Who Buried Paul McCartney? (2005)

Directed by: Wouter van Opdorp | 25 minutes | documentary

Director Wouter van Opdorp has only just left the Netherlands Film and Television Academy in 2005 or his documentary Who Buried Paul McCartney? is already shown on the NPS. This documentary seems to be the very first to show the true story behind one of the greatest mysteries in pop history.

Who Buried Paul McCartney? is about the hoax in the 60s that McCartney is said to be dead. Hearing the hidden messages in the records really sends shivers down your spine. It turns out, of course, that it was all made up by an extravagantly dressed cowboy from Michigan. He does not wear the costume that the man in the documentary wears on a daily basis, it is his stage outfit. This cowboy wrote an article at the time with real and made-up clues, which set the rumor mill in motion. Radio stations were constantly called up asking Is McCartney dead?

Opdorp’s intention with the film was to find out where such a mystery comes from, which is why he does not maintain the mystery itself. He unmasks these, as it were, which is a bit of a shame in a way. Although you as a viewer have to admit that it was really all just a big joke, there are still mysteries left, because all those clues, did the Beatles themselves play a role in that? A strong and entertaining documentary, with good use of sound and archive material.