I have to wonder why Lennon was given the line "The days of mutual masturbation are gone, Pete." The possibility of him being gay was brought up and rejected years ago. Also, why the negative attitude toward Brian Epstein? I don't remember that in previous Beatle biopics.
shareThe film had a negative attitude toward Epstein? I didn't sense that. Lennon had some ambivalence towards him apparently.
shareI used a poor choice of words in my post. I was remembering a scene from an earlier Beatles biopic where Epstein had been outed by gay bashers. John, or Paul, I'm not sure now which, very tenderly said "Brian, there's nothing wrong with anything between two people that's loving." Anyway, I seem to recall all the Beatles being very supportive of Brian when it happened.
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Interesting. I do recall hearing that Brian always had a crush on John. I was wondering where you read or heard the bit about group masturbation
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According to The Beatles Biography Brian liked bad boys and John sensed this, and kinda took advantage of it. That book also said that they would pick on Brian in a teasing kind of younger brother way, but if anyone else tried they would all defend him. It was a way we can pick on him cause he's one of us, but you can't.
shareAt the beginning of this film, as Lennon and Epstein were in the car, Lennon hinted to the driver that he and Epstein were "very much so" (i.e., something was going on between them). It was mostly supposed to be a joke by Lennon, but a joke that may have had some factual basis. There is also a film about the relationship of Lennon and Epstein, The Hours and Times. So, there is a lot of speculation still around, although both men are long dead.
shareVery late reply to this - sorry.
In his book - The Beatles, Lennon, and Me - Pete Shotton tells of a few instances where he, John, and other boys would stand in a circle and masturbate and take turns calling out the name of some attractive movie star as inspiration. On one occasion John cracked them all up by shouting out: "Winston Churchill". John later contributed the incident as a skit to the Broadway Production: Oh! Calcutta!
I don't know that I would necessarily characterize a group of boys masturbating as "gay" - certainly Lennon and Shotton didn't think it was.