The Beatles: Love Me Do - A Documentary
★ 8 · 2005 · 58m · Documentary
On October 5th 1962, the Beatles released their first single, Love Me Do. It was a moment that changed music history and popular culture forever. It was also an extraordinary year in social and cultural history, not just for Liverpool but for the world, with the Cuban missile crisis, John Glenn in space and beer at a shilling a pint. Stuart Maconie explores how the Beatles changed from leather and slicked back hair to suits and Beatle mops, and how their fashion set the pace for the sixties to follow. Pop artist Sir Peter Blake, Bob Harris and former Beatles drummer Pete Best join friends to reflect on how the Beatles evolved into John, Paul, George and Ringo - the most famous band in the world.
More Like This
It Was Fifty Years Ago Today! The Beatles: Sgt. Pepper & Beyond
2017 · ★ 5.8
Featuring interviews with former employees, fellow musicians, family members and journalists, and supported by original and exclusive never-seen-before footage, this star-studded rockumentary offers a fascinating insight into the creation and recording of one of the most ground-breaking and influential albums in pop history.
More info →
Ringo Starr: Off the Record
2008
A conversation between Ringo Starr and The Eurythmics's Dave Stewart. Ringo talks about the early days and how he came into the band without an audition. Then the discussion turns to Beatlemania, and then Ringo plays Beatles songs on the drum kit. Another segment is when Stewart pulls out a box of LP albums and plays a flash card game with Ringo, asking him for improvisational comments on the records.
More info →
Deconstructing The Beatles' Rubber Soul
2017
In Deconstructing The Beatles' Rubber Soul, composer/producer Scott Freiman walks Beatles fans young and old through the creation of Rubber Soul. Learn the stores behind the creation of “Norwegian Wood,” “In My Life,” “Nowhere Man,” and other classic Beatles songs. Mr. Freiman conducts an educational journey into the creative process of The Beatles performances and recording sessions.
More info →
Let It Be
1970 · ★ 7.6
A documentary chronicling the Beatles' rehearsal sessions in January 1969 for their proposed "back to basics" album, "Get Back," later re-envisioned and released as "Let It Be."
More info →
Paul McCartney: From Rio to Liverpool
1990 · ★ 10
This MPL documentary is about Paul McCartney's World Tour '90. It focuses on all the organization which was set up for this tour and also features some live performances by Paul and his band. Some interviews are given by Paul, Hamish, Wix and other members of the crew. The documentary begins with the recalling of the concert at the Maracana Stadium in Brazil on April 21st, 1990. Two days before, a torrential rain has begun to fall, and nobody can yet ensure that the show of tonight will really happen. The rain is so strong that the crew has tremendous difficulties to put up the stage. A previous date (April 19) has already been cancelled because of the rain. But that night, at the very moment when Paul and his band come on stage, the rain stops by a miracle. The show is finally attended by 184.000 people, thus establishing a new world record for the largest concert given in the history of rock'n'roll.
More info →
The Paul McCartney Special
1986 · ★ 9
A program originally produced for the BBC, and aired on television several times in 1986. Originally conceived as a long-form promotional piece for «Press to Play», the BBC staffer (Richard Skinner) persuades Macca to talk about much more, including one of the more in-depth interviews about Wings. All of the interview bits were done at Abbey Road studio 2, leading to some reminiscing on Paul's part. Scattered among the interview are some nice McCartney film rarities (including rarely seen promo clips/videos, concert footage from both the 1973 and 1976 tours, and even a bit of the never released "One Hand Clapping" film).
More info →
Lennon's Poster
2013
A short film following the recreation of the Pablo Fanque circus poster that inspired John Lennon to write 'Being for the Benefit of Mr. Kite' for the Beatles album 'Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band'. Using the traditional methods of wood engraving and letterpress printing, Peter Dean and his team of experts bring to life Lennon's poster.
More info →
George Harrison: The Dark Horse Years 1976-1992
2004
Former Beatle George Harrison has had many artistic incarnations. This video includes performance footage from Harrison's 1991 tour in Japan with Eric Clapton, seven music videos and interview footage, plus a special bonus of three songs (performed by Harrison himself) from the movie he produced, Shanghai Surprise, starring Madonna and Sean Penn. Tracks include "This Song," "Crackerbox Palace," "Got My Mind Set on You," "Taxman" and more.
More info →
Deconstructing The Beatles' Revolver
2017 · ★ 8
In Deconstructing The Beatles’ Revolver, composer/producer Scott Freiman takes Beatles fans young and old into the studio with The Beatles as they create their seminal 1966 album, Revolver.
More info →
Deconstructing the Beatles' Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band
2017
Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band is one of the foundational albums of rock & roll music. Its release in 1967 ushered in a new era of musical experimentation and performance that resonated perfectly with the tumultuous and vibrant social changes of the time. It lands near the top of every list of the greatest or most important albums of all time. But even if you’re a fan, how much do you actually know about its creation? Musician, composer, software company CEO and Beatles expert (he taught a class about the Beatles at Yale!) Scott Freiman leads the viewer through an educational journey into the creative process of the Beatles’ performances and recording sessions, their studio innovations and the history behind their music. Lifetime listeners will come away with a fresh realization of the singular genius of the four lads from Liverpool, and even new fans might find a novel way to engage with a fulfilling but extremely complex set of songs.
More info →
George Harrison - All Things Pass
2018
George Harrison was an English guitarist, singer, songwriter, and music and film producer who initially achieved international fame as the lead guitarist of the Beatles, but went on to sell millions of critically acclaimed solo records. Harrison was referred to as the quiet one of the Beatles, often in the shadow of John Lennon and Paul McCartney. However, he later acquired the respect of critics world wide and is now considered to be on the same level - if not surpassing - Lennon and McCartney as a song writer, a result of creating songs such as ‘Here Comes the Sun’ and ‘While My Guitar Gently Weeps’. Rolling Stone magazine even ranked him number 11 on their list of the "100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time," and he is a two-time Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee.
More info →
How the Beatles Changed the World
2017 · ★ 7.2
The fascinating story of the cultural, social, spiritual, and musical revolution ignited by the coming of the Beatles. Tracing the impact that these four band members had, first in their native Britain and soon after worldwide, it reappraises the band and follows their path from young subversives to countercultural heroes. Featuring fresh, revealing interviews with key collaborators as well as a wealth of rarely-seen archival footage, this is a bold new take on the most significant band in the history of music and their enduring impact on popular culture.
More info →