‘Let it be’, a Beatles documentary gem rescued 54 years after its premiere

The person responsible for the recovery of this jewel was filmmaker Peter Jacksonwho directed the remastering after having released his series The Beatles: Get Back in 2021, three episodes narrated from almost 60 hours of footage filmed for Lindsay-Hogg’s documentary and which was discarded at that time.

The original film had been forgotten at the express wish of the band who, until Jackson’s appearance, prevented any re-release or reissue. None of them attended the theatrical release in 1970 and neither did they bother to go and collect the Oscar for best soundtrack that they received.

The initial idea of ​​the project, driven by McCartney, was to record an album that returned to its rock roots without artifice, after several years of experimentation, and to record its magic before Linsay-Hogg’s cameras. But when they locked themselves in London’s Twickenham studios, surrounded by spotlights, cameras and recorders that recorded their every movement and conversation, Moments of tension also emerged.

The film makes it clear that it is McCartney who takes the lead, shows the famous dispute with George Harrison over the guitar riffs of Two of Us, which the latter resolves with a “I’ll do whatever you want Paul” or a conversation with Lennon in which McCartney expresses his discomfort with Harrison’s reluctance to record their live shows. Yoko Ono also appears, literally glued to a taciturn Lennon in rehearsals or dancing with him at another time while I Me Mine plays.

Beyond the friction, the film shows the chemistry of a band that knows each other well and still has fun playing and offers a unique opportunity to attend live the creation processes of one of the most influential groups in history.

The first part, filmed at Twickenham studios, includes moments such as Ringo and George making arrangements for Octopus Garden or Paul giving instructions to Lennon about the guitar in Ive got a feeling. The second, filmed in the building of his record label in London, Apple Corps, culminates with the famous rooftop concert, which ended up being his last live performance.

The revival of Let it be It occurs at a time of recovery of the band’s material thanks to artificial intelligence. Peter Jackson used these new technologies both in his series and in this reissue of the Lindsay-Hogg film and AI was also used to recover the song Now and then, which was released last November from a demo recorded by John Lennon in his New York apartment.

From elsewhere, Director Sam Mendes announced in February that he will make four films about the Beatles, each told from the perspective of a member of the British band. Apple Corps Ltd. and the Beatles (McCartney, Starr and the families of the late Lennon and Harrison) approved this project and will provide the musical rights to tell the life of the Liverpool Fab Four.

The good family harmony is also attested to by the alliance between James McCartney -son of Paul and Linda- and Sean Ono Lennon -son of John and Yoko- who last month released a song composed and performed together, titled Primrose Hill, in honor of that area of ​​north London.

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