PAST TIMES

CASEY COOPER-FISKE CHECKS OUT MUSICIANS IN THE MOVIES AS CHARLI XCX TAKES TO THE BIG SCREEN WITH HER NEW MOCKUMENTARY THE MOMENT

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BANDS are no stranger to the big screen. From the lighthearted fun of The Spice Girls' Spice World movie, to the absurd surrealism of The Monkees' Head, through to the darkness of Privilege, starring original Manfred Mann singer Paul Jones, plenty of pop stars have had a go at acting.

As British singer Charli XCX plays herself in upcoming mockumentary The Moment, about a rising pop star navigating fame and the pressures of the music industry, we look at other films featuring much-loved musicians.

A HARD DAY'S NIGHT (1964) HELP! (1965)

The Beatles play themselves in both films with A Hard Day's Night perfectly documenting the euphoria of Beatlemania.

The 1964 movie opens with a scene of the Fab Four - John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr - evading hordes of fans chasing them as they board a train to London to film a TV concert, with the title track playing in the background.

In the film the band is looked after by strict manager Norm, who was said to be based on their real-life manager Brian Epstein and who can be seen tasking The Beatles with replying to piles of fan mail and attending mundane parties.

Steptoe and Son star Wilfrid Brambell joins the adventure as Paul's "very clean" grandad.

Help! is much more far-fetched and sees the group trying to protect Ringo from a cult and a couple of mad scientists, who attempt to steal a sacrificial ring given to the drummer by a fan.

PRIVILEGE (1967)