All This and World War II

All This and World War II is a 1976 musical documentary that juxtaposes Beatles songs, performed by a number of musicians, with World War II newsreel footage and 20th Century Fox films from the 1940s. It lasted a week in movie theaters and was quickly sent into storage, although it did play a midnight show at Landmark's Nuart Theatre in Los Angeles in June 2007.

After Terry Gilliam turned down the offer to direct this documentary, 20th Century Fox turned to Susan Winslow. She had previously participated as a researcher in the crew that produced Brother, Can You Spare a Dime? (directed by Philippe Mora) which married 30s newsreel and mostly Warner Bros. movie footage to gramophone songs of the period.

The original intention of the filmmakers was to use actual Beatles music in the film. The decision to use other artists covering Beatles music was made by the film's producers after they realized additional money could be made through a soundtrack album. The decision was a sound one, as the soundtrack actually generated more revenue than the film.

The film was made only six years after the Beatles had split up.

The film has never been released on home video or DVD, but bootleg copies of the film are available from several collector-to-collector resources.

"Strawberry Fields Forever" was the first solo recording by Peter Gabriel to be released after his departure from the band Genesis.

Soundtrack

All songs by Lennon/McCartney.

1. Ambrosia - "Magical Mystery Tour" -3:52
2. Elton John - "Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds" -6:15
* Features John Lennon (under the pseudonym "Dr. Winston O'Boogie") on lead guitar & backing vocals. The recording had previously been released as a single in 1974.
3. The Bee Gees - "Golden Slumbers/Carry That Weight" -3:17
4. Leo Sayer - "I Am The Walrus" -3:49
5. Bryan Ferry - "She's Leaving Home" -3:07
6. Roy Wood - "Lovely Rita" -1:13
7. Keith Moon - "When I'm Sixty-Four" -2:36
8. Rod Stewart - "Get Back" -4:24
9. Leo Sayer - "Let It Be" -3:43
10. David Essex - "Yesterday" -2:44
11. Jeff Lynne - "With a Little Help from My Friends/Nowhere Man" -6:56
12. Lynsey De Paul - "Because" -3:24
13. The Bee Gees - "She Came In Through The Bathroom Window" -1:54
14. Richard Cocciante - "Michelle" -4:00
15. The Four Seasons - "We Can Work It Out" -2:39
16. Helen Reddy - "The Fool On The Hill" -3:37
17. Frankie Laine - "Maxwell's Silver Hammer" -3:27
18. The Brothers Johnson - "Hey Jude" -4:58
19. Roy Wood - "Polythene Pam" -1:30
20. The Bee Gees - "Sun King" -2:03
21. Status Quo - "Getting Better" -2:19
22. Leo Sayer - "The Long and Winding Road" -4:47
23. Henry Gross - "Help!" -3:07
24. Peter Gabriel - "Strawberry Fields Forever" -2:30
25. Frankie Valli - "A Day in the Life" -4:04
26. Tina Turner - "Come Together" -4:08
27. Will Malone & Lou Reizner - "You Never Give Me Your Money" -3:04
28. The London Symphony Orchestra - "The End" -2:26

Wikipedia