The Story Of John Lennon’s Acting Gig In Germany

On November 6, 1966, John Lennon found himself in an unexpected place—not on a concert stage, but on a movie set in Germany. He became part of the cast of How I Won the War, a dark comedy directed by Richard Lester. This marked the first—and only—time Lennon acted in a film without the rest of The Beatles.

Why Lennon Took the Role

Lennon was approached by Richard Lester, who had previously directed The Beatles in A Hard Day’s Night and Help!. Needing something new to focus on after The Beatles stopped touring, Lennon jumped at the chance. Lennon shared about joining the film:

“There were many reasons for doing it: a) it was Dick Lester and he asked me; b) it was anti-war; and c) I didn’t know what to do because The Beatles had stopped touring and I thought if I stopped and thought about it I was going to have a big bum trip for nine months so I tried to avoid the depression of the change of life by leaping into the movie. The thing I remember is that Dick Lester had more fun than I did.”

Meet Private Gripweed

Lennon played a minor but memorable role as Private Gripweed, a sarcastic soldier in the British Army. The film, which blends absurdist humor with anti-war commentary, gave Lennon a chance to show his acting chops. This acting stint was a bold move, considering it was far outside the usual Beatles spotlight.

A Movie and a Masterpiece

While filming in Germany—specifically at a NATO tank range in Celle, near Hanover—Lennon also began writing one of his most famous songs, “Strawberry Fields Forever.” Though the film might not have been a blockbuster, this creative period gave the world one of Lennon’s most surreal and iconic pieces of music.