Let It Be (1970)

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.

Director:

Michael Lindsay-Hogg

Stars:

John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison

Won 1 Oscar. Another 1 win.

Cast

Credited cast:
Peter Sellers	...	Himself (scenes deleted)

Storyline

A documentary showing both how The Beatles made music together, and how they split up. Hundreds of hours of raw footage was condensed into the final product. The rooftop performance ending the film remains a rock-n-roll archetype.

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Plot Keywords:

rooftop | guitar | guitar playing | electric guitar | rock music | 

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Taglines:

an intimate bioscopic experience with THE BEATLES

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Genres:

Documentary | Music

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Certificate:

G

Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

20 May 1970 (UK)

Also Known As:

Déjalo ser

Filming Locations:

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

Company Credits

Production Co:

Apple Corps,ABKCO Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

81 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Digitally re-mastered by Apple Corps in 1992 from the original 16mm negative for a planned video re-release, however this was canceled at the last minute. In 1997 a UK company, VCI, announced plans to issue this remastered version again in England, which would have been the first time the film had appeared on video in the UK. However it was again withdrawn at the eleventh hour. Clips of the remastered footage, as well as several outtakes, can be seen in The Beatles Anthology (1995). The restored footage was also used for "The Beatles 1+" video compilation in 2015, and underwent a further image and audio restoration. This would mark the first time the restored footage would be seen in High Definition.

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Goofs

Due to the 2 camera technique used to film most of the scenes, during much of the performances the audio does not match up with the performers. One such example is during the Suzy Parker segment, and again during I Got a Feeling, though this scene was filmed using 5 cameras.

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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?"

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Connections

Referenced in The Beatles: Rock Band (2009)

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Soundtracks

Two of Us
Performed by The Beatles
Written by John Lennon and Paul McCartney
Published by Apple Records
Courtesy of Apple Records

User Reviews

Strangely cool

The Beatles is probably the most famous musical act ever that has been on the ground of this Earth. That said the movie 'Let It Be' presents the group at a stage where they were about to break-up. They were not at their best during the filming, but what is shown in the movie is still about the most fabulous thing ever to see. There is no way anymore to get any closer to them than the 'Let It Be' movie.

John, Paul, George and Ringo will perform nicely raw versions of their famous hit songs. They haven't yet figured out all the lyrics yet but it's still nice to hear any the songs in a unfinished stage. The movie will also show you how they were playing some of their oldies as a warm up songs before starting with another take of their newer songs.

The atmosphere seems to be bit dark, Lennon is passive and Paul is clearly the one who is steering the ship now. Some visitors who appear at the studio make the daylight occasionally shine but as a better than nothing solution the rooftop concert in the end is "really enjoyable" like one of the passers-by say. It's all somehow sad, but strangely cool .