ZAMM.COM

Films that seem to have everything going for them don’t always turn out that way, as happened to SGT. PEPPER’S LONELY HEARTS CLUB BAND, which premiered in New York July 13, 1978.

The film, which Universal distributed domestically, was loosely based on the 1974 Off-Broadway production SGT. PEPPER’S LONELY HEARTS CLUB BAND ON THE ROAD, directed by Tom O’Horgan, who’d  staged the Broadway mega-hits HAIR & JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR. His theatrical adaptation of The Beatles’ album, however, was buried by the critics and closed after 66 performances.

Nonetheless, Robert Stigwood, who produced the blockbusters SATURDAY NGHT FEVER (1977) & GREASE (1978), thought he could have another succe$$ with PEPPER’S even though The Beatles, themselves, weren’t involved. Stigwood was wrong. PEPPER’S grossed just $20.4M on a budget of $18M. Critics on Rotten Tomatoes hated it at 11% while audiences were unhappy at 44%.

PEPPER’S all-star cast included The Bee Gees (Barry, Robin & Maurice Gibb), Peter Frampton, Steve Martin, Aerosmith, Alice Cooper, George Burns & Billy Preston. Preston was the only one in the film who’d worked with The Beatles — having played piano on their 1967 PEPPER’S LP.

The long list of actors & singers who reportedly passed on PEPPER’S includes Elton John, Olivia Newton-John, Donna Summer, Bob Hope, Rock Hudson, Doris Day, Barry Manilow & Andy Gibb for the Billy Shears role that went to Frampton.

Chris Bearde, a veteran TV director, was originally going to direct, but Stigwood dropped him before filming began. When Stigwood asked Michael Schultz (CAR WASH) to sign on, he was going to pass — but then recalled having turned down Stigwood’s last offer — to direct GREASE! Randal Kleiser (THE BLUE LAGOON) made it for $6M and it did $396.3M worldwide.

Stigwood had also tried to get John Badham to direct PEPPER’S, after seeing his 1976 comedy THE BINGO LONG TRAVELING ALL-STARS & MOTOR KINGS, starring Richard Pryor. Badham was a big Beatles fan, but passed anyway. He later wound up saying yes to Stigwood to direct  SATURDAY NIGHT FEVER (1977).

After two weeks of filming, The Bee Gees tried, but failed, to get released from PEPPER’S, despite their having done the soundtrack for SATURDAY NIGHT FEVER. They later claimed PEPPER’S hurt their popularity because critics wrongly accused them of trying to imitate The Beatles.

As for The Fab Four, when PEPPER’S premiered only Paul McCartney & Ringo Starr attended. In an interview years later, George Harrison was asked about Frampton & The Bee Gees doing the movie and replied, “I think it’s damaged their images, their careers — and they didn’t need to do that. It’s just like The Beatles trying to do The Rolling Stones. The Rolling Stones can do it better.”