Extraordinary, honest, splendid, intimate, immersive, eye-opening — there are not enough superlatives to describe the Beatles Get Back documentary by director Peter Jackson (Lord of the Rings).
Get Back has been created from 56 hours of 16mm vintage film never before seen, along with 150 hours of audio recordings. After curating 8 hours of film and audio, Director Peter Jackson meticulously cleaned and restored both with breakthrough technology that allows the viewer to see and hear the Beatles as if they were performing in your backyard. The footage was shot by Michael Lindsay-Hogg in 1969 at Twickenham Studio and Apple Studio, originally for a television show that did not materialize, and covers the making of the album Let it Be. The television show morphed into the film of the same name, Let it Be.
You’ll be mesmerized by the intimate portraits of the four fabulously talented artists and window into their world just prior to going their separate ways. Highlights of the film include the Beatles playful song writing process, camaraderie, the serendipitous appearance of keyboardist Billy Preston, a visit to the studio from Linda’s daughter six-year-old Heather, who has lots of silly fun with Paul and bandmates and briefly takes over the studio, and roles played by producers Glyn Johns and George Martin.
It’s a dream to see the authentic everyday 1970s fashions (knee socks on Linda!), John’s padded shoulder mink coat coupled with grubby white sneakers that he wears daily, George’s sheep skin-lined flower boots; each character has their own wonderfully unique style.
The final scenes take place at Apple Studio at an unannounced live rooftop concert. The Beatles last performance together was shot by Lindsay-Hogg with no less than ten cameras on the roof, while more cameras captured footage from a roof top across the street, and several more were positioned at street level.
The Beatles Get Back is streaming in three parts on the Disney + channel.
Sneak Peek from Director Peter Jackson
