Monday, December 13, 1965
The Beatles discuss their third film project
Last updated on December 29, 2025
Monday, December 13, 1965
Last updated on December 29, 2025
Previous article Dec 10, 1965 • The Beatles are voted Best British Group and Best World Group by NME
Concert Dec 12, 1965 • UK • Cardiff • 8pm show
Interview Dec 12, 1965 • Backstage interview in Cardiff
Article Dec 13, 1965 • The Beatles discuss their third film project
Article Dec 13, 1965 • Paul McCartney takes LSD for the first time
Rumours about a third Beatles film
First half of 1968
The Beatles consider a Lord of the Rings film adaptation
February - March 1968
On the recommendation of producer Walter Shenson, The Beatles’ manager Brian Epstein had recently acquired the film rights to Richard Condon’s book “A Talent for Loving,” with the idea of developing it as the group’s third feature film, following “A Hard Day’s Night” and “Help!.” However, the Beatles couldn’t agree on the script.
On December 7, after their concerts in Manchester, the group were joined by Walter Shenson to discuss plans for the proposed film. According to Neil Aspinall, they told Shenson that night that the project was not for them.
Following The Beatles’ final UK concert in Cardiff, John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Brian Epstein met at the NEMS Enterprises offices in London to rediscuss the project, but their decision remained unchanged.
“A Talent for Loving” was eventually adapted for the screen in 1969, directed by Richard Quine and starring Richard Widmark and Cesar Romero.
The Beatles had originally been due to begin filming their third feature at the start of 1966. With the project abandoned, the group instead enjoyed a break of around three months in early 1966. The search for a suitable script to fulfil their contractual obligation with United Artists nevertheless continued throughout the year.
JOHN LENNON: [Walter Shenson] thinks we’re still considering that film, but as far as I’m concerned, anyway, it’s scrapped. The original book was great — but the script they showed us turned out lousy. The trouble is, these people try to write something around us, and in the way they imagine we’d do it. This is useless. We want something we can do things with, something that’s a challenge.
GEORGE HARRISON: He’s right, I wouldn’t mind waiting another nine months to make a film. Who’s in a hurry? We want the right script.
Interviewed on December 3, 1965 – From New Musical Express – December 10, 1965
GEORGE HARRISON: You probably read about “A Talent For Loving”. At one stage we thought it would be great to base a film on that story. But it gets very complicated and we all agreed we needed a more straightforward plot.
PAUL McCARTNEY: That doesn’t mean we decided to rule out the idea of doing a Western. It would be a comic-type Western, of course. And if we don’t do a Western this time I think it’s something we should keep in mind for the future. There are all kinds of great comedy situations you can work into a cowboy story.
GEORGE HARRISON: Anyway, unless some kind of miracle happens-a script-type miracle, that is- we’ve ruled out “A Talent for Loving” and Walter Shenson has been searching for new script suggestions.
From interview for The Beatles Monthly Book, February 1966
In the 16th century an Aztec priest has cut off his own hand and used the bloody stump to lay a curse upon a blasphemous Spanish conquistador and all his direct descendants. The curse: that once any of the descendants, whether male or female, have tasted physical love, even in the form of a single kiss, they will spend the rest of their lives as being nearly sexually insatiable. Three centuries later the beautiful young virginal daughter of a fabulously wealthy Texas rancher and gambler is its latest victim. An elaborate set of contests and races is arranged to choose which of two cowboys will win her hand in marriage.
Plot of “A Talent For Loving” by Richard Condon – From Wikipedia
ALAN SMITH goes on tour with THE BEATLES!
[…] Monday was a rest day in Liverpool — seeing old friends and relatives, and reviving old memories. The Beatles stayed there until Tuesday, when they left for Manchester for another concert, another press conference, and another meeting with film producer Walter Shenson.
Walter is the man who produced “Help!” and “A Hard Day’s Night,” and he wants them to make the western “A Talent for Loving.“
John told me in Glasgow: “He thinks we’re still considering that film, but as far as I’m concerned, anyway, it’s scrapped. The original book was great — but the script they showed us turned out lousy. The trouble is, these people try to write something around us, and in the way they imagine we’d do it. This is useless. We want something we can do things with, something that’s a challenge.”
Chimed in George: “He’s right, I wouldn’t mind waiting another nine months to make a film. Who’s in a hurry? We want the right script.”
Ringo — who’s a big western fan — also had a word to say: “Anyway, I’ve gone off making a western myself, and I say that even though I think the script they offered us gave me the best deal.” […]
From New Musical Express – December 10, 1965
Beatles’ manager ill
Brian Epstein is recovering from yellow jaundice which has confined him to his London flat for the past three weeks. The Beatles’ manager had to cancel a visit to America on Wednesday which was to negotiate sale to TV companies of a film of the Beatles’ New York concert last August.
From New Musical Express – December 10, 1965
BEATLES (WESTERN IS OFF) AND STONES FILMS BOTH START IN APRIL – Hollywood contract for Marianne ?
THE Beatles’ third film and the Rolling Stones’ first are both due to go into production in April. But the Beatles have abandoned plans to film the Western “A Talent For Loving” and a desperate search to find an alternative story has been launched. The Stones’ picture is already being scripted.
Screen rights to “A Talent For Loving” were bought by the Beatles earlier this year. Original plans for them to film it in the autumn were shelved, and this week the Beatles themselves took the decision to scrap the project.
Producer Walter Shenson talked to the NME on Wednesday of the problems of finding a story for the Beatles to film:
“I have writers coming in every day with what they consider to be new ideas, but they are all about a day in the life of the Beatles or a situation involving the group. We’ve done those with the first two films. The boys and I would like a story in which they would appear as John, Paul, George and Ringo, but not as the Beatles. ‘A Talent For Loving’ seemed ideal, but when we came to script it we found it almost impossible to adapt something which had already been published without making it look as though it had been seen together for the purpose. The Beatles’ first two films have been very successful — ‘A Hard Day’s Night’ grossed £3½ million, and ‘Help!’ has topped £4m. They are films which people who are not necessarily Beatles fans go to see. We’ve proved that by their box office success in countries where the boys aren’t particularly big. We don’t want to do what Elvis does — make a picture in three weeks. His producers know almost to the penny how much his films will take because there’s a constant Elvis audience, and people who aren’t Elvis fans don’t go to see his pictures.”
Even if production on Beatles film No. 3 can go ahead in April, it will not be available before September. […]
From New Musical Express – December 17, 1965
BEATLES AFTER NEW SCRIPT FOR 3rd FILM
THE Beatles next film seems unlikely to be A Talent For Loving, Richard Condon’s cowboy story scheduled to be filmed in Spain. Rumours are that the Beatles — back at Number One — did not like the script. A spokesman for NEMS told the MM: “It’s virtually certain that the Beatles will not now make the film. Producer Walter Shenson is looking for a new script.”
The Lennon-McCartney TV Spectacular taped at Manchester for Granada TV will be seen by London viewers tonight (Thursday) at 9.40. Other areas will see it at 9.40 tomorrow (Friday). In addition to the Beatles, the Spectacular also stars Marianne Faithfull, Esther Phillips, Peter Sellers, Peter Gordon and classical musician Fritz Spiegel.
The Beatles’ 1965 British tour ended at Cardiff on Sunday after doing capacity business at nine venues. There are no plans at present for another tour in the new year. […]
From Melody Maker – December 18, 1965
NEIL ASPINALL, THE BEATLES’ ROAD MANAGER CONTINUES HIS DIARY
TUESDAY, 7th DECEMBER (CONTINUED)
The boys stayed up until well after three in the morning at the Midland Hotel in Manchester. They spent four hours with producer Walter Shenson discussing plans for their next movie. It was at this meeting that the boys made their final decision not to use the existing script based on the story of A Talent For Loving. They admitted they were not totally against the idea of a comedy-type Western but they wanted something with a less complicated plot. Paul was enthusiastic about trying something involving a big robbery of some sort.
In any event, all four Beatles agreed with Walter that they wanted to play four individual personalities. They didn’t mind keeping the names John, Paul, George and Ringo, but they were all for finding a script which would let them play four entirely different parts instead of being Beatles.
By about two o’clock everyone was hungry. George telephoned room service and tried to get cornflakes.
“They can’t do it,” he reported. “They say the food is all locked up.”
“I’ll have a go,” said Paul and he asked for fruit salad. They couldn’t do that either. So all of us finished up with jugs of hot chocolate and plates of sandwiches. […]
From Fabulous208 – August 6, 1966
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.
Notice any inaccuracies on this page? Have additional insights or ideas for new content? Or just want to share your thoughts? We value your feedback! Please use the form below to get in touch with us.
