Beatles silent Scottish film fails to sell

Rare silent film footage of The Beatles in Scotland in 1964 has failed to sell at auction.

The two-and-a-half minute film was put up for sale at Cameo Auctioneers in Midgham, Berkshire. The lot was expected to fetch £8-12,000, and was sold with copyright. However, it failed to reach its reserve price of £4,800.

The 8mm footage was shot in 1964 during The Beatles’ tour of Scotland. It features the group and their entourage at the Four Seasons Hotel in St Fillans on the banks of Loch Earn.

They arrived at the hotel late on Monday 19 October 1964 following a performance in Edinburgh. They stayed for two nights, and on Tuesday 20 October played a show in Dundee. Cameo Auctioneers said the film was believed to be the only surviving footage of The Beatles’ stay at the venue.

We are all shocked and stunned. We have no idea why the film did not sell. We have always sold things like this in the past and they have sold really well.

For some reason today we did not get the interest we expected, despite the fact that this is a really unique and unusual piece.