Customer Reviews

Up Periscope Yellow: The Making of the Beatles' Yellow Submarine

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

This book offers good stories about the genesis of the Yellow Submarine film, and was at times very interesting, but got kinda repetitious after awhile. I was disappointed by the lack of artwork and pictures - there are only a handful, and many of those are mere sketches. If you don't know anything about the film, then you'll learn a lot of facts about the production of this classic...just don't expect to be bowled over with photo evidence.

I have read the customer reviews to determine if I should bother looking into this book. Most reviews were favorable, but one gave it a very low rating complaining about the lack of back-story and color images. I would recommend the Robert R. Hieronimus book "Inside the Yellow Submarine" published by Krause Publications. To me this is the most thorough and definitive book on the making of this movie and may make the Brodax book of secondary importance.

I realize that I am the author of "Beatletoons," and I may have a bias towards this book because Al Brodax was the creator of the Beatles cartoon series, but I truly started reading this book with no preconceived notions or bias. That being said, I really enjoyed this book. I read the whole thing within three nights. It's one of those "can't put down" books. I say that it's a Harry Potter for adults because Al proceeded through HIS adventure with his cohorts, Abe and Mary Ellen just as Harry had HIS two pals. Except THIS story is TRUE. The writing is wonderful. Al kept his notes from 35 years ago and really takes the reader along for the ride as his team and he produce two Fab (pun intended) animation projects. This book mainly focuses on the making of "Yellow Submarine." You will feel as if you are there with him and his team as he watches the dailies for Yellow Sub, has strategy drinks and dinners at the local pubs and has encounters with each Beatle. "Yellow Submarine" is certainly a classic animation film and this book helps us to fully understand why. "Up Periscope Yellow" is THE definitive story by the creator of "Yellow Submarine" himself. You've seen the movie, now buy the book.

A TOP NOTCH job.