Let It Be (1970)

Let It Be is a 1970 film about The Beatles rehearsing and recording songs for the album Let It Be in January 1969. Released 12 days after the album, it was the last original Beatles release.

The original premise of the film was to show the Beatles rehearsing and eventually performing a live concert. However, the band members had begun to drift apart for some time, and the project inadvertently documents some of the aspects leading to the band's eventual break-up.

The Beatles assembled at Twickenham Film Studios on January 2, 1969, accompanied by the film crew, and began rehearsing. There were tensions and disagreements among the Beatles, and they disliked the conditions at the Twickenham studios and the working schedule. They started work in the morning rather than working late into the night as they had been accustomed to doing at Abbey Road Studios, where they usually recorded their songs.

On January 10 George Harrison announced that he was leaving the band, although this is not documented in the film. He went home and, according to him, wrote Wah-Wah[1] He was persuaded to return and the band resumed work on January 22 at their own new basement recording studio at Apple's headquarters in Savile Row, London. The film shows the band rehearsing and performing the songs that wound up on the Let It Be album, as well some of the songs from the Abbey Road album, which the band reconvened in the summer of 1969 to record. The studio portion of the film ends with a performance filmed at Apple on January 30, 1969 in which the Beatles perform finished versions of "Two of Us", "The Long and Winding Road", and "Let It Be".


The original concept for the film project called for the documentary to end with a live show, the first live public performance by the band since the end of their last tour, on August 29, 1966, at Candlestick Park in San Francisco. However, agreeing on a format for the live show proved problematic.

After failing to agree on any other venue, the band settled for an unannounced concert atop their own building, Apple's headquarters in Savile Row near Piccadilly Circus. The Beatles played five songs during the rooftop performance: "Get Back" (three times), "Don't Let Me Down" (twice), "I've Got a Feeling" (twice), "One After 909", and "Dig a Pony". (The Beatles also played a brief version of the British national anthem, "God Save the Queen" and a brief rehearsal of "I Want You (She's So Heavy)" while second engineer Alan Parsons was changing tapes. Those performances were omitted from the film.) [4]

After the final song, McCartney says, "Thanks, Mo!" acknowledging the enthusiastic applause and cheering from Maureen Starkey. Then Lennon closes with his well-known remark, "I'd like to say 'thank you' on behalf of the group and ourselves, and I hope we passed the audition!"[4] This comment was spliced on to the end of the Let It Be album.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Let_It_Be


I haven't heard the details, but I know MTV has been playing tribute to the Beatles documentary and 'rooftop concert' (yes, that's right, the same MTV that's hardly played anything other than pop or rap in over a decade). I think there may be a newly remastered version appearing soon that was started in 2007; therefore MTV is helping promote it. The restored version is said to be leaps and bounds better than the previous releases...But, MTV playing Rock n Roll again? Yes, once again, Rock is in.

The movie won an Oscar for the soundtrack, but this is more than just a musical documentation, this is a film. It has real-life characters and scenarios and those characters have motives (George Harrison). Truth is always stranger than fiction. And the recording of the band's dissolvement for all to see makes it a real historical artifact.

The fact that the band chose for it's last ever concert a rooftop setting (in the middle of the afternoon of all times) in the cold, blustering winds of downtown London, certainly makes for one of the more dramatic moments in movie history...but I don't think even Hollywood would ever buy a script this far-fetched:

Will they ever release this on DVD??

According to wikipedia: In a February 2007 interview with Neil Aspinall regarding the remastering of the film for DVD release, he stated, "The film was so controversial when it first came out. When we got halfway through restoring it, we looked at the outtakes and realized: this stuff is still controversial. It raised a lot of old issues."

I'm pretty sure MTV is airing the documentary in honor of a coming DVD release, and I know I've heard something in the news. I think there's even some never before seen or expanded footage, such as John's commentary on the band's decline; and his disparaging remarks about particular members such as George, who an angry Lennon claims directly insulted Yoko Ono.

If memory serves, I saw "Let It Be" on commercial TV many years ago. And I think parts of it were included in the 10-VHS tape Beatles history. I remember it as being very good.

Although I know I've seen he rooftop number, I don't believe I ever saw the entire film. Surprising since I consider myself a Beatle fan.

Speaking of which, did anyone read the Rolling Stone article on the Beatles this month. I have the magazine but haven't read the article yet. It tells of why they broke up.


TIS

I'll look for that article. Not long after they broke up, Jann Wenner scored a coup when he interviewed Lennon and asked about the breakup. Lennon replied: "We got tired of being f*****g sidemen for Paul." He then spilled his guts over two lengthy articles. Fascinating stuff.

TB,

Every Sunday here, a local radio station has what they call "Beatle Brunch". They of course play Beatle music, but also have Beatle interviews and all kinds of info of that time. It's quite interesting.

They played an interview with John who was complaining that none of the other Beatles liked Yoko (which was not a secret to most of us)He said especially "George and they bleeped out a couple F Bombs." I haven't read the article yet, but intend to.


TIS

Yes, TIS, that was no secret. After RS published those lengthy Lennon interviews, the media got after Paul and asked him if Yoko had anything to do with the breakup. Paulie replied: "I love John and respect his work." On the back cover of the "Let It Be" album, you can barely see John because Yoko is plastered to him. She appeared doing her "music" on the Rolling Stones R&R Circus video.

The biggest underdiscussed reason for the break-up was George Harrison.

The dude rightly was tired of being not just sidekicking for "Paulie", but also Lennon. People at that time thought Lennon/McCartney was the foundation MVP of that group, and Harrison who just happened to be around.

Then after the breakout, he puts out ALL THINGS MUST PASS, and that surprised the shit out of everyone because that three-LP(!) album showed Harrison's great range and talent with writing and performing...which were mostly not enhanced or displayed with the Beatles.

In short, the break-up was good for Harrison.

Oh yea, I remember it was Paul/John who got most of the attention. They were the ones focused on. George was the "quiet" Beatle and Ringo was just the drummer. Most everyone I knew made of of Yoko. Nobody could figure out the attraction John had for her, and it did seem she was always in every picture taken. No surprise it bothered the others. She sang like a squeaky mouse don't you think? Oh, and then there was the "Double Fantasy" album ha ha. John was so "do my own thing".

I remember when All Things Must Pass came out. I really realized then that I loved George's singing. My Sweet Lord is one of my favorites.




TIS

I just heard that The Beatles Rock Star game is going to be released 09-09-09...

I know! (I am buying it for my mom for Christmas, HUGE Beatles fan)


Markie, you get the Reynolds Pen... right?

What is the reynolds pen?

KAY

"I got something -- I got something for your mother, and for Sonny, and a tie for um um

Freddy, and Tom Hagen got the Reynolds pen..."

Of course! Duh! Sorry - good one.

Around the same time, or soon enough, the catalogue will finally become available for Internet download.

Really, its quite shocking how the Beatles haven't been on iTunes all this time, and the fortune that estate has lost for holding out for better $$$.

In short, Paul dont let Ringo have to help pay ya out for that golddigger fiasco.

I'm reminded of an anecdote that quietly back in the 1990s, the estate bought the rights to that 1960s BEATLES cartoon...which apparently quite embarrased them...point is, they bought the rights so to bury them in the vault and nobody see them again.



Gee, I wonder why.

Ha ha!! Yes, I remember that cartoon. My best friend was a real Beatle fanatic. She would always watch the cartoon. Hey, back then, anything Beatle sold!!! I saw the cartoon a few times, but never really got into it (thankfully)

Just an tidbit: I remember going to see Hard Days Night when it was released. It was an afternoon show; I went with several friends. It was total chaos. The street was packed with people waiting, the theater was wall to wall kids and the screaming was unbelieveable. I was only 8 when Elvis hit the scene and never saw his first few movies at the theater, so missed the excitement So, with the Beatles it was quite an experience. Looking back now, I'm glad I was a part of it.


TIS

Amazing what can be accomplished with CGI and stock footage now.

I love it. That is great!!

Btw,I was listening to a Beatle radio show in which they played a 1962 interview with record producer, George Martin. They played the first song the Beatles sang for the audtion, which was Besame' Mucho. If I knew that before, I forgot about it.

TIS

Fun if useless bit: the NYT having a Beatles tribute band take a shot at the game:

Reading up on "Sgt. Pepper," apparently Jimi Hendrix started playing his cover of that title track within 2 days of its release.

Cool yeah, always wondered how that particular Beatles song would be strung along by the greatest electric guitarist of all time...



Kick Ass.