Mersey Boys: A Letter from Al Moran

We know a lot about The Beatles. But what lurks in the minds and hearts of many are the private and public encounters, both real and imagined that shaped people's memories of The Fab Four. In Steve Farrell's fictious (or not), rendering of memory and encounter (Mersey Boys: A Letter from Al Moran)--we get an intimate knowing across intergenerational time and space. He offers a memoire of what was, and maybe what never was. But through the excavation of a life gone-by, we come to know of a particular life-lived, which also offers a fresh-take on the boys from Mersey who changed the world through music. Kudos for Farrell who takes us, and himself into the scene of knowing and rediscovering the past, and what he (and we), never knew. Bryant Keith Alexander, PhD, Communication, Cultural and Performance Studies scholar.

I feel quite honoured to write my first IMDB review for this compelling piece of work - a short film that tells so much.

We open in Chicago where a father & daughter arriving home from their Uncle Al's funeral. While going through his letters, we flashback to Liverpool in the early sixties where Al began a job as a professor at Liverpool Art College. During a spell in a pub (the Cavern Club) he is taken by a lovely barmaid named Ginny & meets three young men who happen to be John, Paul and George.

I don't want to give too much away. It may be a short story, but its littered with so much of interest. It was the verge of the Beatles and through Ginny, Professor Al sees how women will be going through the cultural changes that depicted the 60s. Revolution is in the air.

One reviewer states this short is a teaser, & I can agree with that. The film itself captures the mood of the time, reflected in Paddy Murphy's tight script & economic direction.

Performances also capture the resonance of the era. Everyone is in good form, but will single out Fiach Kunz as Al, a slightly out of his depth American lecturer beginning to find his feet in a new country, intimidated, but attracted to this new way of life represented by Ginny & John. Jessica Messenger is equally brilliant as Ginny, an ordinary working girl with visions of future. One can event a predict a relationship going between them.

All in all a lovely provocative film with so much to offer

I enjoyed this short which has an interesting take on the early Beatles. The Lennon character rings true, as does Al's confusion. I hope a feature filming is in the offing.

Mersey Boys: A Letter from Al Moran, based on a novel by Steven G. Farrell, combines a bit of mystery and history to deliver an interesting and entertaining concept. The story line instantly drew me in with the discovery of a letter to 'Mike' and I was fully invested after the seamless transition from a modern day study to a yesteryear bar. The flashback scene was authentic with a nostalgic feel that made me believe I had been transported back in time. The ensemble cast was capable and believable in their roles. This short film left me feeling that Al Moran was the most interesting man in the world and I definitely want to see more of his story - please!

What a great idea to see the Beatles before they were the world famous BEATLES! I think my only criticism is about the men's hair. This is either later 1950s or very early 1960s. The bartender has a pony tail and Paul and Al both have longer hair that looks more like today.