The John Lennon connection!

Just around the corner from our apartment here in Almeria sits a statue of John Lennon strumming his guitar, we wondered why?

Lennon, taking a break from the Beatles in the autumn of '66, was asked to play a part in Richard Lester's film 'How I Won the War'. 

It was filmed in a number of locations which included here in the  desert in Almeria province. It's said he started composing Strawberry Fields Forever while staying in a villa, the 'Finca de Santa Isabel', on the outskirts of the city and this is what the statue pays tribute to.

The villa where he stayed had quite a chequered history before it became a popular rental location for members of the film industry who were filming on location around Almeria province. It was rented to film directors, Rainer Fassbinder and David Lean, actors such as Peter O'Toole and of course John Lennon in '66. It was also used as a film set itself. By the 1980s, the house  had fallen into disrepair before being abandoned. 

It would take until the late 1990's before a plan to bring new life to the villa would evolve and the idea of reincarnating it as the 'Casa del Cine de Almería' a cultural centre dedicated to the role played by the city and province of Almería in the international film industry as a natural set for filming. It eventually opened its doors at the beginning of 2011.

We had been working our way through the many visitor attractions in the city and decided even although it was a 40 minute walk there and back to the villa, which is a bit out of the centre of the city, that the John Lennon connection meant we (I) had to go.

Would have to say was a little disappointed with the content but could see what they are trying to do. They have a room dedicated to him with memorabilia from his time spent here. Lennon had spent most of his six weeks of filming at the villa with his then with Cynthia and was visited by Ringo so the city has recognized the potential as a tourist attraction for Beatles fans. Incidentally Lennon who normally wore contact lenses was asked to wear glasses for his role in the movie, who knew they would ultimately become part of his iconic image! 

The museum takes advantage of the region's contribution to cinematic history. Many fine actors have graced the region while filming and its desert has been the backdrop to some major films of the 'Spaghetti Western' genre plus many others.

We did manage to get Pauline a role in Lawrence of Arabia so in the end the long walk was worth it!