Jeremy Hillary Boob’s Quote From “Yellow Submarine”:
Ad hoc, ad loc, and quid pro quo! So little time! So much to know!
If someone were to ask me, what are the ultimate sources for information about the making of the Beatles animated classic, “Yellow Submarine,” then these two books certainly fit that bill.
The first volume was created literally by the author undertaking three decades of intensive research about the Yellow Submarine story. Interviewing virtually all of the main contributors to making the classic film. The Yellow Submarine books are not merely history books as Dr. Bob offers many significant theories as to the significance of the Yellow Submarine in Beatles mythology.
I have no doubts that these two volumes will provide a massive amount of new information to you concerning this beautiful and wondrous tale. An analogy of the film can be drawn with the discussion of many of our perceptions of the Fifties decade as compared with the Sixties. Many see the Fifties as the black-and-white decade-“this is what is right and this is what is wrong” as being clearly defined by the social mores and structures in place.
The decade was certainly not perceived as being shaped in a significant variety of opinions and splashed in vibrant color. However, the Sixties were quite different as the decade seemed to come alive as the explosion of the population’s viewpoints as to how to see and understand things were now being viewed in a variety of perspectives.
Accepted roles of various groups of people were changing as well as generational roles were evolving significantly during this time frame, thus the description of the black and white vs. color analogy. Technological growth was also playing a role as even the monumental importance of TV viewing itself in industrialized countries was shifting rapidly from black and white to color sets. So many fascinating cultural statements are presented in this fantasy, some more obvious than others.
Here are the author’s description of the 2nd volume of the book:
Print run limited to 900 copies in Paperback, each autographed by the authors.
More insider stories on how favorite scenes were made, symbolic interpretations, the Swinging 60’s.
368 pages, 203 illustrations.
16 new artists share their stories of working on the film.
On-set hijinks, technical wizardry, how favorite scenes were made.
Why the Yellow Submarine makes us feel so GOOD, interpretation of symbolism and the subconscious.
The special hardcover edition of the 2nd volume of the Bob Hieronimus and Laura E. Cortner book. Only 100 signed and numbered copies were issued, and I am the very fortunate owner of copy #100 of this special limited edition.
For further information about these wonderful books, you can contact the authors at this site:
Volume 2 link
Would like to end this post with a question. Are you all happy that the proposed re-make of Yellow Submarine proposed by noted director Robert Zemeckis was permanently shelved or would you have liked to have seen the studio give it an attempt? The consensus of opinion I have seen thus far for that proposition is to leave things as they are!!!
Let me know in the comments.
Buzz
There’s no point in remaking something that was done right the first time. I saw the remake of The Lion King and thought that the original was better in every way. Yes, the remake had more realistic animation, but that was not an improvement. The characters’ faces were more expressive in the “cartoony” version. Hollywood should put that money and ingenuity into making original movies.
Thanks for the comments, Doug! Much appreciated! That certainly seems to be the opinion that most people hold!
As an aside to this subject, for a short time the Lennon Estate was considering an animated feature film based on John’s sketches. Some of those appeared on a special video for the song, “Whatever Gets You Through the Night.” The video was imaginative and very entertaining. However for a feature film, the Estate would have to seek out the correct author to give the movie a great accompanying storyline! Perhaps, from one of John’s books!