Set against a backdrop of a changing America—marked by racial tensions, the nuclear threat, and the aftermath of JFK’s assassination—the documentary opens with a powerful juxtaposition. A rousing JFK speech about victory cuts abruptly to sombre footage of his funeral and the aftermath, situating The Beatles’ arrival as a moment of relief for a nation in mourning.

Their 14-day US trip overwhelmed both fans and the press. Camera crews struggled to keep up with the frenzy, and reporters were swept up in the chaos, abandoning interviews to chase shots of the band. Girls outside hotels held placards proclaiming, “Elvis is dead. Long live The Beatles,” while Vickie Brenna-Costa, one of the screaming fans at the Plaza Hotel, recalls, “We couldn’t contain ourselves, it was a natural reaction.”

Directed by David Tedeschi and produced by Martin Scorsese, the documentary captures the band’s novelty in America, with footage of the Fab Four cramped in hotel rooms, surrounded by cameras, smoking and flipping through magazines. Their famed working-class humor charmed the American press, even if some cultural nuances were lost in translation. George Harrison’s later reflections underscore this, describing Liverpool as a place where “everyone’s a comedian.” He adds, “Go through the Mersey Tunnel, and the man at the toll will be a comedian.” 

See The Beatles like never before.
Beatles ‘64 is NOW STREAMING, only on #DisneyPlus.#Beatles64 @johnlennon @PaulMcCartney @GeorgeHarrison @ringostarrmusic pic.twitter.com/CNnDNipwHG

— The Beatles (@thebeatles) November 29, 2024

Paul McCartney’s present-day reflections provide some of the documentary’s most touching moments. At his photography exhibit ‘1963-64: Eyes of the Storm’, he gestures to photos of fans behind wooden barriers, saying, “America to us was the land of freedom. It’s funny because when we got there, we learned that wasn’t quite the story.”  

Another poignant moment comes from an interview on the train from New York to Washington, where a reporter asks McCartney, “What place will the story of The Beatles have in Western culture?” McCartney laughs, brushing off the question: “You must be kidding with that question. Culture? It’s not culture.” When pressed, he offers a typically understated answer: “It’s a good laugh.” Decades later, this remark feels both modest and prescient, as the band’s cultural legacy remains undeniable.

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  The film also explores the emotional connection fans had with The Beatles, which went beyond mere admiration. The screaming, the placards, and the devotion weren’t just mania; they were expressions of a deeply personal connection. Author Joe Queenan becomes emotional when discussing hearing them for the first time, sitting alongside his sister at the radio.   

Ringo Starr recalls the trip as the moment he felt the band had truly “made it,” exclaiming, “We were here! America! New York!” But for John Lennon, the craziness had darker undertones. Photographer Harry Benson recounts Lennon’s unease about the violence in America, amplified by JFK’s assassination, and how he was worried about how fast a good situation could turn bad.

 

 

 

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Amidst the frenzy, the band maintained a sense of playfulness. One clip shows Lennon casually playing with a melodica in a hotel room, unknowingly crafting the intro to ‘Strawberry Fields Forever’, a song which would be released three years later.

Fans have shared their opinions of the documentary, with many praising its ability to place the footage within the worlds of so many people. From the reporters to the fans, and even the band, the documentary covers a variety of angles, with interviews with figures like filmmaker David Lynch, and musician Ronald Isley, who the Beatles covered with their version of ‘Twist and Shout’

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The documentary is neatly divided, with their iconic ‘Ed Sullivan Show’ appearance as the halfway mark. Contextualising their fame, clips of philosopher Marshall McLuhan and composer Leonard Bernstein highlight the bands role as the first “TV band” and the musical complexity that won over critics and fans.

The film ends poignantly with Lennon’s reflection: “The Beatles didn’t lead anything. We were in the crow’s nest of a ship sailing to a new world, and we just said, ‘Land ahoy.’”

Released two days ago, the trailer features a clip of the band traveling by train, departing Washington, D.C. In the scene, John Lennon questions whether they need to perform for the cameras. A touching moment follows, as Lennon and George Harrison inspect each other’s suit jackets—identical in design—before swapping them and Harrison humorously shouting, “Cut!”

This trailer, combined with the more personal moments featured in earlier previews, suggests the documentary will offer a closer look at the camaraderie and humour that defined the band during their early years.

The Beatles ‘64’ takes viewers back to the band’s first trip to the United States, where Beatlemania took hold almost overnight. This documentary dives into that transformative period, combining rare archival footage, captured by the late Albert and David Maysles, and new commentary to explore their impact on music, culture, and race relations in a rapidly changing America.

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The documentary is directed by David Tedeschi and produced by Martin Scorsese, marking another collaboration between the two . While Scorsese is a producer here, he has previously directed music documentaries on Bob Dylan (‘No Direction Home’) and George Harrison (‘Living in the Material World’), both of which were praised by fans of the artists.

The film premiered in New York City on Sunday (November 24), attended by Tedeschi, Scorsese and Paul McCartney. Fans were shocked to see him in attendance, with the musician recently touring his ‘Got Back’ show around South and Central America. His last date in the Americas was in Mexico City on November 17, and he is set to continue the tour in Europe, with UK dates in Manchester and London.

The Beatles’ debut on The Ed Sullivan Show in February 1964 catapulted them to fame, drawing over 73 million viewers. Shortly after, they made music history by occupying the top five spots on the Billboard Hot 100 with hits like ‘Can’t Buy Me Love’ and ‘She Loves You’.

On February 9, 1964, Ed Sullivan introduced American television to The Beatles Tune in all week long as we celebrate this landmark moment in history! #BeatlesWeek pic.twitter.com/Fs84cONSRi

— The Ed Sullivan Show (@EdSullivanShow) February 1, 2024

Paul McCartney shared a lighthearted story about ‘She Loves You’, recalling how his father once suggested swapping the famous “yeah, yeah, yeah” refrain for “yes, yes, yes” to sound less American.This playful anecdote contrasts with the band’s early rebellious image, which made them a sensation among a young audience craving something fresh.

The documentary also highlights The Beatles’ influence on a racially divided America. Smokey Robinson reflects on the unifying power of their music, stating, “The saving grace was the music, because it gave [black and white kids] something they both loved and enjoyed.” Ronnie Spector recounts sneaking the band into a Harlem restaurant to avoid recognition.

 

 

 

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These personal moments align with the behind-the-scenes footage teased in trailers, capturing the Beatles’ dynamic as bandmates and friends. The project will aim to balance these candid glimpses with their rapid rise to global superstardom, exploring the pressures of fame and the loss of personal freedoms they faced.

‘The Beatles ’64’ promises to deliver an intimate portrait of the band’s most transformative year. The documentary premieres this Friday, November 29 on Disney+.

Recorded at the BBC Paris Studio on December 18, 1963, From Us To You was broadcast as a Boxing Day special on December 26, 1963. The two-hour program followed the conclusion of the Beatles’ Pop Go The Beatles radio series and was one of numerous specials broadcast on bank holidays.

The EP’s A-side features ‘From Us To You (Intro)’, ‘Boys’, and the fan-favourite ‘I Saw Her Standing There’. The B-side includes the Beatles’ version of controversial presenter Rolf Harris’ 1960 song ‘Tie Me Kangaroo Down Sport’ and ‘From Us To You (Outro)’, all from the same BBC session.

The ‘Pop Go The Beatles’ radio series, produced on a measly £100 budget per episode, offered the band a unique outlet. While their live sets featured mostly Lennon-McCartney originals, the show allowed them to revisit R&B covers from their Liverpool and Hamburg days. These recordings often serve as the only surviving renditions of their pre-fame favourites and have been made into two separate compilations.

After the conclusion of their previous show, the BBC brought the band back in for a special broadcast. The ‘From Us To You’ special aired on Boxing Day 1963. The Beatles reworked their hit ‘From Me To You’ into a custom theme, opening and closing the two-hour broadcast. The success of ‘Pop Go The Beatles’ and ‘From Us To You’ led to four additional bank holiday specials over the next 18 months.

This release marks the unexpected return of I Saw Her Standing There to the charts. Originally featured on the Beatles’ debut album, Please Please Me, the track has long been celebrated as one of their most energetic performances. Its inclusion on this EP might not introduce it to a new generation of collectors and fans, but it does highlight just how important those early Beatles songs were to capturing American audiences less than a year later.

The track holds a special place in the band’s history. It was one of the first songs they performed during their groundbreaking appearances in the United States, helping cement Beatlemania on both sides of the Atlantic. This period of time will be covered in the upcoming documentary, ‘Beatles ’64‘.

This nostalgia-tinged release follows the Beatles’ recent chart success with Now and Then, their “final song”. Combining John Lennon’s 1970s demo vocals, George Harrison’s 1990s guitar parts, and new contributions from Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr, the track has earned Grammy nominations for Record of the Year and Best Rock Performance. Winners will be revealed in February’s awards ceremony.

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Beyond the music, the vinyl release taps into a growing trend for physical media. It is becoming increasingly common to hear that vinyl has outsold CDs. In October, it was reported that vinyl sales had dropped by 33%, however this was due to a change in how figures were calculated, and sales were in fact up by 6.2%.

From Us To You may not top the mainstream charts, but its success on the UK Vinyl Singles Chart and UK Physical Singles Chart proves that Beatlemania is far from over. Over sixty years since its original broadcast, the Fab Four continue to resonate with new generations of fans.

Set to be released on Disney+ on 29 November, the film showcases present day interviews with surviving Beatles, Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr, along with other ’60s icons like Smokey Robinson and Ronnie Spector. Scorsese, known for award-winning music documentaries (as well as his celebrated feature film career), produced the film alongside long-time collaborator Tedeschi.

The trailer hints at a blend of humour and nostalgia, with scenes that reveal the toll of the band’s relentless schedule. In one light-hearted scene, Starr mistakes Washington for New York, laughing it off with, “we’re just moving so fast.” Other unseen clips capture the band’s candid exchanges in what will be a real treat for Beatles fans of all ages.

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  Music legend Smokey Robinson comments in the documentary on how the Beatles were “the first white group I heard say, ‘yeah, we grew up listening to Black music,’” while the late Ronnie Spector recalls the Fab Four’s fascination with American culture. “They wanted to know everything about America: The food, the groups, the dancing. They loved it,” she says.

  The Beatles’ 1964 trip to the US marked the dawn of the “British Invasion” and reshaped American pop culture. Arriving to ecstatic crowds and unprecedented media frenzy at Kennedy Airport, their appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show drew over 73 million viewers and sparked Beatlemania on a national scale. This US visit helped lay the groundwork for them becoming a global phenomenon.

The Beatles greeted by hundreds of fans after landing.

To give fans a taste, Disney+ teased this trailer on social media, where posts are already trending. Across the various Beatles associated accounts that reposted it, hundreds of users have shared their excitement at the project.  

I used to watch the first US visit dvd on repeat all day as a kid, it’s gonna be amazing seeing new footage from this time

— peter lane (@peterlanee) November 14, 2024

Originally filmed by documentarians Albert and David Maysles, the documentary’s footage has been restored in 4K, capturing every detail. Audio experts at WingNut Films remixed the soundtrack, with Beatles producer Giles Martin (son of original producer George Martin) adding his touch to enhance their debut US concert and Ed Sullivan Show appearances. 

The release of The Beatles ‘64 comes on the heels of Disney’s success with Get Back in 2021, the Peter Jackson-directed documentary that took audiences behind the scenes of the Beatles’ Let It Be sessions. Disney+ will be aiming to replicate that critical acclaim Get Back achieved by bringing another deep dive into the band’s legacy to their service.

Anybody who has watched some of Scorsese’s more recent music documentaries, such as George Harrison: Living in the Material World and Rolling Thunder Revue: A Bob Dylan Story, will be eagerly waiting to see how he approaches a project with four equally charismatic stars, even if he is just serving as a producer. Along with Scorsese, the documentary is also being produced by McCartney, Starr, Olivia Harrison (George Harrison’s widow), and Sean Ono Lennon.

For fans of the Fab Four, the promise of unseen moments between John Lennon, George Harrison, and their bandmates offers a unique look back at the cultural phenomenon that was Beatlemania. With Scorsese’s Midas touch, the film hopes to appeal to both long-time fans and new generations alike.

It might be releasing in little over two weeks, but if you just can’t wait, here’s a clip of the Beatles landing in New York for the first time!