For a band that broke up more than half a century ago, the Beatles have been extremely active over the past year.
Last November they released their ‘final song’ Now and Then, featuring posthumous contributions from John Lennon and George Harrison. And in May this year the 1970 documentary Let It Be was rereleased after decades out of circulation.
Now Oscar-winning filmmaker Martin Scorsese is uncovering more treasures from the Beatles’ rich history, producing a documentary that explores how the Fab Four stormed America 60 years ago.
Beatles ’64 will follow the British band touching down at Kennedy Airport in New York City on February 7 1964, leading to Beatlemania sweeping the city and the US.
The Disney+ film, which will be available to stream from November 29, will examine the band’s historic debut performance on US variety program The Ed Sullivan Show, which was watched by more than 73 million viewers.
It’s far from the only film Beatles fans can look forward to. Director Sam Mendes is currently planning four epic Beatles biopics, each covering a different band member, to be released in 2027.
Next month’s Scorsese-produced documentary, directed by David Tedeschi, will feature never-before-seen footage of the band and the host of young fans who helped fuel their fame.
The film also promises to show a more intimate side to one of the band’s most turbulent periods, capturing the camaraderie of John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr amid the chaos.
The music and footage will be accompanied by newly filmed interviews with Sir Paul and Sir Ringo, as well as fans whose lives were transformed by the group.
Rare footage filmed by documentarians Albert and David Maysles (who chronicled the same time period in their 1991 documentary The First US Visit) will also be included in restored 4K format.
Joining Scorsese as producer are former Beatles Sir Paul and Sir Ringo, Harrison’s widow Olivia, and Lennon’s son Sean.
Scorsese has previously directed documentary George Harrison: Living In The Material World, which explored the life and music of the Beatles star.
– with Naomi Clarke, AAP