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'Yellow Submarine' Resurfaces

© Kevin Reed

"It's all in the mind" says John Lennon's animated alter-ego. Now, nearly twelve years after it was pulled from video store shelves following a copyright lawsuit, it's also back on the screen, DVD, and CD - as well as it's very own postage stamp.

'Yellow Submarine', the ultimate '60s cinematic journey into psychedelia arrives in port this month with remixed surroundsound, enhanced color, and digitally remastered new footage.

"It's a living, breathing example of what the Beatles were saying and believing...namely that love is all you need," says rock journalist and editorial director for music channel VH1, Bill Flanagan. "The movie touches into that part of the'60s counterculture that was trying to preserve a youthful innocence."

The Beatles originally wanted nothing to do with the project. King Features had produced a Saturday-morning cartoon series featuring the Fab Four and the group was less than enthused with how they were portrayed, claiming that the show made them look like "The bloody Flintstones."

After making two movies - the classic Hard Days Night in 1964 and Help! the following year - the Beatles simply had no time in their busy schedule of in-studio recording and touring to step before the camera once again. They were, however, still under contract for a third film and considered the proposed film an easy out to fulfill their obligation.

Their only contribution to the movie were four new songs, "It's All Too Much," "All Together Now," "Hey, Bulldog" and "Only A Northern Song" were considered by the Beatles to be marginal, half-hearted efforts. "It'll do for the film." John Lennon would say of the songs.

The first animated feature to be produced in Britain at the time in 14 years, Yellow Submarine tells the story of the peaceloving inhabitants of Pepperland who are suddenly invaded by the evil Blue Meanies and their henchmen, a wild array of surreal characters like Apple Bonkers, who drop giant green apples on their hapless victims. Fez attired Snapping Turtle Turks who's bulbous bodies turn into biting, shark-like jaws, and a nasty flying glove that pounds anyone who dares stand in it's way.

Making a last-second escape is Old Fred, captain of the title vessel, who goes in search of the Beatles and enlists their aid in ridding Pepperland of the menacing meanies. After navagating through such fearsome territory as the Sea of Monsters and the Sea of Time, the band, armed only with love and music, ultimately restore freedom to all that is good and pure.