Watch All You Need Is Cash

All You Need Is Cash is a 1978 mockumentary film that parodies the life and times of The Beatles. Directed by Eric Idle and Gary Weis, the film was produced by Lorne Michaels and featured an all-star cast of comedians, including Eric Idle, John Halsey, Ricky Fataar, and Neil Innes. The movie follows the rise and fall of a Beatles-like band, The Rutles, consisting of Dirk McQuickly (Eric Idle), Ron Nasty (Neil Innes), Stig O'Hara (Ricky Fataar), and Barry Wom (John Halsey). The film is structured as a documentary, complete with a narrator (John Belushi) and interviews with the band's various associates and hangers-on.

The Rutles are portrayed as a band from Liverpool who burst onto the music scene in the early 1960s and quickly become global sensations. Their music and image are clearly modeled after The Beatles, and many of the film's biggest laughs come from seeing the familiar Beatles story played out with slightly altered names and situations.

For example, the Rutles' early concerts are filled with screaming teenage girls, just like The Beatles' early shows, and Dirk McQuickly's wife is named Martini, a clear reference to John Lennon's wife Yoko Ono. The band's music is also a clear parody of The Beatles' most famous songs, but with silly lyrics that poke fun at both the original songs and the Rutles' own mythical backstory.

One of the most memorable scenes in the film comes when a reporter asks Ron Nasty if he is the "cute one" or the "funny one" in the band, to which Ron replies, "I'm the one who's been in a lot of trouble with the law."

As the film progresses, we see the Rutles go through all the familiar phases of a successful band's career: they go on tour, make movies, experiment with psychedelic drugs, and eventually break up due to creative differences. Along the way, we meet various characters who are based on real-life figures from the Beatles' world, including the Rutles' ruthless manager Leggy Mountbatten (played by Michael Palin) and the band's eccentric guru Arthur Sultan (played by George Harrison, who makes a cameo appearance).

What makes All You Need Is Cash so effective as a parody is how lovingly it pokes fun at The Beatles while also celebrating their legacy. The Rutles' music may be silly and ridiculous, but it's also undeniably catchy and fun. And while the film's humor can be quite biting at times, it's clear that everyone involved in the project has a deep respect and admiration for The Beatles and what they meant to popular culture.

All You Need Is Cash is also notable for its innovative use of technology. The film features a number of special effects that were groundbreaking for the time, including split-screen shots that show multiple members of the Rutles on screen at once. These effects may seem quaint by today's standards, but they were an important step forward in the evolution of music videos and other forms of visual media.

Ultimately, All You Need Is Cash is a hilarious and affectionate tribute to The Beatles that stands on its own as a classic comedy film. Even if you're not a diehard Beatles fan, there's plenty to enjoy here, from the catchy songs to the sharp humor to the many celebrity cameos. Whether you're a fan of music documentaries or silly comedy films, All You Need Is Cash is definitely worth checking out.