The filmed account of The Beatles' attempt to recapture their old group spirit by making a back-to-basics album, which instead drove them further apart.The filmed account of The Beatles' attempt to recapture their old group spirit by making a back-to-basics album, which instead drove them further apart.The filmed account of The Beatles' attempt to recapture their old group spirit by making a back-to-basics album, which instead drove them further apart.
- Won 1 Oscar
- 2 wins total
John Lennon
- Self (The Beatles)
- (uncredited)
Paul McCartney
- Self (The Beatles)
- (uncredited)
George Harrison
- Self (The Beatles)
- (uncredited)
Ringo Starr
- Self (The Beatles)
- (uncredited)
Sue Ahearne
- Self - 'Apple Scruff'
- (uncredited)
The Beatles
- Themselves
- (uncredited)
Peter Brown
- Self
- (uncredited)
Geoff Emerick
- Self
- (uncredited)
Kevin Harrington
- Self
- (uncredited)
Eileen Kensley
- Self - 'Apple Scruff'
- (uncredited)
Michael Lindsay-Hogg
- Self
- (uncredited)
George Martin
- Self
- (uncredited)
Heather McCartney
- Self
- (uncredited)
Linda McCartney
- Self
- (uncredited)
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaFollowing the argument with Sir Paul McCartney seen in the movie, George Harrison went home and wrote the song "Wah-Wah", which he recorded for his first solo album two years later. Three days after the argument with McCartney, Harrison temporarily quit the Beatles after a row with John Lennon. Harrison was coaxed back a week later, after McCartney promised that they would start recording in the band's new Apple Studios, instead of Twickenham Studios.
- GoofsDue to the two-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 five cameras.
- Quotes
John Lennon: I'd like to say thank you on behalf of the group and ourselves, and I hope we passed the audition.
- Alternate versionsThe first cut, which was supervised by Michael Lindsay-Hogg and The Beatles themselves, ran for 210 minutes. It was screened in a private screening room on 20th July, 1969. After the screening, three of The Beatles wanted further cuts to be made. According to Mark Lewisohn's "The Complete Beatles Chronicle", a second version was edited in the absence of John Lennon and Yoko Ono. This new cut (with a considerable amount of "John and Yoko" footage cut out) became the 81-minute release that made the cinemas. In an interview on the "I Am The Eggpod" podcast, Lindsay-Hogg confirmed that the footage deleted from the theatrical release contained a large amount of material featuring Lennon and Ono sitting alone away from the group and "whispering to each other". Lindsay-Hogg claims that about "one reel of film" was removed.
- ConnectionsEdited from The Beatles: Don't Let Me Down (1969)
- SoundtracksPaul's Piano Intro
Performed by The Beatles
Written by Paul McCartney
Published by Apple Records
Courtesy of Apple Records
Featured review
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.
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.
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Details
- Release date
- Country of origin
- Language
- Also known as
- Beatles at Work
- Filming locations
- Apple Corps, 3 Savile Row, Mayfair, London, England, UK(13-24 January 1969)
- Production companies
- See more company credits at IMDbPro
Box office
- Gross US & Canada
- $1,061,569
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