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Today, The Beatles are known as music legends—influencing countless artists for more than 60 years. But in 1964, they were just four shaggy-haired kids with a few popular songs—and the Disney+ documentary Beatles ‘64 follows the group on their first legendary trip across the pond.
Beatles ‘64 goes behind the scenes of the Fab Four’s first trip to America for 14 days in 1964. While Beatlemania was already in full swing in Europe, the band didn’t have the same following in the States—or so they thought. Mixing footage filmed by documentarians Albert and David Maysles with modern-day interviews with people who were there to experience it, the film shows the artists in their early days—from their first appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show to long hours spent hiding from screaming fans at the Plaza Hotel to visits to Washington, D.C., and Miami.
While Americans were still mourning the loss of President Kennedy, these four young men arrived in New York City and brought music and love and a little bit of chaos to American teenagers (especially the teenage girls). And Beatles ‘64 offers some insights into what made The Beatles such a worldwide phenomenon as it switches from archive footage to interviews with people who can look back on the events with 60 years of hindsight.
What really stands out here is just how normal these guys were. They were just four young guys from Liverpool who weren’t really prepared for such overwhelming stardom. Trapped in their hotel room to avoid the screaming girls, they spent their time laughing and joking with each other and with the filmmakers. They called up American friends (like Ronnie Spector of the Ronettes) and invited them over—then peppered them with questions about American bands and customs. And they were thrilled to sneak out and eat in peace at a restaurant in Harlem. They’re all so normal and down-to-earth, in fact, that you might sometimes forget that they’re actually one of the most popular bands of all time—and not just a bunch of goofball college guys.
While much of the archive footage has been used in other projects through the years, it’s used well here—a mix of music and playfulness and reminiscing that makes for a fascinating look at the early days of these music legends.
Though the footage may be somewhat familiar to die hard fans of The Beatles, Beatles ‘64 is still a fun film for those of us who might not be as fanatical—offering insight into the band’s popularity, their personalities, and their cultural impact.
You can follow John, Paul, George, and Ringo on their first American adventure when Beatles ‘64 debuts on Disney+ on November 29, 2024.
Listen to the review on Reel Discovery:
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