Let It Be (1970)

Director:

Michael Lindsay-Hogg

Release Date:

20 May 1970 (UK)

Genre:

Documentary | Music

Tagline:

an intimate bioscopic experience with THE BEATLES

Plot:

The filmed account of the Beatles's attempt to recapture their old group spirit by making a back to basics album, which instead drove them further apart.

Plot Keywords:

Beatles | John Lennon | Actor Playing Himself | Title Based On Song | Paul Mccartney

Awards:

Won Oscar. Another 1 win

Cast

John Lennon	...	Himself (The Beatles)
Paul McCartney	...	Himself (The Beatles)
George Harrison	...	Himself (The Beatles)
Ringo Starr	...	Himself (The Beatles)
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Mal Evans	...	Himself
Michael Lindsay-Hogg	...	Himself
George Martin	...	Himself
Heather McCartney	...	Herself
Yoko Ono	...	Herself
Billy Preston	...	Himself
Derek Taylor	...	Himself

Also Known As:

Beatles at Work (UK) (working title)
Get Back (UK) (working title)

Runtime:

81 min

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Finland:S | Sweden:Btl | UK:U | USA:G

Filming Locations:

Apple Corps, 3 Savile Row, Mayfair, London, England, UK

Company:

Apple Corps

Trivia:

Both Beatles producer George Martin and independent producer 'Glyn Johns (I)' prepared mixes of the soundtrack album, neither of which satisfied everyone. Martin effectively quit working with the band, when criticisms started turning personal, but returned to make "Abbey Road" after the Beatles promised to work with him "like in the old days", with Martin calling the shots in the studio. A second remix by Johns was also rejected, and with Martin unwilling to work any further on "Let It Be", Phil Spector was hired to complete the soundtrack.

Goofs:

Audio/visual unsynchronized: At one point rehearsing "I've Got A Feeling", John is heard singing (and bantering) with Paul, but his mouth isn't moving on camera.

Quotes:

Paul McCartney: [to George] I'm not trying to get you. But I really am trying to just say, "Look, lads- the band, you know. Shall we... try it like this, you know?"

Movie Connections:

Featured in "The Beatles Anthology: July '68 to the End (#1.8)" (????)

Soundtrack:

Don't Let Me Down

I love the transformation the fab four go through as the movie progresses

I doubt this will spoil anything, but feel free to discard this if it does.

The thing I love the most about Let It Be, which I was so privileged to watch was the transformation the beatles go through. Let me explain. The very first scenes of the movie, you have the an unshaven, stoned John barely even singing Don't Let Me Down, With Paul wailing away a harmony, missing words frequently(Fast-forward to Maxwell's Silver Hammer and you'll know what I mean). George is struggling with his solo and producing not much more than intermittent, out-of-tune whangs with his guitar, and Ringo (Whose disposition brings to mind Edgar Allen Poe) solomnly taps away at his drums. However, as the film progresses, the rhythm becomes tighter, the basslines more melodious, the solos crisper, and the drums more vibrant(I Me Mine and For you Blue are good examples). Unfortunately, that is thanks in part to Paul's Liverpool lilt ordering the other three, especially George around. George is the one I feel sorry for the most because he is fighting to meet Paul's demands (how hard can the middle-eight on I've got a feeling be!) and like an idiot here I am laughing uncontrollably at the awful noise George's guitar makes. Moving from Twickenham to Apple definitely helps them. I love the cover tunes they play just for fun, like You really got a hold on me, Shake rattle and Roll, and especially Besame Mucho(Okay Paul, fess up, you're not exactly Pavarotti(just kidding)). I can't help but bawl my eyes out when I hear Two of Us(after all the fussing they made over that solo ("Keep it simple and then complicate it where it needs complicating") and all that), Let it Be, and The Long and Winding road. The Long and winding road is especially teary because with just piano, organ, guitars and drums it is so simple and beautiful without all the screeching ladies and Disney movie like orchestrations added later. Ah, And of course the show on the roof. Simply jamming away and having fun, they have reached the culmination of their transformation for bad, uncertain playing to melodious, timeless music making. The worst part is that the band continued to nose-dive afterward. I consider myself very fortunate to be able to watch this long, but wonderfully musical movie.