Bruce Johnston Movies
Imagination is a live performance video interspersed with interviews with music legend Brian Wilson, and other artists who worked with him or were influenced by him. Wilson, the singer/songwriter powerhouse that drove the Beach Boys to fame and fortune, released his new album of the same name in 1998. This groundbreaking effort is a testament to Wilson's continued musical genius, and revitalized career after long years of personal struggle. The closed-captioned video features Wilson singing with a band composed of such rock greats as Timothy B. Schmitt of the Eagles, as well as Bruce Johnson and Joe Thomas of the Beach Boys. Beach Boy classics, penned by Wilson, are in the repertoire : "California Girls", "In My Room", "Don't Worry Baby". Notable selections in the new material are "South America", and "Your Imagination".Guest stars include Christopher Cross, Jimmy Buffett, Stevie Wonder, Eric Claptan, Elvis Costello, and Glen Campbell. Great performances and great film making combine to make Imagination an inspiration. ~ Rose of Sharon Winter, All Movie Guide
- 1992
In the first episode of a two-part story, everyone in the Tanner household suffers when Michelle (played by the Olsen twins) tries to win a cooking merit badge. Meanwhile, Danny balks at giving DJ permission to study in Spain during the summer. And in a last-chance effort to insure the saleability of his music video, Jesse receives some stellar backup support from "Beach Boys" Mike Love and Bruce Johnston. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1985
- PG13
This documentary was authorized by the Beach Boys (and their lawyers, more than likely), so the film steers clear of the band's already well-publicized internal problems, focusing solely on their music. The band is covered (via live concert footage and clips from TV variety shows and specials) from their early years up until the mid-'80s. Also shown are some clips from the movies they appeared in, such as Girls on the Beach, and some footage that was cut from The T.A.M.I. Show. Brian Wilson is interviewed (in his bed) from a 1976 television special, and there is also some footage from a German and a Czech concert tour. ~ Brian Gusse, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Mike Love
- 1982
In a careful, step-by-step manner, this documentary traces the lives and careers of the Beatles from childhood to breakup. The post-Beatle lives of John, Paul, George and Ringo are gingerly touched upon in the film's closing sequences, with emphasis given the senseless 1980 murder of John Lennon. Through rare family photos, early home movies and TV kinescopes we are shown the matriculation of the Beatles from a bedraggled punk group to a well-tailored, mop-topped foursome under the aegis of Brian Epstein. We are also briefly introduced to might-have-been Beatles Stu Sutcliffe and Pete Best. George Martin, the producer who oversaw such late-1960s Beatles projects as Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band, reveals several intriguing trade secrets and wonderful bits of backstage gossip. By incorporating shots of Beatles merchandising, imitation groups, and the ear-piercing reactions of the Fab Four's fans (as well as several shots of disillusioned young ladies during the team's waning years), the amazing impact of the foursome on the 1960s music industry is forcefully brought home. Malcolm McDowell narrates this priceless pop-culture montage. The Complete Beatles was originally produced for home video by MGM/United Artists, the company which in 1982 held the video rights for the Beatles flicks A Hard Day's Night and Help. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Gerry Marsden
- 1978
- PG
- Add Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band to QueueAdd Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band to top of Queue
Pop star Peter Frampton and the Bee Gees star in this musical, loosely based on the popular 1967 Beatles album Sergeant Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band. In the story, Billy Shears, who now heads the Lonely Hearts Club Band, is the grandson of the famous Sergeant Pepper. He is confronted by the need to save the magical musical instruments of the band from the bad guys, led by music tycoon B.D. Brockhurst (Donald Pleasance), who want to steal them. If they succeed, the magic which infuses "Heartland U.S.A." will disappear. Among the many Beatles' songs performed in the film by well-known popular artists are: "She's Leaving Home" (Bee Gees, Jay MacIntosh, John Wheeler), "Maxwell's Silver Hammer" (Steve Martin), "Got To Get You into My Life (Earth, Wind & Fire), "When I'm 64" (Sandy Farina), "Come Together" (Aerosmith), "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band" (sung by the Bee Gees, Paul Nicholas), "With a Little Help from My Friends" (Peter Frampton, the Bee Gees), "Fixing a Hole" (George Burns), and "Get Back" (Billy Preston). ~ Clarke Fountain, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Peter Frampton, Barry Gibb, (more)
- 1978
Deadman's Curve is a made-for-TV biography concerning "California sound" rock-n-rollers Jan and Dean. Richard Hatch plays Jan Berry, while Bruce Davison is seen as Dean Torrence. The meat of the story is Jan's grueling efforts to fully recover from a disastrous 1966 auto accident. The film's most powerful scene occurs when the still-shaky Jan attempts a concert comeback, only to be booed offstage when the audience realizes that he's lip-synching. First telecast February 3, 1978, Deadman's Curve is seasoned with cameo appearances by Dick Clark, Wolfman Jack, and Beach Boys Mike Love and Bruce Johnson. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1959
This goofy cult classic incorporates the most entertaining elements of AIP's drive-in favorites from the '50s and '60s by taking hot-rodding teen gangs and plunking them down in a haunted-house horror scenario, with a sizable splash of beach blanket antics, pajama parties, and plenty of good old Rock & Roll... not to mention some of the lamest attempts at "hip" comic shtick ever committed to film. The story is incidental, but it allows ample opportunity to showcase the aforementioned ingredients, along with appearances by B-movie veteran Russ Bender, AIP musical fave Jimmie Madden, and future real-life hot-rodder "TV" Tommy Ivo. There's even an appearance from the tennis-shoe-sporting She Creature from the film of the same name... but apparently it's a "He Creature" this time, since the filmmakers have removed the monster's humongous armor-plated breasts. Also known as The Haunted Hot-Rod. ~ Cavett Binion, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jody Fair, Martin Braddock, (more)
