HOW BEATLES `YELLOW SUBMARINE' ALMOST SANK

HOW BEATLES `YELLOW SUBMARINE' ALMOST SANK

OWINGS MILLS, Md. (Wireless Flash) -- The Beatles flick "Yellow Submarine" may be a cult classic now -- but the production almost sank on its way to theaters. According to "Yellow Submarine" expert Bob Hieronimus, the psychedelic classic -- which is being reissued on video September 14 -- was plagued by problems from day one. John, Paul, George and Ringo originally hated the idea of a cartoon, so they hired voice actors to impersonate them on- screen. In fact, the Beatles contributed little to the film other than four songs that they deemed "rejects." The leaky "Submarine" project was also complicated after the director "kidnapped" portions of the film and held them for ransom to try and get the distributor to pay him for his work. The kidnapping stunt worked and the animators were able to finish the flick. Hieronimus is the author of "The Hieronimus & Co Yellow Submarine Journal."