Birth of the Beatles is a 1979 American biographical film, produced by Dick Clark Productions and directed by Richard Marquand.

[1] The film starts in 1961, when the Silver Beatles (as they were then called) consisted of John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Stuart Sutcliffe.

The band finds a long-term drummer in Pete Best, whose mother owns the teenagers' hangout spot The Casbah Coffee Club.

While searching for the paperwork to release George, Paul and Pete drop a candle that sets fire to the Bambi Kino, and the whole band is deported.

The downbeat Beatles struggle at home with their disapproving families, but gradually their reputation grows; they play shows that fill the concert halls.

They experience the same level of success as during the first trip, but Stu, a talented painter, wants to leave the group and attend art school and marry Astrid.

Back in Britain, the owner of the NEMS Records Shop, Brian Epstein, is alerted that the Beatles are causing quite a stir in Liverpool with their performances at the Cavern Club.

The film ends when the group arrives in America and performs on The Ed Sullivan Show to a mass of screaming fans, singing "I Want to Hold Your Hand".

[2][3] The guitar and vocal parts for John Lennon were performed by Eddie Lineberry, Paul McCartney by Chuck Coffey, George Harrison by Bill Connearney, and Ringo Starr by Steve Wight.

[1] The film has been said to reflect Best's personal account of certain events, and shows some evidence of bias, namely implying that Best was terminated from the band because of their resentment toward Best's popularity in Liverpool at the time.

The film received modest ratings when it premiered on American television, and was repeated in January 1981, as a tribute to John Lennon in the weeks after his murder.