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?
Watch the film
There's currently a free version on YouTube:
Or if that's gone, if you're in the UK you can currently watch An Accidental Studio on ITVX
Here's a playlist of the songs recorded by George Harrison for the soundtracks of Time Bandits and Shanghai Surprise, later used mainly on Cloud Nine