Filming Help!: pub scene and Grammy presentation at Twickenham (28 April 1965)

April 26, 2026

Filming: Help! – Pub scene & Grammy presentation

Wednesday 28 April 1965 | Film Production | Twickenham Film Studios, London

Overview

On 28 April 1965, The Beatles continued production on their second feature film Help! at Twickenham Film Studios, completing two distinct sequences: a pub interior scene and an on-set Grammy Award presentation by actor Peter Sellers.

Directed by Richard Lester and produced by Walter Shenson, Help! was shot in colour and featured location shoots across the Bahamas, the Austrian Alps, and Salisbury Plain, alongside studio work at Twickenham.

Morning: Unused Sequence

The morning session completed an unused sequence featuring comedian Frankie Howerd and actress Wendy Richard, following earlier filming on 22–23 April. The sequence was ultimately cut from the final film.

Afternoon: The Pub Scene

The afternoon session filmed the interior pub scene, which culminates in one of the film's most memorable physical comedy moments: Ringo Starr's trapdoor gag, in which his character falls through a cellar trapdoor during the sequence. The scene was part of the film's escalating slapstick narrative surrounding the cult's pursuit of the sacrificial ring stuck on Ringo's finger.

Grammy Presentation

During filming, actor Peter Sellers arrived on set at Twickenham to present The Beatles with their Grammy Awards for 1964 achievements. The informal ceremony was filmed on set and included an impromptu performance of It's A Long Way To Tipperary.

The awards presented included:

Best Performance by a Vocal Group – for A Hard Day's Night
Best New Artist

Despite multiple nominations, The Beatles did not win in several major categories that year, including Record of the Year and Song of the Year.

Production Context

Help! marked a transition in The Beatles' screen presence, moving from the naturalistic, documentary-influenced style of A Hard Day's Night into more surreal, location-heavy storytelling. The film was released on 29 July 1965 and premiered at the London Pavilion.

Filming Location

FAQs

Who presented the Grammy Awards on set?

Actor Peter Sellers arrived at Twickenham Film Studios to present the awards informally on set.

Which Grammys did The Beatles receive?

Best Performance by a Vocal Group (for A Hard Day's Night) and Best New Artist.

What was the pub scene about?

It featured Ringo Starr's character falling through a trapdoor into a cellar — part of the film's slapstick chase narrative involving a cult pursuing a sacrificial ring stuck on Ringo's finger.

Who were Frankie Howerd and Wendy Richard in Help!?

They appeared in a sequence filmed on 28 April that was ultimately cut from the final film.

Editorial Note

The Grammy presentation on the Help! set captures a uniquely informal moment in Beatles history — major industry recognition delivered mid-production, in a film studio, by one of Britain's most celebrated comic actors.

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