The Beatles were involved in five feature-length projects as a band. Certainly, 'Let it Be (1970)' is a far, far cry from 'A Hard Day's Night(1964)' and 'Help! (1965),' which were enjoyable, slightly goofy, comedies featuring the band at the height of their fame. Michael Lindsay-Hogg's documentary, on the other hand, is a fly-on-the-wall account of rehearsals and recording for the Beatles' final studio album. Though commissioned by The Beatles, originally as a television special, this is not a puff piece; instead, it documents a musical group struggling to hold together. The band members each sport untamed, unflattering facial hair; John Lennon has a constant shadow watching silently from his side; Ringo looks bored most of the time.
But there's some great music hidden in there amid the rabble of rehearsals. It's particularly awesome to see the musicians, particularly George and John, really getting into a performance of "Dig It!" (a terrific jam-piece unfairly shortened for the final album release). The documentary, of course, culminates with the Beatles' final public performance from the rooftop of Apple Studios, which brought street-traffic to a screeching halt, and had policemen milling around confusedly. John signs off with the memorable line, "I'd like to say thank you on behalf of the group and ourselves, and I hope we pass the audition"(fans of "The Simpsons" will no doubt note parallels with the rise-and-fall of barbershop quartet The Be Sharps).
There are a few curious things about this film. The theatrical cut was rased from a 210-minute rough edit, the final editing performed in the absence of John and Yoko. It's astonishing how Lindsay-Hogg wordlessly condemns Yoko Ono; his camera regards her with something bordering on contempt. By unexpectedly cutting away to her, always silent and watching, during the band's rehearsals, the director underscores the intrusiveness of her presence. She shouldn't be there, and we know it. Based on what I'd heard, I had anticipated a few more heated arguments between the band members. There's a fair bit of frustration evident, particularly towards the officious Paul, but probably nothing that spelled immediate doom for The Beatles.
But there's some great music hidden in there amid the rabble of rehearsals. It's particularly awesome to see the musicians, particularly George and John, really getting into a performance of "Dig It!" (a terrific jam-piece unfairly shortened for the final album release). The documentary, of course, culminates with the Beatles' final public performance from the rooftop of Apple Studios, which brought street-traffic to a screeching halt, and had policemen milling around confusedly. John signs off with the memorable line, "I'd like to say thank you on behalf of the group and ourselves, and I hope we pass the audition"(fans of "The Simpsons" will no doubt note parallels with the rise-and-fall of barbershop quartet The Be Sharps).
There are a few curious things about this film. The theatrical cut was rased from a 210-minute rough edit, the final editing performed in the absence of John and Yoko. It's astonishing how Lindsay-Hogg wordlessly condemns Yoko Ono; his camera regards her with something bordering on contempt. By unexpectedly cutting away to her, always silent and watching, during the band's rehearsals, the director underscores the intrusiveness of her presence. She shouldn't be there, and we know it. Based on what I'd heard, I had anticipated a few more heated arguments between the band members. There's a fair bit of frustration evident, particularly towards the officious Paul, but probably nothing that spelled immediate doom for The Beatles.