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'Inside the Fifth Beatle' Explores Fab Four Manager Brian Epstein's Life

Beatles Manager Brian EpsteinWhile the Beatles left behind countless iconic images and performances in addition to their music, do you ever wonder where their signature style came from? The answer is Brian Epstein, whom Paul McCartney famously called "the fifth Beatle." While Epstein was slowly shaping the band's sound, the Fab Four's onetime manager also influenced their famous fashions -- most notably those signature matching suits.

Using archived footage from the foursome's heyday plus interviews with peers and family members, the documentary 'Brian Epstein - Inside the Fifth Beatle,' is one of the best primers for Epstein's vast contributions to the Beatles. Beginning with his start as a record store owner to his untimely death in 1967, the film could be seen as evidence that Epstein was just as influential on the band as its actual members. "That guy could smell a hit record," his assistant Alistair Taylor says in the film, "even though he didn't like pop music."

For an in-depth look at one of rock history's most important yet unheralded figures, be sure to check out the documentary after the jump, courtesy of our friends at SnagFilms.

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Gil

Nobody would have cared much about Hare Krishnas, "Mull of Kintyre" or primal therapy had these curiousities arisen from persons other than the Beatles.

Yes, they sounded great and wrote great music but so did Ray Davies and Pete Townshend. Brian's stamp on the Beatles was the image. While the moptops came from Stu Sutcliffe's German friends, the suits and the professionalism enabled the Beatles to get a foot in the door where other leather-clad rockers would have been shown the door. By making them put their best foot forward, the talent could likewise come forward.

November 05 2009 at 10:32 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
harold

So where does one see this film?
I am so grateful to Brian and his sense that the Beatles were indeed FAB! Thank you Brian. R.I.P.

October 30 2009 at 4:31 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Joel G.

What a well done film. The quality of the interviews are tops and the characters involved at least dwell on the history and not personal gossip.
Hooray for Brian.

October 29 2009 at 8:21 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Amy

If anyone should be called the 5th Beatles, it should be George Martin or Geoff Emerick... TRUE geniuses that changed and adapted the Beatles sound... even more so after Brian departed.

October 29 2009 at 8:16 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Barb

Brian did not have anything to do with shaping their sound. In fact he was rudely kicked out of the recording studio one day by John.

October 29 2009 at 4:11 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
1 reply to Barb's comment
Max Shapiro

Listen to some really early Beatles before Brian Epstein was in the picture. They sucked! Literally. George Harrison was the only Beatle with any real talent. Paul wanted to be in a band so badly and all for the girls (Pete Best will tell you that) John was an angry homophobic so it's not surprising he "rudely" kicked Brian out of the studio. Brian wrote a book about his adventures with The Beatles and hadn't thought of a name of the book at the time. John quickly spoke up and said; "How about Queer Jew". John was pissed at the world in the early days. And Ringo was just one of those guys that was in the right place at the right time. He was lucky dude. Now with that all said and regardless who shaped who, The Beatles were a great band togther. I doubt there is, or ever will be, a band that has what The Beatles had. btw, John was my second favorite Beatle. As he got older he seemed to mellow and seemed more laid back. So unfortunate his untimely death, he still had a lot of music left in him.

November 25 2009 at 3:47 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply