I’m wondering if you’ve heard how they’re handling the loss of one of its main characters, Rachel Zane, played by Prince Harry’s fianc?e Meghan Markle. How will they write her out?