In His Life: The John Lennon Story

It's easy to see why the Beatles has always been such a phenomenon. For a person like me who is born in the late 80s actually, I am do aware how huge the four lads from Liverpool are.

As this is about the life of John Lennon, from his early days to the time he was with the Beatles, the TV movie is more focused about him and his life. The time when Beatlemania is everywhere, it was not ignored in the TV movie as well.

Given I am only aware of the Beatles' success, so much of what's happening in the TV movie is an eye-opener for someone like me.

It's quite an insight.

I came across "In His Life: The John Lennon Story" on TV a few nights ago. While not quite attaining the quality of "Backbeat", it certainly gives one a feeling of growing up in Liverpool in the 1950s. One can understand the teenage John Lennon's attitude towards society, especially since his love of rock 'n' roll fueled his political views. I'll probably never be able to understand how terrible it must have been for him to lose his mother so young (Paul also lost his mother young, and Ringo knew only his mother; George was the only Beatle who spent his whole childhood with both parents). I think that I might have heard about Brian Epstein's homosexuality, but I never knew that he was basically smitten with John.

All in all, this is certainly worth seeing, if you can find it. Not a masterpiece, but it sure made me wish that I could have been in Liverpool in the '50s. There will just never be anything else like the Beatles in our lifetimes.

I caught this years ago on a now defunct tv channel then found it on YouTube later. I have since managed to get a rare DVD of it. I have personal memories of Liverpool and the art college which I was a student at in early 80s. I love that this film was actually shot on all the genuine Liverpool locations and is a lovely Liverpool showcase. A particular scene in front of the art college stands out. I was there for three years as a student. Also the scenes in Aunt Mimi's actual house give the film an added frisson of reality for me. I love the actors chosen to embody The Beatles. The Paul McCartney is delightful. Aunt Mimi is deliciously dreadfull although you do wonder how John could have lived with such an awful woman. His mother Julia is so full of carefree joidevivre it really hurts when she is killed in an accident and makes you really feel the great loss she must have been to John. So many great moments in this film that make me love it I can't see why it is not rated much higher. I know the lack of Lennon/McCartney songs is a negative aspect. But most people watching will know all the great songs that came from them anyway. This little film made for tv is a personal favourite and I thank all responsible for making it.

Despite the reviews to the contrary I thought the film superb. It did capture very well the atmosphere of the time, when Britain emerged from monochrome into colour during the late 50's and early 60's. I know because I was there! The portrayal of The Beatles was incredible, why can I ask have these actors not gone on to better things? The capturing of Lennons early years was a masterpiece, in fact the actor should have gotten some kind of award, that is how Lennon was, a very talented rebel, who helped change the world, and would perhaps have made it a lot better place if that lunatic had not killed him.

I am trying to complete my ten lines but is does get difficult when has said all one wants to say, is that enough yet??

John didn't swear at Stuart in this film like he does in Backbeat and Pete Best had an unfair portrayal when those incidents in that film probably didn't happen, in this film John beats up Bob Wooler and hits him with a shovel which didn't happen as he says so in his book and he said at the 2000 Beatle week that he is the only person who knows what really happened there at Pauls 21st birthday party which didn't appear to get mentioned in this film