Widow denies song rights to film about Lennon's return to the Scotland of his childhood
DURING his life she was seen as the gatekeeper to his prodigious talent. Now, 27 years after his death, she is still fiercely guarding his legacy.
Yoko Ono has killed off plans to make a feature film about a visit to Sutherland she made with John
Lennon at the height of their fame. Lawyers for the artist have denied the movie makers the use of Lennon's songs, which were central to the project.
Lennon had fond memories of childhood holidays in the village of Durness and insisted on taking his new wife on a holiday to Scotland in 1969, hoping to escape the pressures of superstardom.
But he crashed while driving in the area and spent five days in a small hospital in Golspie.
Derek Yeaman, a film location manager and writer, pieced together the story and discovered Lennon had struck up an unlikely relationship with the local minister from the Free Church of Scotland.
Glasgow-based Yeaman used the incident as the starting point for Mhari And The Lennons, a fictionalised story about the impact the Beatle's presence had on the local community. He also secured the backing of a top British film producer.
But Ono has refused to support the film and crucially has refused to authorise use of any songs.
Yeaman said: "Apparently her Scottish experience was not a pleasant one and she did not wish to 'go back' to these times, therefore we don't get the blessing we wanted, and also the Lennon 'materials' that would have encouraged the financiers to fund the film."
Peter Shukat, Ono's lawyer, told Scotland on Sunday it was "not the most pleasant event" in the lives of Ono and Lennon and she did not want to stir up "bad memories".
"She felt that the story would not reflect greatly on anybody and she just wasn't real happy with it.
"I certainly can't stop you from making your movie, but we wouldn't authorise the licence of John's music – she controls John's music. And I don't believe without Yoko's approval Sony/ATV would license the Beatles' music."
He said Ono was not prepared to discuss the matter or comment directly. "It's not a matter of commenting. She just doesn't want to be involved in the project."
Yeaman and his producers hope Ono might change her mind. But her lawyer Shukat held out no hope: "The bottom line is it's not something that she wants to be involved with."
Executive producer Nigel Wooll, whose previous credits include Miss Potter, said it would be "very difficult" to get backing for the film without Ono's support and Lennon's songs.
While Ono controls Lennon's solo songs, the Beatles were still together at the time of the visit and had just topped the charts with 'The Ballad Of John And Yoko', Lennon's reflections on marriage, their famous honeymoon "bed-in" for peace and the pressures of fame.
Ownership of Beatles songs lies with Sony/ATV, in which Michael Jackson has a major stake. Jackson's finances have been stretched by recent problems, the company is seeking to increase revenue and recently licensed 'All You Need Is Love' for a nappies commercial.
Use of Beatles songs is extremely expensive and use of original recordings is even dearer and requires permission from the record company as well. I Am Sam, a 2001 film about an obsessive Beatles fan, settled for cover versions after reportedly being quoted £3m for originals.
Sony/ATV chief executive Martin Bandier has acknowledged a "moral obligation" to consult the Beatles and their heirs.
Yeaman said they were also concerned about representation of Lennon and Ono in the film. "Distributors won't fund such projects if there may be an injunction at the premiere," he said.
Will Evans, an entertainment lawyer with 28 years' experience who is currently head of business affairs at the UK Film Council, said there would be a consideration over defamation and privacy.
There is no UK privacy law, but he pointed out that Hilary And Jackie, an Oscar-nominated film about musician Jacqueline du Pré, was never released in France because individuals refused to consent to being portrayed on film.
He said it was impossible to defame a dead person, but Ono was a different matter. He was unsure also whether she might bring an action in the US over unauthorised exploitation of Lennon's name.
Stan Parkes, John Lennon's cousin, said Ono "showed no interest" in Scotland or Durness, and "whipped John off to New York", where she felt more comfortable. Lennon was shot dead by a deranged fan near their Central Park apartment in 1980.
Parkes thought Lennon would have approved of the film. "John had a happy time in the Highlands in his early life… It's a great shame."
He said Lennon was determined to bring Ono to visit relatives in Edinburgh and then go up to the family's crofthouse at Durness, because he "loved" the place and hoped she would share his passion. Parkes himself was doubtful.
"My mother pleaded with my stepfather and myself, 'Please, for John's sake, let him bring Yoko up just once to show her where he spent his childhood.'"
Lennon, Ono, six-year-old Julian Lennon and Ono's five-year-old daughter Kyoko headed off on their own magical mystery tour, eschewing the Rolls for an Austin Maxi.
Lennon had poor eyesight, rarely drove himself and crashed on one of the narrow northern roads. He received 17 stitches for facial injuries and Ono had 14 in her forehead.
Lennon later told reporters: "If you're going to have a car crash, try to arrange for it to happen in the Highlands. The hospital there was just great."
Yeaman is still determined to get the picture made. He said: "The film we want to make is an uplifting one and I just don't think Yoko knows this."
He may rewrite the script to portray Lennon as a passing figure, a presence, in much the same way film-makers traditionally portrayed Christ on screen.
