Mersey Boys: A Letter from Al Moran

This short-film is understated, with no frills that lays bare the raw talent of acting by the entire cast, packed with colourful dialogue, substance and spark between the characters. There is an electrically-charged atmosphere in the pub, even before the guitars are switched on! Raining in both the present and past helps make what is a very cohesive and subtle switch from now to then.

The early years of The Beatles present a rare and intriguing insight into their way of life and any glimpse we can glean from that time, even when engineered through fiction, is priceless. Inside an intense 10-minutes this compact short-film successfully captures that - the screenplay is compelling and showcases the changing attitudes that were taking place at that time.

Cultures collide amicably between a young John Lennon and an American Professor, Al Moran, and the playful banter from John that ensues melts away barriers between the two. Some people can stay longer in an hour than others can in a week and this short-film epitomises that. I love the camera work - very 'fly-on-the-wall' and I really felt like I was there - just another guy leaning against the bar!

We're coming up to the 60th Anniversary of The Beatles' 1st gig in the South of England later this year, that took place in my hometown of Aldershot on the 9th December. You could say that this was the low-point of their career when only 18 people turned up and, although just a blip, the only way was up from here! I heard Ringo Starr once said "We didn't get any bigger than Liverpool - we just got more Cities".

Everything about this Production is World Class, right down to the costumes.

Well Done & Congratulations!

Sean Graham

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!

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

This short film presents a prologue of sorts to what one hopes eventually becomes a full-length film presentation of The Mersey Boys, based on the wonderful novel of the same title by Steven Farrell, an almost "parallel universe" Beatles story, based largely in history and biography, through the eyes and pen of Dr. Albert Moran. Quite well done and generally well-acted, although this reviewer found the performances of the John and, to a lesser extent, young Moran characters in the bar scene a little tight. Jessica Messenger as Ginny the barmaid is a natural. All in all, recommended for Beatles fans, with the hope that it becomes a full-length film.

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.