Flora's Memoire

WONDERFUL TONIGHT – Pattie Boyd Memoir Historical Investigation

By Florentina Krupa

Primary Source 1) It is a photo by Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images

2) I chose this picture because it is the beginning of her real ―adventures‖ in her life, when she married one of the Beatles (George Harrison), her life got on from that point. I also love how both of them look so happy in this picture.

Secondary Source 1) The Morton report ―Pattie Boyd – Rock‘s most Beautiful Muse‖ http://www.themortonreport.com/entertainment/music/pattie-boydrocks-most-beautiful-muse/ 2) Its a report about Pattie Boyd‘s life from the perspective of a person that‘s just observing it. It explained her life situation from someone who wasn‘t in her life. It‘s interesting to see how different the events are from the point of view of another person.

The article isn‘t as detailed, but it‘s still quite accurate. For example, them stating the Beatles part of her life: ―Pattie Boyd was the face of the '60s. Her blonde hair, deep bangs, long legs, and perfect pout got her on magazine covers and snared her a bit part in the Beatles' first film, A Hard Day's Night. She met George Harrison on the very first day of filming, and he asked her out—thinking that she looked exactly like Brigitte Bardot.

She married the quiet Beatle, living a rarified life that few of us will ever experience. Boyd not only is famous for her iconic beauty, but for introducing the Fab Four to Maharishi Mahesh Yogi and also for leaving Harrison for his best friend Eric Clapton and inspiring some of rock's most heart-torn classics like Harrison's ‗Something,‘ ‗I Need You,‘ and Clapton's ‗Layla‘ and ‗Wonderful Tonight.‘‖

Review It starts with Pattie Boyd‘s childhood with her Grandparents in Kenya.

She moves to England to a boarding school. She has a hard childhood without her father and mother only with her brothers and sisters to support her. After university she went to her modelling career where she met George Harrison, on the filming set of ―A hard day‘s night‖. After a lot of time, they married. But their marriage lasted quite shortly. After their trip to India, George started to act different. He became obsessed with Krishna, and by the end of their relationship he was meditating for hours and didn‘t ever talk to her. Eric Clapton, a friend of instantly fell in love with Pattie, so after 4 years of constant emotional pain and Eric‘s letters she fell. She left George. Her and Clapton married. He always had trouble expressing his feeling by words; all that could help him was alcohol and music. Clapton had treatment he obviously needed. After the treatment he became closed in, never talked to Pattie. They divorced after 5 years.

2 Reasons I Think You‘ll Enjoy This memoire is written in an easy-to-read and in a good language. Her childhood is very interesting (she was in Kenya as a child) and you learn a lot about general atmosphere of those years in England. I especially like this quote ―London was like that in the 1960‘s. You spoke to strangers and invited them back to your flat without thinking twice.‖ (46, Pattie Boyd).

Reason The general atmosphere of the 60‘s and on is very interesting, different from today so it‘s interesting to read.

You see a lot of the lives of the Beatles, their inspirations and people related to them.

Evidence from the book ―London was like that in the 1960‘s. You spoke to strangers and invited them back to your flat without thinking twice.‖ (46, Pattie Boyd). o They went to India with a meditating guru called Maharishi. They were meditating for 7 hours or more, some of them (Ringo Starr) couldn‘t stand it though. o You learn a lot about their friends and their manager (Brian Epstein) o John Lennon and Yoko Ono o Their crazy fans o Their business o Their families o Pattie Boyd‘s childhood

A Hard Day's Night

I woke up to the usual sound of the Chelsea traffic and my alarm clock ringing into my ear. Mary Bee, my friend, was sharing the flat with me. I glanced out of the window just to find out that it was another day of the ordinary cold cloudy weather, but at least it wasn't raining like yesterday. Mary Bee was still fast asleep after that club she had gone to last night. I, too, looked exhausted; I was working late every day.

I dragged myself out of bed and threw a pillow at Mary Bee's head.

"Wake up Mary," I groaned.

It didn't work so I wound up my alarm clock and held it right above her ear. It rang making her jump.

"Are you out of your mind?!" She screamed at me, pushing me back onto my bed.

"It's 6: 40, about time you woke up. You don't want to be late for your session with Mary Quant," I replied.

Marry was a model too, working for the famous designer Mary Quant. I pulled on a silk blouse. It was turquoise and went with my colourful hippie skirt and tights. I went to the bathroom. I put on my makeup - some relatively light tones, sky blue mixed with pale pink and silver. I quickly did my hair and rushed down for breakfast.

As usual I had nothing more than a cup of tea. I grabbed my bag, it was so heavy I could

barely carry it. Inside were stacks of books, binders and papers. I hurriedly looked through them and left the ones I didn't need. I was about to go out the door when I noticed something felt wrong.

It took me a while to realize that I wasn't wearing any shoes. I put on a pair of bright yellow heels. Expensive shoes were my weakness and my salary wasn't high. If I treated myself a gorgeous pair, I wouldn't have dinner for two weeks straight. Next, I noticed that I wasn't wearing any jewellery; as a model I would get severely criticized for not adding accessories when the outfit obviously needed something to complete it. So I darted to the jewellery box and picked out a strand of light pearls.

Now I was ready to go. Glancing at the wall clock, I realized it was 7: 05 and that I was going to be late. I sprinted to the elevator, and to my luck, there was a sign that it was temporarily out of order. Cursing this day, I raced down the ruined stairs, almost killing myself by tripping in my heels. When I finally stumbled onto the sidewalk, I caught the nearest bus. After a tedious 30-minute ride I arrived at the. I was working with a photographer called Dudley Harris. I rushed through the small door and into the cabinet.

It was placed on the rooftop, so there was a great view. I was working for a photographer called Dudley Harris. I rushed into the cabinet. It was placed on the rooftop, so there was a great view. You could see all the roofs of Chelsea, and the traffic that surrounded them. “Hey Dudley.� I greeted him as I threw my bag on the floor, next to his chair.

He smiled, “Hey, ready for taking some photos?”

For about two hours I was working non-stop. Then my phone rang. It was Cherry Marshall, my current manager.

"Pattie, you have an appointment made for a casting. Park Lane, Hilton Hotel at one o'clock. Don't be late." Then she disconnected. It wasn't unusual for her; Cherry was always very decisive.

When I arrived at the casting, I saw the usual sight: Models clutching their portfolios and putting on makeup. When my turn came, I was surprised to find a man I knew among the judges. It was Dick Lester, the man who had helped with my popularity by putting me into a chips’ commercial. I asked him what the casting was for, but he wouldn't drop a clue.

After the auditions I found out that the casting was for a Beatles film. I was shocked, a movie was the last thing I expected, but Cherry kept telling me that this was an opportunity that every model dreams of. The Beatles were at the top of their career having conquered England, Sweden, Italy, Spain and France; they were also starting at America. I was terrified; I wasn't an actress, I couldn't speak in front of cameras. I told Cherry I couldn't do it but she insisted. I had to agree, or she would make me.

The filming was held at a train station about 10 minutes away from London. The video for was "A Hard Days' Night". I was sitting on the train in a tiny compartment with 3 other models, making our way to the shot. Suddenly the train stopped at a small station. It was abandoned aside four figures. The men, Paul, John, Ringo and George, jumped onto the

train and bounced into our compartment to introduce themselves. They were the most delightful people to be around, funny, silly and sweet. At each scene one of them would mess up their lines or trip and fall, it was impossible not to laugh. Finally, we managed to somehow get the video filmed. After the hours of filming (in which I was informed that I didn't have to say anything) the crew and us sat down to have dinner with the Beatles.

That whole evening was electrifying because I sat next to George Harrison, and it seemed that all my worries lift me for that evening. We hardly dared to speak to each other, both of us being very shy people. During one of our few intimate conversations during dinner George said "Marry me." I laughed at it, thinking it was merely one of his many jokes. Little did I know he was being serious...

References

Getty Images. George Harrison and Pattie Boyd - honeymoon Barbados. Digital image. Web. 11/10/2012 n.d..

Uhelszki, Jaan. "Pattie Boyd: Rock's Most Beautiful Muse." N.p., 2011. Web. 15/10/2012. [http://www.themortonreport.com/entertainment/music/pattie-boyd-rocks-most-beautiful-muse/].