An Accidental Studio is the story of HandMade Films, the production company set up by Beatle George Harrison and his business partner Denis O'Brien, which produced or distributed Monty Python's Life of Brian, Time Bandits, The Long Good Friday, Withnail and I, and Mona Lisa. We discuss George's contribution and what it says about his creative instincts. He seems to have been very happy to trust creative people with more film expertise than he to make the films. Was this good creative sense or commercial naivety? What does the film tell us about Denis O'Brien, whom George later sued for financial mismanagement, and about investors wanting to make creative decisions?

• If you're in the UK you can currently watch An Accidental Studio on ITVX: https://www.itv.com/watch/an-accidental-studio/10a6252a0001B. If not, you can rent it very cheaply on various platforms.
• A playlist of the songs recorded by George Harrison for the soundtracks of Time Bandits and Shanghai Surprise, later used mainly on Cloud Nine. https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL6VJrPcjROto7LZO6-CVzJtcqAp4osHVk

The Beatles Films Podcast is hosted by Matt Looker and Ed Williamson. We're both film writers and Beatles fans. Between us we've written for TheShiznit.co.uk, Total Film, Den of Geek and Virgin Media.

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