Filming “Help!” in the Bahamas • Day 1

The previous day, The Beatles had arrived in New Providence Island, in the Bahamas, to begin filming their second film, “Help!“

This day had originally been planned as a rest day following the journey, but some filming took place in the afternoon. The first sequence, which was not included in the finished film, showed Ringo Starr listening to conch shells at the docks near Mackey Street. Afterwards, all four Beatles were filmed swimming fully clothed in the pool at the Nassau Beach Hotel, located in the island’s West Bay region.

A photograph of George Harrison taken on this day was later used in 2011 for the promotional poster of the Martin Scorsese-directed documentary “George Harrison: Living In The Material World.”

From this point, The Beatles worked without a single day off during their 14-day stay in the Bahamas.

The day-to-day filming activity in the Bahamas is drawn from “The Complete Beatles Chronicle” by Mark Lewisohn.

THE group started shooting the morning following their arrival. Among first scenes shot were the Beatles cycling through Nassau, a prelude to chatting away at the same time. Personally, I was greatly impressed with what seemed improved naturalness of speech and movement.

Ringo proved as good an actor as he was in “A Hard Day’s Night” when he was depicted sitting on a mound of conches beside a hold-ing one to his ear and beating out its music with his free arm!

Another day the gang enjoyed a swim fully clothed (well, shirt, jeans and shoes). John said he’d always wanted to try this, and thought it might be even better to bathe in a lounge suit — tie and all!

Brian Epstein – From New Musical Express – March 5, 1965

Going further

The Beatles Diary Volume 1: The Beatles Years

With greatly expanded text, this is the most revealing and frank personal 30-year chronicle of the group ever written. Insider Barry Miles covers the Beatles story from childhood to the break-up of the group.

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