Beatles - Let It Be - DVD

In reply to post #19 from Brainwashed back on Feb 5, I never read anything about film being recovered in the Netherlands/England bust. I just re-read the Lost Beatles Album story in Rolling Stone from the February 20, 2003 issue (OK, perhaps RS is not the best for investigative reporting or getting the story straight) but it mentioned only the Nagras and nothing about film.

Please list the news articles, etc. about this, as I'd love to go back and look them up and read about this. Always love a good read about the LIB saga. Thanks.

 

Here's an example of the cropping found on the VHS/LD releases (and subsequent unofficial DVDs) compared to the same film footage from Anthology.

In this case, about an even amount is taken off of the top and bottom of the frame and a lot has been removed from the left. One screenshot is actually a single frame after the other but the difference is still clear.

 

Yes, the stuff recovered was just the Nagra reels, which were bootlegged to death before the "bust".

 

ChrisM,
In an earlier Let It Be film discussion here on this forum, somebody quoted the exact stuff you just got done putting up now. I distinctly recall reading that very material here. I just wish it would have come out.

 

By Paul and for Paul.

My sister came out of the theater saying 'Paul is a genius!'.

I don't believe it is a big deal but I can understand that Yoko and Olivia are not too fond of a movie that shows John and George as dumb.

Of course Paul can say that had they cared, John and George could have been involved in the movie, stage their songs and cut out the scenes that show them as stupid, bickering and ugly.

 

Great info, DQ. What a lost opportunity.

Google for 'let it be the big picture'.

 

Thanks DQ for the screen shots (and the screen ratios chart earlier in the thread).

This picture takes the three frames and superimposes them. Lots of information is missing in both the LD and "widescreen" versions.

 

That is a scary image. Wonder if we'll ever see a REAL presentation!

 

I added my guess at the sources for this material. Does this sound right? Anyone know what Tutti Frutti could be?

And I Love Her - silent b&w footage shot at EMI session. IIRC should be synced to the alt version used on Anthology.

Paperback Writer, Rain - promos as filmed outside of Abbey Rd.

All You Need Is Love - Our World broadcast.

Hey Bulldog - recording session footage used in Lady Madonna promo.

Helter Skelter - Paul rehearsal filmed at EMI for Apple promo.

Ob-La-Di - b&w footage of recording session. Considered for Anthology but not used. One of my holy grails.

Blackbird - Paul rehearsal EMI filmed or Apple promo.

Tutti Frutti - No idea. Maybe outtake from David Frost show?

Hey Jude (20 mins) - recording session of the Hey Jude attempt at EMI.

St Louis Blues - very short ad-lib from the above.

 

No. More likely the half dozen or so taped inside Abbey Road - the ones of them sitting (as seen on the Ed Sullivan Show) and standing. But which? The black and white ones range from rare to very rare but the colour ones would look very nice sourced from the original material. But let's not be picky, lets have them all.

 

We'll "get them all" when a complete Beatles Video Collection comes out!

 

There'll be a box set with a sticker on it saying "Includes the Let It Be film (exclusive to to this set!).

 

Ah, I forgot all about that. At the risk of loosing any cred I had I've haven't even seen those promos other than the intro where they hold the colored gel things over their face.

 

Great information. Can't wait to someday see the original aspect ratio.

I just watched about 45 minutes of Let It Be on youtube. Frankly, I don't understand the criticism - I find the entire film to be very interesting, especially the segments where the Beatles are working out the tunes in the studio. The atmosphere on that Twickenham soundstage looks terrible, but there are scenes of John and Paul working on "Two of Us" and "One after 909". And the entire portion of the film shot in the proper studio shows the band in great form. John doesn't appear detached or disinterested.

I would love to see more footage (I absolutely loved the Anthology footage of the band discussing the rooftop show - where George is saying "I don't want to go on the roof", but then gives in when John and Ringo say they want to do it - incredibly fascinating to me). Bring it on.

 

Shame they can't say something like "You've seen them all before. We finally admit the bootleggers are right, this IS what you want. Digitally Remastered for Optimum Quality".

 

Put it out on DVD, i would buy it tomorrow. I heard it was on VHS for a minute, too bad i was too young then.

 

I bought a new VHS copy from Barb Fenick of "The Write Thing" fanzine. She had several things for sale, and when I wrote to her with some questions, she suggested that I pick up this last new copy of LIB VHS from her, as she said they were out of print and it would become rare. Thanks Barb...great advice and I have been enjoying the VHS copy in the many many years since.

 

For anyone who doesn't know:

Sometimes that missing info at the top and bottom of the screen was meant to be missing---maybe not the case with Let It Be. I always prefer to see the film as the director framed it---sometimes, if a matte process is used, that info at the top and bottom on the screen was not meant to be seen.

See the Fish Called Wanda example at the bottom of the page:

http://www.twowiresthin.com/aspect/

 

At one time, it was out on Beta, VHS, LaserDisc and RCA CED disc.

 

Tutti Frutti is referred to in the Hey Jude session footage, so perhaps it's that. "Whop-a-bop-bop-tutti-frutti, babe!" (followed by some ad-libbing hee-hees by John)

 

I think the negative things about this movie are blown out of proportion. I wouldn't even call the spat between Paul and George an argument, it was merely a disagreement and a fairly tame one at that.

The editing of the movie definitely leaves something to be desired and definitely could have been much better. I don't see how this movie could tarnish their image any more than Magical Myster Tour personally. No, it's not all upbeat fun and games like AHDN or Help! but it was never intended to be. And it's a more honest film than the previous ones too - probably their most honest that lets us (the fans) have a peek behind the curtain.

Bring it on already, with a bonus disk (or 2) called Let It Be 2010 that has a new edit of the film.

 

Ok, found that "Big Picture" version.

It's amazing how much of the original image was chopped off and how much the picture and sound quality was degraded in the finished film. Also this has gotta be the worse edited thing ever!

As much as I love the Beatles I had to fast forward through most of the movie to the few good songs.

There's no good reason why Apple can't just release the rooftop concert and the best studio performances and skip all the draggy stuff.

 

The movie was presented as they wanted it to: "Warts And All". We saw good and bad times. Songs ranged from good to downright awful. The great thing is that they could be sitting around and just get something going without a discussion. Despite all the spats, they could still play rock and roll.

Go back to this time - John was zonked out of his head on drugs and wanted out. George - obviously tired of playing second fiddle to John and Paul. Paul - the only one showing energy (despite being a bit bossy) and trying to keep the boat afloat in the water. Ringo - well, he just wanted to play and enjoy.

After seeing this movie - I can't stop thinking about something John said in an interview. "I don't want to be playing "She Loves You" when I'm thirty". Obviously, he wanted out.

The band grew up - ALL OF THEM. The boys club was gone. Life goes on. Who knows how long they could have survived if they had been allowed to do solo projects like other bands did after them and still get back to playing as a unit. We'll never know. After Dec 8 1980, that a$$hole made sure it never WOULD happen.

 

Beatles fight: Paul apologizes to George; George goes home for tea. "See you 'round the clubs" says George on his way out. Yoko knits a sweater. You couldn't even get a PG rating out of it!