Archival Paul McCartney and Wings film to be shown in theaters this month; 'Red Rose Speedway' reissue out now

Abramorama, in partnership with MPL/Capitol/UMe, will premiere Paul McCartney’s The Bruce McMouse Show in select theaters around the world on January 21.

The previously never-before seen film that tells the story of how Paul McCartney and Wings came to meet the inimitable impresario Bruce McMouse. Part concert film, part animated feature, The Bruce McMouse Show features footage from Wings’ 1972 European tour, interspersed with animated scenes that introduce a family of mice living under the stage.

After opening the film with ‘Big Barn Bed’ – the camera takes us down through the floorboards into this charming animated world. We see Bruce McMouse regale his children with stories from his past, when son Soily rushes into the room in a whirlwind of excitement announcing that “The Wings” are playing above them.

As the concert plays on, Bruce declares to his wife Yvonne that Paul and the band need his help. Bruce then proceeds to venture on stage to offers his services as producer. As the concert progresses, the animated scenes culminate with dozens of animated mice flocking to the venue to see Wings play. ‘The Bruce McMouse Show’ has been fully restored in 2018 at Final Frame Post alongside a brand-new audio mix (stereo and 5.1) created at AIR Studios where it was also mastered.

Watch a special teaser video here

The film was directed by Barry Chattington and produced by Roger Cherrill with the live elements taken from four shows in The Netherlands and Germany in 1972. Paul viewed the initial concert edit and realized there was great potential in the material captured. Prior to the European tour Paul had the idea of a family of mice and sketched the characters.

Picking up the idea, Eric Wylam took Paul’s sketches and created the final McMouse family. This storyline was incorporated and used as a linking theme within the concert footage. The voice-overs for the animated mice took place at the end of 1973, recorded by Paul and Linda McCartney, Deryck Guyler, Pat Coombs and Derek Nimmo. Production stretched from 1972 through to 1977 when the film was complete, however with changes in the band’s line-up and music scene, the project was held in the MPL archives.

For tickets and information www.BruceMcMouse.com

Cinemas where The Bruce McMouse Show is screening:

US:

New York: IFC Center
Los Angeles: ArcLight, Hollywood
Bethesda: ArcLight Bethesda
Chicago: ArcLight Chicago
Dallas: ANGELIKA
Honolulu: Kahala 8
Nashville: Belcourt Theatre
Phoenix: FilmBar
Sacramento: The Tower Theatre
San Diego: ANGELIKA, Carmel Mountain
San Rafael: San Rafael Film Center
Seattle: SIFF Uptown

UK:
Liverpool: Everyman Cinema Liverpool
London: Everyman Cinema Hempstead

Australia:
Melbourne: Rivoli Cinemas
Perth: Event Cinemas Innaloo
Sydney: Event Cinemas George Street

Canada:
Montreal: Cinéma Banque Scotia Montréal
Toronto: Scotiabank Theatre Toronto
Vancouver: Scotiabank Theatre Vancouver

Last month, Paul McCartney and Wings, Red Rose Speedway, a six-disc (3CD, 2DVD + 1Blu-ray) numbered limited deluxe edition of the second Wings album was released. It originally came out in April 1973 and featured the #1 single ‘My Love.’ Red Rose Speedway was the first Wings album to hit #1 on the U.S. chart. The Red Rose Speedway limited deluxe edition features three discs of audio including the original album remastered at Abbey Road, 35 bonus audio tracks, including a reconstruction of the originally conceived double album version of Red Rose Speedway, singles, B-sides, alternate mixes and previously unreleased tracks.

2DVD + Blu-ray portions of the deluxe have rare and previously unseen footage, including the James Paul McCartney TV Special, interviews and music videos, as well as the never before seen film The Bruce McMouse Show—fully restored and remixed in stereo and 5.1 surround sound.

This package includes a folio containing 14 replica hand drawn original character sketches by Paul and facsimile dialogue sheets for the film, a 128-page book containing many previously unpublished images by Linda McCartney, expanded album and single artwork from the archives and story behind the album — including new interviews with Paul McCartney, and key album personnel — and track-by-track information, written by Amanda Petrusich, five replica handwritten lyric sheets and photo print, a 64-page ‘Wings In Morocco’ photo book, all housed in a numbered outer slipcase. The Red Rose Speedway download redemption card will provide access to all audio in HD 24/96kHz unlimited high-resolution versions.