This is my latest contribution to The Big Picture, the internationally recognised website that shows film in a wider context. The Big Picture is running a series of features and reviews with the theme of ‘satire’. This piece is part of the site’s Lost Classics section (featuring in my list of Great Films You Need To See), in this case ex-Python Eric Idle’s music mockumentary The Rutles: All You Need Is Cash.
Hardly ones to take themselves too seriously, the Fab Four nevertheless provided the perfect foils for the grandfather of music mockumentaries.
While Spinal Tap took the formula to unparalleled heights, The Rutles set the ball rolling and remains an amusingly ramshackle spoof
Before This Is Spinal Tap (1984) there was The Rutles: All You Need Is Cash (1978), a Beatles parody given form partly thanks to its lead guitarist George Harrison.
Originally conceived as a throwaway sketch on Eric Idle’s post-Python BBC comedy series Rutland Weekend Television (1975-76), the skit took on a life of its own when it was shown on an episode of the long-running gag show Saturday Night Live that Idle was hosting.
Eric Idle’s presenter in deep water in The Rutles
With Harrison’s encouragement, Idle’s partner-in-crime on Rutland Weekend Television Neil Innes knuckled down to turn what was an affectionate parody of A Hard Day’s Night into an alternative history of the world’s most successful and beloved band that spawned a whole new cinematic sub-genre.
Written by Idle and Innes, The Rutles charts the story of the Prefab Four – Dirk McQuickly (Idle), Ron Nasty (Innes), Stig O’Hara (Ricky Fataar) and Barry Wom (John Halsey) – from their humble Rutland roots to becoming “bigger than Rod [Stewart]” and creating “a musical legend that will last a lunchtime”.
The Rutles’ take on I Am The Walrus, Piggy In The Middle
Modelled on the traditional to-camera documentary presenter style (Idle again), the film’s less-than-serious approach is apparent from the get go, with the former Python’s walk and talk becoming a sprint and gasp as the vehicle he’s following decides to hit the gas.
The presenter follows in the tight-trousered band’s footsteps from Der Rat Keller in Hamburg to the Ed Sullivan Show, Che Stadium (“named after the Cuban guerilla leader Che Stadium”), their spiritual quest to Bognor to meet Surrey mystic Arthur Sultan and Ron’s sit in the shower for peace with his soul mate Chastity (played by Gwen Taylor in a Nazi outfit in a hilariously near-the-knuckle mickey take of Yoko Ono).
Ron Nasty (Neil Innes) and partner Chastity (Gwen Taylor), aka Yoko Ono in The Rutles
The Beatles’ musical evolution is playfully parodied (Doubleback Alley is a take on Penny Lane; I Am The Walrus becomes the equally nonsensical Piggy In The Middle, among many others), while the band’s foray into the world of movies is also lampooned, with Ouch! a send-up of Help!; Yellow Submarine Sandwich (complete with surreal animation) and The Tragical History Tour, in which the Prefab Four play Oxford history professors going on a hitchhiking tour of tea shops in the Rutland area.
The SNL connection led to cameos from Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd, Gilda Radner and John Belushi, while Michael Palin appears in one the film’s most amusing scenes playing opposite Harrison’s silver-haired interviewer as Rutle Corps’ headquarters is plundered.
Ex-Beatle George Harrison interviews Rutle Corp press agent Eric Manchester (Michael Palin) in The Rutles
Roped in to give the film some extra fizz by Harrison, a game Mick Jagger and Paul Simon deliver old Rutles tales with admirable brio, probably because most of the stories they were telling were actually true and involved the Fab, rather than the Prefab, Four.
The Rutles adheres to the most important rule of mockumentaries, in that everyone plays it straight despite the silliness going on around them. It also helps that Innes’ songs are catchy in their own right and different enough from the originals so as not to sound like a carbon copy.
The Rutles go all showbiz
It’s a testament to the film’s legacy that not only did it influence Rob Reiner and Christopher Guest when approaching This Is Spinal Tap, but also remains both a cult favourite among as many Beatles fans as those who still follow The Rutles on their sporadic live tours.
While Spinal Tap took the formula to unparalleled heights, The Rutles set the ball rolling and remains an amusingly ramshackle spoof.
three rows back 
I’ve heard of this but have never seen it. Should re-think that. Thanks, Mark.
No worries. Happy to make the suggestion 🙂
Sounds funny!
It is!
Nice review man. I’m a huge fan of Spinal Tap, so this sounds right up my alley.
It’s not as hilarious as Spinal Tap, but it certainly has its moments.
Hello Mark, hope you are well! I haven’t heard of this but wow, look at those cameos!
Hi Ruth! It’s intermittently very funny. I particularly liked John Belushi’s cameo.
Well this sounds like a rather rollicking good time. Thanks for putting this on my radar Mr. Fletcher.
Although, much to my frustration, I’m trying mightily to think whether or not if I’ve heard of this before or not. I’m either experiencing deja vu or I have been recommended this before sometime long ago and simply forgot all about it. . . hm. . .
No worries! It’s a blast from the past that’s for sure. A bit of a time capsule. Well worth your time Tom.
I haven’t seen this in years! Funny film though. Nice to see it reviewed 🙂
Thanks buddy. Happy to shine some light on this.
One of the great treasures of the parody world, a favorite of mine since the early nineties. Neil Innes’s music is sublime in this. He’s still wonderful, but the later Rutles album Archaeology, from ’95, is basically Innes tunes that are given Beatles-like instrumentation and peppered with references to Beatles tunes. Still fun, but not quite parodies as much as style parodies second time round.
I’m glad to see another fan of The Rutles! That’s interesting to read, thanks Anna.
I love Eric Idle. He’s absolutely hilarious! I had a great chance to see Spamalot in London once, unfortunately without the original Python cast… Have to check this out! Great post.
Not seen Spamalot, but absolutely adore Python. Thanks for the great feedback.
Great to see this get some praise, I’ve watched it a few times over the years and it really is spot on. I have a Rutles double album and my favourite song is “Cheese and Onions”. Nice write up!
You’ve out-Rutled me Stu!