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.’”

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!