“Beatles ’64” Documentary, Produced by Martin Scorsese, Now Streaming
by Best Classic Bands Staff
(L-R) George Harrison, Ringo Starr, John Lennon and Paul McCartney arriving at JFK airport in Beatles ’64. (Photo Courtesy of Apple Corps, Ltd. All Rights Reserved)
The all-new Martin Scorsese-produced documentary, Beatles ’64, is now available exclusively on Disney+ beginning November 29, 2024. The initial announcement (on Oct. 14) from the streaming service says that the film, directed by David Tedeschi, “captures the electrifying moment of The Beatles’ first visit to America. Featuring never-before-seen footage of the band and the legions of young fans who helped fuel their ascendance, the film gives a rare glimpse into when The Beatles became the most influential and beloved band of all time.” Judging from the excitement seen in the trailer, and the release of several clips, the film looks to rekindle the feeling from the initial Beatlemania era of 60 years earlier.
“When we came, it was shortly after [President] Kennedy [was] assassinated,” says Paul McCartney in the film. “Maybe America needed something like the Beatles to be lifted out of sorrow.”
John Lennon and George Harrison in a rare moment of calm during The Beatles’ first visit to America.
According to the press release, “On February 7, 1964, the Beatles arrived in New York City to unprecedented excitement and hysteria. From the instant they landed at Kennedy Airport, met by thousands of fans, Beatlemania swept New York and the entire country. Their thrilling debut performance on The Ed Sullivan Show captivated more than 73 million viewers, the most watched television event of its time. Beatles ’64 presents the spectacle, but also tells a more intimate behind the scenes story, capturing the camaraderie of John, Paul, George, and Ringo as they experienced unimaginable fame.”
The Beatles’ press conference at New York’s JFK Airport, Feb. 7, 1964. (Photo © Apple Corps Ltd.; used with permission)
The film, says the announcement, “includes rare footage filmed by pioneering documentarians Albert and David Maysles, beautifully restored in 4K by Park Road Post in New Zealand. The live performances from the Beatles’ first American concert at the Washington, D.C., Coliseum and their Ed Sullivan appearances were demixed by WingNut Films and remixed by Giles Martin. Spotlighting this singular cultural moment and its continued resonance today, the music and footage are augmented by newly filmed interviews with Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr, as well as fans whose lives were transformed by the Beatles.”
Watch the official trailer
Beatles ’64 is directed by Tedeschi and produced by Scorsese, Margaret Bodde, Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr, Olivia Harrison, Sean Ono Lennon, Jonathan Clyde, Mikaela Beardsley, with Jeff Jones and Rick Yorn serving as executive producers.
Related: 1963: When the Beatles 1st landed in America. Yes, 1963!
Coinciding with the film’s Disney+ release, seven American Beatles albums have been analog cut for 180-gram audiophile vinyl from their original mono master tapes for global release on November 22 by Apple Corps Ltd./Capitol/UMe. Originally compiled for U.S. release between January 1964 and March 1965 by Capitol Records and United Artists, these mono albums have been out of print on vinyl since 1995. The Beatles: 1964 U.S. Albums In Mono is available now in the U.S. here and in the U.K. here.
Watch the official trailer for The Beatles: 1964 U.S. Albums in Mono
Meet The Beatles!; The Beatles’ Second Album; A Hard Day’s Night (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack); Something New; Beatles ’65; and The Early Beatles are available individually here.
4 Comments so far
Jump into a conversationThis is a movie we just might be willing to shell out some of our hard-earned for a cuppla heinously over-priced tickets that theaters charge these days—even for us old farts.
$20 for a senior ticket in NYC!
Remember it as if yesterday…living thru assassination of JFK, 9th grade..was in class & school address system came on, announcing JFK shot in Dallas, no pre-announcement on part of school Principal informing us what this was…mass confusion, wth? what is going on? then chaos in hallways & famous 4 DAYS IN NOVEMBER video off tv of events…from JFK shot, oswald shot, Funeral …USA in mourning, beloved President & family…and YES, 1st time walking into ‘rec room’ after lunch @ school, hearing Beatles tune being played, going ‘what is that?’…clearly knowing immediately ‘this is something new, unique, different…and the love affair began, the ‘clarion call of emerging youth/teen culture…the soundtrack of this life of mine & my generation and my sister’s and friends & all ever since..keeps us all young & inspired…
A moment in time never to be duplicated… but at least we have all the music and more importantly incredible documentary footage …Ron Howard eight days a week was pretty good as well