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    Nostalgia Central
    Home»Movies»Movies by Decade»1980s Movies»Movies 1985
    Movies 1985 Movies J 3 Mins Read

    John and Yoko: A Love Story (1985)

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    This three-hour made-for-TV movie is as disturbing as it is fascinating. On the one hand, it really tries very sincerely and compassionately to depict the 14-year relationship between John Lennon of The Beatles and conceptual artist Yoko Ono.

    On the other hand, the film omits so much of the plot and leaves so many things that are seen on the screen unexplained, that one has to be a Beatles aficionado to figure out what in the world is going on.

    Admittedly the movie only tries to concentrate on the one-to-one relationship between John and Yoko, but to treat Paul, George and Ringo as extras mars the project for the viewer. Since this was the first serious attempt to tell even a segment of the Beatles‘ incredible story, not having developed the other three members of the group beyond peripheral roles was a mistake.

    In every scene featuring The Beatles, one had to memorise the actors’ wigs to figure out who was supposed to be whom!

    Conversely, the actors who portrayed John and Yoko (Mark McGann and Kim Miyori) looked hauntingly identical to the stars they portrayed.

    The real Yoko Ono had a strong personal interest and involvement in the project and since several books had painted her unfavourably – and she had so often been wrongly accused of breaking up The Beatles – she wanted to ensure she didn’t come across poorly in this film.

    Yoko hated the first draft of the film which dwelled heavily on John’s drug use. The script was scrapped and Sandor Stern was brought in to write and direct a story that focussed on the two lovers and barely touched upon the drug use.

    Although the film was shot in England with a predominantly British cast, the role of Yoko went to American actress Kim Miyori (best known as Dr Wendy Armstrong on the US series St Elsewhere). An actor named Mark Lindsay was cast as Lennon because of his uncanny resemblance to the singer, but two days before principal photography was to begin, it was discovered that “Lindsay” was a stage name and his real name was Mark Chapman – the exact name of John Lennon’s murderer!

    The actor was paid in full without shooting a single frame of film and the lead role recast with Scully star Mark McGann stepping in.

    The film begins with John Lennon‘s 1966 comments likening the popularity of The Beatles with that of Jesus Christ and ends with a freeze-frame of John’s encounter on 8 December 1980 with his assassin.

    Watch out for an uncredited bit part appearance by future Austin Powers star, Mike Myers.

    John Lennon
    Mark McGann
    Yoko Ono
    Kim Miyori
    Paul McCartney
    Kenneth Price
    George Harrison
    Peter Capaldi
    Ringo Starr
    Phillip Walsh
    Brian Epstein
    Richard Morant
    Cynthia Lennon
    Rachel Laurence
    Julian Lennon (Age 5)
    Joe Randall Cutler
    Julian Lennon (Age 11)
    Samuel Wetmore
    Julian Lennon (Age 15)
    Paul Lockwood
    Kyoko Ono Cox (Age 5)
    Catherine Wrigley
    Kyoko Ono Cox (Age 8)
    Larissa Anastacio
    Tony Cox
    Vincent Marzello
    Elliot Mintz
    David Baxt
    George Martin
    John Sinclair
    Allen Klein
    Lou Hirsch
    Linda Eastman
    Catherine Strauss
    Maharishi Mahesh Yogi
    Bob Babenia
    Harry Nilsson
    David Gilliam
    Elton John
    Matthew Marsh
    Phil Spector
    Ray Charleson
    Mal Evans
    Martyn Whitby
    Aunt Mimi
    Val McLane
    Eisuke Ono
    Robert Lee
    Isoko Ono
    Harue Ito
    Leon Wilde
    Chuck Julian
    Jerry Rubin
    Danny Brainin
    May Pang
    Ling Tai
    John Dunbar
    Robert Daws
    Canon Verney
    Peter Howell
    Detective Sergeant Pilcher
    Bob Putt
    Sean Lennon
    Tim Kiley

    Director
    Sandor Stern

    Video

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