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    • Get a first look at the new film
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    Get a first look at the new film

    Pabio Posted on

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    Nothing else that could happen in their career could be bigger than going to America. At least that’s what the Beatles thought in 1964..

    “They are all very free and happy during this trip,” says David Tedeschi, director of the new Disney+ documentary “Beatles ’64” (airing Friday), which follows the Fab Four and their most devoted fans through the chaotic days before and after the group’s Feb. 9 appearance on “The Ed Sullivan Show.” “Even later, in 1964, it wasn’t as exciting as it was in February.”

    The footage, shot by Albert and David Maysles for a rarely seen 1964 television documentary (“What’s Happening! The Beatles in the USA »), is supplemented by new interviews with Paul McCartney And Ringo Starrinterspersed with memories of these first admirers. Martin Scorseseproducer of the project, also visits Starr’s well-preserved Beatles wardrobe, including the hot pink “Sgt. Pepper” uniform and green pinstriped “Hey Jude” jacket.

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    Most exciting for audiences will be the restoration of the original film in 16mm, with the live performances demixed by “To come back” WingNut Films from director Peter Jackson and remixed by Giles Martin, producer of the Beatles. The band’s famous concert at the Washington Coliseum – their first in America – can finally be heard above the screaming, crying, rhapsodic crowd.

    USA TODAY spoke with Tedeschi about what viewers can expect from “Beatles ’64”:

    (Edited and condensed for clarity.)

    Question: Fans have seen a lot of this footage before, but it’s safe to say that the Maysles brothers’ documentary is unfamiliar to most. So why start here for a new documentary?

    David Tedeschi: We have 17 minutes of new footage of the Maysles, not to mention a plethora of other material we’ve been able to find. The project started with Apple, and I think they felt like this particular story hadn’t really been told in “What’s Happening!”

    I’ve never seen fans like you see here. They are quite vocal about what is going on, both in the new interviews but also in 1964, when they are so young. Their gaze gives a real emotional backbone to the film.

    The surprising story: How The Beatles Went Viral in 1964

    What is really striking is the extent to which this trip constitutes the prototype of a “A hard day and night.” There are all these photos of them doing stupid things on the train from New York to Washington.

    I think that’s who they were. They have a lot of energy and being in the United States was their dream. It’s a joke at the press conference when they ask George (Harrison), “What are your ambitions?” And he said, “To come to America.” But it’s also true.

    The trailer has that moment that gives goosebumpswhere they get off the plane, returning home after their trip to America. And you see it from their perspective, it’s literally pulled over their shoulders. Are there any other moments that you think are particularly revealing about their experience?

    When they go to rehearsal and the crowd of young women comes towards them. They don’t know if they’re going to be able to get out of the car, and you see literally hundreds of people running alongside the car. And the performance in Washington was a revelation. It was as if the images had grabbed me by the neck and taken me to 1964, and I had a real sense of what the Beatles sounded like as a live band.

    Almost everyone in the film identifies their favorite Beatle, which was common at the time.

    Jamie Bernstein (Leonard’s daughter) says it very clearly: if you were a Beatlemaniac, you had to have one. It was on his mind; a sort of unwritten rule. She loved George and everything was about George, but then she became John (Lennon). I love them all, you know.

    Ronnie Spector says the Ronettes managed to take the Beatles to Spanish Harlem for a barbecue, where they remained unknown. I imagine this hasn’t happened at any other point on this trip.

    Keep in mind this was before “Sullivan.” SO “I want to hold your hand” was #1, the radio was constantly playing the Beatles, but not everyone knew what they sounded like.

    The film is about the Beatles being arrested as their plane approached the United States, and John mentions Lee Harvey Oswald. Were there concerns about their safety after the Kennedy assassination?

    Their biggest concern was that no one would greet them at Kennedy Airport. They didn’t know what to expect. Many veteran observers, like Frank Sinatra, didn’t really think they would have much of an impact in New York. No British law has ever done this.

    Brian (Epstein, the band’s manager) was concerned about safety because he was very protective of the guys. John mentioned Oswald because he had great sensitivity and insight almost on a different level than most of us, and he understood the parameters of what could happen.

    Their experience at the British Embassy (where a guest cut off a lock of Ringo’s hair) seemed really bad.

    Can you imagine being the guest of honor and they treat you like shit because they think you’re low class?

    You ask Paul what he would say to John and George if they were here today. How emotional was that moment for both of you?

    It was the end of a very long day. That was literally hours of just one more (question). And Paul says, “That’s great, isn’t it?”

    Yes, it was emotional.

    Pabio
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