Just a quick review after watching this documentary, to express enjoyment and dissatisfaction.
Initially, there are loads of moments to enjoy. The insights by friends, associates, and a couple of American writers appears insightful. Until you realise everyone is just telling their own story from rubbing shoulders with The Fab Four, having a book store frequented by them, being a chum in the case of one, or talking about them in general terms. It is the footage that is compelling, and there are better documentaries out there that include these, such as "The Beatles: The Touring years".
So, why the lower score?
There is no mention of Pete Best, even though he can be seen clearly playing the drums at The Cavern. There is no mention of the one Beatle who initially outshone all the rest, until he suffered a head injury, attributed to a physical argument with John Lennon, one documentary focused on the Hamsburg years, and his then partner claim. An injury which he was to later die from - Stuart Sutcliffe. Everyone wanted Sutcliffe on the magazine covers, and he was recognised as the most photographed, until he left to pursue his art career till his death.
They gloss over the films The Beatles made, light comic musical romps, but failed to say how the band hated them, and refused to do another, though pressured.
Finally, for me the biggest problem I have with this documentary, is one of the 'talking heads' mentions the last concert played in America, and we are told this is the last time The Beatles ever played live together. Rubbish! The story then skips to McCartney's marriage to Linda Eastman and the formation of Wings.
What about "Let It Be", one of the best of the band's later albums and where they DO play together live for the last time, on the roof of Abbey Road studios with keyboardist Billy Preston? Where the very song "Let It Be" is later claimed by Lennon to be McCartney launching his solo career, feeding a bitter relationship between the two until Lennon's murder.
Take it for what it is - some friends and associates sharing their recollections and narratives, but missing a lot of important information, and just plain omitting m important stuff.
Initially, there are loads of moments to enjoy. The insights by friends, associates, and a couple of American writers appears insightful. Until you realise everyone is just telling their own story from rubbing shoulders with The Fab Four, having a book store frequented by them, being a chum in the case of one, or talking about them in general terms. It is the footage that is compelling, and there are better documentaries out there that include these, such as "The Beatles: The Touring years".
So, why the lower score?
There is no mention of Pete Best, even though he can be seen clearly playing the drums at The Cavern. There is no mention of the one Beatle who initially outshone all the rest, until he suffered a head injury, attributed to a physical argument with John Lennon, one documentary focused on the Hamsburg years, and his then partner claim. An injury which he was to later die from - Stuart Sutcliffe. Everyone wanted Sutcliffe on the magazine covers, and he was recognised as the most photographed, until he left to pursue his art career till his death.
They gloss over the films The Beatles made, light comic musical romps, but failed to say how the band hated them, and refused to do another, though pressured.
Finally, for me the biggest problem I have with this documentary, is one of the 'talking heads' mentions the last concert played in America, and we are told this is the last time The Beatles ever played live together. Rubbish! The story then skips to McCartney's marriage to Linda Eastman and the formation of Wings.
What about "Let It Be", one of the best of the band's later albums and where they DO play together live for the last time, on the roof of Abbey Road studios with keyboardist Billy Preston? Where the very song "Let It Be" is later claimed by Lennon to be McCartney launching his solo career, feeding a bitter relationship between the two until Lennon's murder.
Take it for what it is - some friends and associates sharing their recollections and narratives, but missing a lot of important information, and just plain omitting m important stuff.
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