In 1959, Brian Epstein turned a shelf in the rear of his family’s furniture shop into the biggest music store in Liverpool, England. He knew how to find and sell what kids wanted.
“Music isn’t just what we listen to. It’s who we are,” says Epstein in “Midas Man,” the biographical film about the manager of The Beatles.
The Houston Jewish Film Festival is screening “Midas Man” on Sunday, March 22, at 7 p.m., in the Kaplan Theatre at the Evelyn Rubenstein JCC.
Jacob Fortune-Lloyd, who plays the role of Brian Epstein, is a British Jewish actor.
Brian was there at the beginning. It’s during a visit to a scruffy local club, The Cavern, in 1961, where Brian first experiences The Beatles in person. He recognizes their music and their charm. Most of all, he understands the effect they have on young girls.
He pitches himself as the band’s manager. Brian promises John Lennon, “You will never find anyone who will work harder for you than me.”
Brian attempted to get The Beatles signed to a record label. After The Beatles are turned down by Decca Records, second largest label in the UK at the time, Brian swears to label heads, “My boys will be bigger than Elvis.” Decca executives laugh at him.
Although he feels like he’s failed the band, Brian’s mother encourages him. After being turned away by all major British record labels, Brian meets with George Martin at Parlophone Records. Martin tells Brian the band needs to get rid of drummer Peter Best. Brian does so, and the band members replace him with Ringo Starr.
Brian has his own challenges. He’s gay at a time when homosexuality was illegal in England.
Brian wants The Beatles to achieve global stardom. That means polishing the band’s image by replacing jeans and leather jackets with sharp suits. He began booking The Beatles to better venues and bigger crowds.
Then began The Beatles conquest of America. Brian does that by getting the band booked on “The Ed Sullivan Show” for three straight weeks. At 8 p.m. on the evening of Feb. 9, 1964, 73 million people tuned in to CBS and “The Ed Sullivan Show” to see The Beatles.
As The Beatles achieved worldwide success, Brian’s personal life started to slide. His reliance on a mixture of pills increased. This was, after all, the 1960s. His homosexuality remained a closely guarded secret but proved troublesome as illustrated in the film.
Brian died in 1967. A coroner’s inquest ruled death was due to an accidental overdose of sleeping pills.
“Midas Man” makes a powerful argument for the centrality of Brian’s role as “the fifth Beatle.”
For tickets, go to erjcchouston.org/filmfest.