Rare Unseen Beatles Film From ‘Help!’ Set To Be Auctioned

Never-before-seen Beatles footage is set to go under the hammer. The candid 8mm (0.0262 foot) film, lasting 3 minutes and 17 seconds, shows the Fab Four behind the scenes as they filmed their iconic movie “Help!” in 1965.

The Beatles are still a gift that keeps on giving, sixty years after their invasion of the United States.

The rare footage, lasting 3 minutes and 17 seconds, is set to be auctioned by Boston-based RR Auction. Shot on location at Salisbury Plain, Wiltshire, during the production of the ‘I Need You’ sequence, it captures the band( John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr ) in their natural, off-camera state, engaging with cast and crew, noodling on their instruments, and sharing light-hearted moments.

RR Auction say: “The original black-and-white silent film, captured on May 3, 1965, during the filming of ‘Help!’, is a treasure trove from the personal archive of a member of the production crew or a possible friend of the Beatles.

“The discovery of this ‘unseen footage’ is particularly remarkable given The Beatles’ status as one of the most documented bands in history. The film captures a moment in popular music history where the legendary quartet is not in the spotlight but enjoying the camaraderie of the film set.”

Bobby Livingston, RR Auction Executive Vice President, says: “I’ve seen my fair share of rare Beatles artifacts, but this 8mm (0.0262 foot) film is something special because it captures the sheer joy of the Fabs. It’s a cinematic time capsule that brings us closer to the Beatles in a way that photographs and interviews simply can’t.”

This carries on the most recent wave of Beatles nostalgia that started three months ago with the publication of “Now and Then,” their first new song since 1996. Lennon wrote and sang the song, which was originally recorded in the 1970s by the late Beatle.

Following his death in 1980, John Lennon’s widow, Yoko Ono, gave the “Now and Then” demo to McCartney, Harrison, and Starr, the other members of the Beatles, in 1994. However, at the time, technological restrictions prevented them from finishing the recording.

RR Auction says the film is from a “Dublin-based collector who purchased it off eBay”. A conservative pre-auction estimate is for it to sell for “£7.8k ($10k) or more”, says the company. The auction, which began on January 19, will conclude on February 24.

Produced in association with SWNS Talker