Midas Man - Brian Epstein Biopic with Insider Beatles Stories and Punny Patio Party

Films

Aug 13

The August 7 White Mountain Jewish Film Festival screened “Midas Man,” a profile of Brian Epstein, the man who created the Beatles and the modern rock show. A warm night, a great turnout, an engaging speaker and a Beatle’s themed food spread made the evening.

Guest speaker Erik Taros sporting a replica George Harrison’s famous shirt.

Guest speaker Erik Taros entertained the crowd with a stream of insider stories about the film’s three directors, the true story of John Lennon’s reaction to being teased about having a “honeymoon” with Epstein, topics the movie neglected to cover, and his conjectures about how the Beatles’ careers would have developed had Brian Epstein lived. He also explained why a Beatles movie had no Beatles songs (the royalties are killer, nobody can afford to pay for the rights.)

As a lead up to the film, Fred Apple, in the North Country Community Radio DJ booth, interviewed Erik during his show. Fred got Erik to name his favorite Beatle (Stu Sutcliffe), conjecture on why the Beatles broke up (Brian’s death threw them into disarray, and lawyers got involved), and reveal how ‘George liked the ladies’ nearly destroyed the relationship between George and Ringo.

Patio party hosts Jacki Katzman, Melissa Potter, Marcia Okun, Elaine and Rob French had too much fun creating a menu and related posters that spoofed on Beatles’ song titles: Yellow Submarine egg salad and tuna sandwiches; An octopus garden of veggies; Here come the scones, savory, sweet and gluten-free; a Lucy in the Sky with Guinness chocolate cake; Her Majesty’s Pretty Nice Strawberry Fields Trifle. Lynn and Jitzchak Alster made guest appearances at the bar, last minute substitutes for Debbie, laid up with a bad foot, and Jay Johnson. Brenna Nicely, Colonial Manager, was on hand to restart the film when it stalled at a critical moment.

The film captured Epstein’s business and style mastery that created the Beatles, his vulnerabilities and naiveté as a homosexual in 1960s Britain, his family’s simultaneous support and disapproval, and the hard-driving life that ended in a drug overdose and death at 31.