The Rutles: All You Need Is Cash

"A living legend that will live long after other living legends have died."

1978 1h 13m EN

👍

6.8

SOLID

★6.8TMDB · 112

ComedyMusicTV Movie

Synopsis

Spoiler shield

The story of the rise and fall of the Pre-Fab Four.

“A living legend that will live long after other living legends have died.”

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Cast

Eric Idle
Dirk McQuickly/The Narrator/S.J. Krammerhead
Neil Innes
Ron Nasty
Ricky Fataar
Stig O'Hara
John Halsey
Barry Womble
Michael Palin
Eric Manchester
Mick Jagger
Self - Rock Star
George Harrison
The Interviewer (Jimmy “The Wallasey Warbler” Climmer)
John Belushi
Ron Decline

Credits

Behind the camera

Director: Eric Idle
Writers: Eric Idle
Languages: English
Countries: United States of America, United Kingdom

Want more? Switch to Cinephile mode in the header for DP, composer, budget, box office, production companies, keywords, and release history.

Did you know?

Fun facts 🍿

1 / 8

RUNTIME

Did you know

Tight 73-minute runtime — shorter than most television pilots.

MoodPlayr · trivia#01

2 / 8

MONEY

Did you know

Shot for just $0.2M — micro-budget by Hollywood standards.

MoodPlayr · trivia#02

3 / 8

ERA

Did you know

48 years old — old enough to be someone's favourite childhood film.

MoodPlayr · trivia#03

4 / 8

WORLD

Did you know

International production across 2 countries: United States of America, United Kingdom.

MoodPlayr · trivia#04

5 / 8

CINEMA

Did you know

Part of the "The Rutles Collection" — so the characters or world continue elsewhere.

MoodPlayr · trivia#05

6 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Directed by Eric Idle, shot by Gary Weis. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.

MoodPlayr · trivia#06

7 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Original score by Neil Innes. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.

MoodPlayr · trivia#07

8 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Editor Aviva Slesin shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.

MoodPlayr · trivia#08

Cinephile deep dive

The take

Eric Idle directs. Gary Weis behind the camera. Neil Innes scores. Aviva Slesin cuts. Runs lean at under 100 minutes. Produced in United States of America, United Kingdom. Dialogue in English.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

1Tight 73-minute runtime — shorter than most television pilots.
2Shot for just $0.2M — micro-budget by Hollywood standards.
348 years old — old enough to be someone's favourite childhood film.
4International production across 2 countries: United States of America, United Kingdom.
5Part of the "The Rutles Collection" — so the characters or world continue elsewhere.
6Directed by Eric Idle, shot by Gary Weis. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
7Original score by Neil Innes. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
8Editor Aviva Slesin shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
9Eric Idle and Neil Innes and Ricky Fataar carry the top of the cast.
10Marketing tagline: "A living legend that will live long after other living legends have died.".
11IMDB entry: tt0077147 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.

The technical file

Cinematography: Gary Weis
Original score: Neil Innes
Editing: Aviva Slesin
Costume design: Polly Hamilton
Makeup / hair: Elaine Smith
Runtime: 73 min · 1h 13m
Aspect ratio (typical): 1.37:1 (Academy)
Status: Released
Budget: $200,000
Original language: EN
Certification (US): NR
IMDB: The Rutles: All You Need Is Cash (1978)

Part of

The Rutles Collection

A series of documentaries that parody the Beatles and the many serious documentaries made about the band and 'Beatlemania'.

Also by

Eric Idle

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Trailers & featurettes

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Community reviews

What people are saying

Sierbahnn2026-05-01
★ 8/10
It is strange how there are so very very few movies about the the Rutles. They were so instrumental in forming modern music and yet there is only this and a single other movie made about them. It is strange and almost Mandela-effect-esque that there aren't more made, every year, in fact, about these titans of entertainment. The movie itself is stunning, with music in world class, naturally, and in-depth looks into the lives of these icons. I can wholeheartedly recommend it.

Production companies