Available for the first time in over 50 years, Michael Lindsay-Hogg's 1970 documentary Let It Be has been lovingly restored to its full glory as it showcases rock ‘n' roll's most infamous group–The Beatles.
Beatles Let It Be Documentary Restored
My introduction to any member of the Beatles was via Thomas the Tank Engine where Ringo Starr played Mr. Conductor. The first time I ever heard a song (that I can remember) was when Sesame Street spoofed Let It Be. As a kid, The Beatles were nothing more than another album in my mother's collection. But as I grew up my taste in music broadened as did my appreciation for all genres and artists from various decades. I came to not only know The Beatles' music but also to understand the impact they had on the industry.
So while I'm not old enough to have been alive during the break-up or the drama originally associated with Let It Be, I did watch Peter Jackson's 8-part series Get Back, which was born from Lindsay-Hogg's footage for this documentary. Having that context, I thoroughly enjoyed this more tightly edited look at this creative fervor that led to some of their biggest hits as well as that famous rooftop concert.
Returned to its original splendor, Let It Be is a documentary that captures the complexity of creativity while showcasing the infamous Beatles as they come together to work out their differences in order to deliver some iconic hits. The film consists of Paul McCartney, John Lennon, George Harrison, and Ringo Starr holed up together inside the studio as they attempt to come up with new songs. It's fascinating to watch these geniuses, some of the best ever, do what they did best, in real time. Whether they were humming out melodies, goofing off, or butting heads, The Beatles kept at it until they achieved their goal. It ends with the epic rooftop performance on Apple Corps Records in London.
For those like me who didn't know, the original documentary was deemed “dark, depressing, and sad.” It's hard to imagine why anyone would think that however there was a reason. Lindsay-Hogg shot “Let It Be” in January 1969, four months prior to the breakup heard round the world. In May 1970, Let It Be was released and fans viewed it either as an obituary for their beloved band or as a means to figure out “what went wrong.” Viewing it now, thanks to the insight time has given the world, it is clear that this documentary was neither of those things. It was an up-close look at how The Beatles worked. Something never seen before or after this film. As the group races against the clock, we watch in awe as songs like “Get Back,” “Don’t Let Me Down,” “Let It Be,” “The Long and Winding Road,” and “Two of Us,” materialize.
Although Let It Be came before Jackson's Get Back, the two go hand in hand and in fact I would say that Get Back is essential to understanding Let It Be. Birthed from the footage Lindsay-Hogg shot that was edited down into Let It Be, Get Back gives context to the urgency and tight timetable surrounding them as they wrote these new songs. Ringo had to leave soon to film The Magic Christian with Peter Sellers while George Harrison temporarily left the group before being persuaded to return. It also features not just Lennon’s then-girlfriend Yoko Ono, but also the partners of the others. Paul's girlfriend Linda Eastman, Mo Starkey (Ringo's wife at the time), as well as George’s then-wife Pattie Boyd, all are seen at one time or another. There is even a moment where Paul dishes on how likes Yoko and her relationship with John. For years, “fans” thought her the reason the group broke up and they loved to use how much she featured in Let It Be as their evidence. Fueled of course by that generation's equivalent of internet trolls.
Aside from context, it is interesting to see the same moments covered by both films. Let It Be acts as more direct cinema, essentially capturing the moments as real and truthful as possible. Lindsay-Hogg doesn't introduce anyone or offer any explanations, you're just there watching things unfold as you would if you just happened to walk into the room. Whereas Get Back is more a documentary, offering answers to questions that arise as it moves through their story. Billy Preston wasn't just some random man who appears and disappears. Preston was important to the making of the song Get Back. Coincidentally, he is also the only musician to be given a credit on a Beatles recording.
Thankfully, after decades of collecting dust, Let It Be is now primed for a new life. It is finally able to be viewed in the way Lindsay-Hogg intended it to be, not through a lens of sadness but one of joy. Meticulously and gorgeously remastered, you can almost see the music notes and creativity floating in the air around The Beatles as they do what they did best. Let It Be is not only a must watch for Beatles fans but for anyone who calls themselves a music lover.
The Beatles: Let It Be will debut exclusively on Disney+ May 8, 2024.
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