Product Details

• Actors: Alf Bicknell, George Harrison, John Lennon, Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr
• Format: Black & White, Color, DVD, NTSC
• Language: English (PCM Stereo)
• Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only. Read more about DVD formats.)
  
• Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
• Number of discs: 1
• Rating: NR (Not Rated)
• Studio: Simitar Ent.
• DVD Release Date: August 29, 1997
• Run Time: 80 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 2.5 out of 5 stars See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• ASIN: 6304610408
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #125,249 in Movies & TV (See Bestsellers in Movies & TV)

  Popular in these categories: (What's this?)

  #6 in	Movies & TV > Music Video & Concerts > Artists > The Beatles > Documentary
  #58 in	Movies & TV > Music Video & Concerts > Artists > The Beatles > Ringo Starr

• For more information about "Alf Bicknell's Beatles Diary" visit the Internet Movie Database (IMDb)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com
Alf Bicknell, who narrates and conceived the idea behind Beatles Diary, was the Beatles' chauffeur for three years. From 1964 to 1966 he drove John, Paul, George, and Ringo from gig to gig and airport to hotel. In this personal reminiscence, which is chronicled on two tapes (probably to earn a higher retail price for the fans and profit for Bicknell), the guy pushes his yearning for days gone by as he takes the viewer through a collection of memories disguised as real, revealing gems about the Liverpool lads. We rove from Shea Stadium and the Beatles' first U.S. appearance to a trip back to Liverpool and a glimpse at the houses where the Fab Four grew up, and there are clips from the Hollywood Bowl appearance and the final concert in Japan in 1966. But Bicknell gives us little that's fresh or interesting. We can look at Paul's Hofner bass or John's guitar till we turn blue but there is still little of relevance in this sad, searching, despondent clutch by an ordinary guy who achieved some sense of status for 15 minutes, then lost it and desperately wants to grab the ring again. --Paula Nechak

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars For Beatles Freaks Only, January 3, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Beatles Diary [VHS] (VHS Tape)

Alf was the Beatles chauffeur, and so experienced the Beatles day-to-day as few did. But his stories are VERY minor stories, generally, and they often don't have much of a pay-off. But if you're a Beatles freak, as I am, even the most incidental anecdotes are of interest. He tells of trivial moments, and he is a rather shy man, which is actually rather refreshing, because most people you see on camera are overly slick. There aren't any great Beatles clips...a few here and there. It shows a clip of Paul at a solo-show, mentioning to the audience that Alf is in the audience, that is fun to see. And Alf relates when the Beatles once stole four bottles of milk! Also he gives details about when the Beatles met Elvis (Alf was there). And while most Beatles fans have seen the Beatles homes/hang outs in photos, to see them on video gives you a better sense of what they look like. This is a modest effort, but its modesty is part of its charm.

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars utter crap, September 12, 2000

By	Jason Haggstrom (Wheat Ridge, Colorado USA) - See all my reviews

Don't even consider buying this crap. Alf is trying so hard to cash in on the Beatles, it is rediculous. Alf retells his really pointless stories while the viewer looks at crappy stock footage. You get to see Paul solo for a few minutes but that's about it. I am a die hard Beatles fan who thought there wasn't any bad Beatles related merchandise. This video proved me wrong.

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Absolute rubbish!, September 3, 2001

By	Kevin Ford (Sydney, Australia) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Beatles Diary [VHS] (VHS Tape)

Poor old Alf says he kept quiet about his Beatles involvement from 1966 to 1989. It's a pity he didn't leave it that way.
This video is so poorly directed and edited that it is not clear whether you are in Liverpool, London or USA at any given time.
Alf MUST have had some interesting memories from three years with The Fabs, but they're not recorded here ... John pinched a bottle of milk, there was a large crowd at Shea Stadium etc.
At least half the footage is filled with Alf plodding along a street somewhere, plus many clips from Paul's world tour. (Relevance? Alf went to one concert and Paul spoke to him...)
Most of the anecdotes are rehashed (George Harrison didn't like George Martin's tie) and there is little here to interest even a serious Beatles fan.
Spend your money elsewhere!