Up Periscope Yellow: The Making of the Beatles' Yellow Submarine

If you're curious about the genesis of the movie Yellow Submarine you're well advised to buy both UP PERISCOPE YELLOW and INSIDE THE YELLOW SUBMARINE. If you've read other reviews here, you'll know UP PERISCOPE YELLOW is a first person account by the producer, Al Brodax; and INSIDE THE YELLOW SUBMARINE (see my review of this excellent book also) by Dr. Bob Hieronumus, Ph.D., is an anthology of keen insight and probing interviews with a number of core artists whose creative genius built and sailed the Sub into our Collective Consciousness forever. Each book is written from a different perspective. Until more volumes from Al and Dr. Bob (and even we the crew) are forthcoming, these two vital books will serve as comprehensive 'bookends' for your Yellow Submarine reference shelf. UP PERSICOPE YELLOW recaptures those wild, zany, chaotic, heart-racing days of creative frenzy during the Sub's construction. Moreover, Al Brodax's account begins BEFORE the Sub was even a yellow and orange gleam in any of the crew's eyes. As well as providing a fascinating and hilarious back story of what led to the concept of the movie itself, he accompanies you through the whole process of production from the producer's perspective. Whether your cinematic interest is animation or live action, this lightning narrative zaps you through high-flying moves, fancy footwork and the 'thinking on your feet' involved in producing a unique feature film; from initial concept to the megastress of rights negotiation, sales, budgets, deadlines, navigating minefields of egos; and out of the chaos, delivering a finished film--even to tweaking the projector controls at the Grand Premiere, with an additionally hilarious account of how to 'imprint' a missing copyright notice on the film emulsion when it's in the projector ready to roll! (You have to read the book to find this one!) Al's swashbuckling talent with hyperbole lends a 'you are there' breathless excitement and zany hilarity to his recapturing of those 'London '60's Days' on Yellow Submarine. The book shows a sensitive side, revealing his personal angst, agonies, ecstasies and sorrow involved during the film's production (tragic, early death of a vital and cherished work associate). This will surprise many who believe the stereotype of flinty, unfeeling, humorless producers. Brodax shares his full emotions in this book. As an aside, we crew were very cramped for desk space at TVC. Fellow animator Tom Halley and I were stationed at animation desks in a small office, which contained a third desk (with phone) that was 'time-shared' by Al Brodax, Abe Goodman and various TVC management personnel. It was a unique perspective as a humble Y.Sub. deckhand-animator,(think: Jack Lemmon's Ensign Pulver in the movie, 'Mister Roberts') occupying a desk beside the officers on the bridge, trying to block out the chaos and concentrate on drawing. It was also a great place to observe firsthand what was involved minute by minute, day by da

Up Periscope Yellow is a brilliant, accurate, and highly enlightening labor of love, penned, not by someone who studied Yellow Submarine, but instead by the helmsman who sailed the Sub and then gave this film to the world. Al Brodax peels away the onion skin that has long obscured the true heart of creation here. In doing so, he reveals discord, passion, guts, sweat, 1960s chemistry, absurd deadlines, stress, more stress, and in Al's words, "pink seas of Pepto- Bismol." Beyond remarkable, never-before-published anecdotes about life within the tsunami of talent that was and is the Beatles, George Martin, designer / genius Heinz Edelmann, and all the rest, this fast-paced narrative will instantly sweep you into a time machine and back to the British Invasion and the Summer of Love. And all of this from a producer who knows the power of music, lights and darks, the classics, Pepperland, the real Blue Meanies (Al was wounded at the Battle of the Bulge--that's World War II for you youngsters), freedom, redemption, and dreams of world peace. Oh yeah, if you're a kid who's into video or film production, this is, in my humble opinion required reading : }

Up Periscope Yellow is simply brilliant. A must read for most anybody. Its smashing review from Publishers Weekly is most deserved. In a kind of stream-of-consciousness style, Brodax weaves the story of the making of this classic motion picture. There is high drama (Brits v/s Yanks-suits v/s artists) The sudden proximity in a very condensed period of time of artists from all over the world...England, Spain, Australia, Canada, America. It addresses the anxiety of walking a production tightrope; limited funds, limited time. It's funny, dramatic, most of all authentic. The reader, via the author, gets to know the Beatles off stage, during their many impromptu visits to the studio, at home, at lunch, in the local pub...etc. The book is also a must read for any film student aspiring to become a producer. It's an extraordinary visit behind the creation of the film. Bravo!

Wonderful, stunning book, a great read. Publisher's Weekly was right on, "the author writes with AUTHORITY at a breezy clip" Glorious to sepnd time with the Beatles 'off stage' Paul's home, lunches and just schmoozing with John and George. Enjoying Ringo, his intelligent very dry wit. And the thrilling 'take' on the political bobbing and weaving it took to mount the production in the first instance.This talented international band of artists and co-writer Erich Segal produced an iconic animated motion picture and must be delighted by Brodax's rendering of its story.The other New York City writer who damned the book so vehemently could very well be one of the many writers who didn't make the cut. His knowledge seems so 'inside', so detailed, his rage so Homeric.Get over it! Catch the Triplets of Belleville. Get some sleep.