Video: 'Water' trailer

(Friday, January 18, 1985) — Water, a comedy film about five criminals who are recruited by a mysterious underworld figure to stop a drug transaction, premiered today at the Odeon Cinema in London.

Video: 'Freedom Song from the movie Water'

Directed by Dick Clement, the film starred Michael Caine, Valerie Perrine, Brenda Vaccaro, Billy Connolly, Chris Tummings and Leonard Rossiter. It also featured cameo appearances by former Beatles George Harrison (the film’s co-producer) and Ringo Starr.

Harrison normally did not get too involved in production of HandMade’s films. However, he helped out on Water by appearing in the concert at the end and getting his friends Eric Clapton, Ringo Starr, Jon Lord and Ray Cooper to appear.

“George was very leery of appearing in his own company’s movies,” says Clement, “that was a big help to the film. We called in a few favors and, obviously, the Harrison connection didn’t hurt. We hoped that scene would be a big selling tool for the movie… didn’t work out that way but it was a good idea.”

The concert scene was shot in a single day at Shepperton Studios. Clapton, Starr and Harrison were paid the musician’s minimum rate for a playback session on set.