| The Beatles Anthology 8 - July '68 to the End (1996)
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| Front Cover |
Actor |
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| Movie Details |
| Genre |
Mystery |
| Director |
Geoff Wonfor |
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| Language |
English |
| Running Time |
81 mins |
| Country |
USA |
| Color |
Color |
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| Plot |
| The Beatles Anthology: July '68 to the End utilizes rare archival footage, interviews produced specifically for this documentary, and a healthy amount of music to tell the emotionally painful story of the band's breakup. This episode begins with Ringo , believing the band doesn't care about him anymore, quitting the Beatles . The three others assure him he is a valuable member of the group and he returns to the fold. The band continues to produce The White Album, but are more often working as individuals in the studio and not as a cohesive band. There is a discussion about that album's place in history. The Apple boutique closes. That public failure is followed by an explanation of the creation of the most successful single in the United States, "Hey, Jude." The band takes up residence in Twickenham film studios with the intention of filming themselves writing and rehearsing a new album's worth of material. They planned on performing the new material in front of a live audience in order to end the documentary. An album would then be issued in conjunction with the release of the film. Unfortunately, the bandmembers were reaching the end of their emotional ropes with each other and what was filmed was a series of petty arguments interspersed with some fine music. George becomes so fed up he quits the band. He returns when work at Twickenham is ceased, and the band finishes the album at their Apple studio. Billy Preston is recruited to play keyboards on the album. His jocular attitude lightens the mood of all the bandmembers. Unable to agree on a place to perform the film-ending concert, the Beatles agree to play on the rooftop of Apple. The impromptu concert lasts until the police are called to stop it because of complaints about the noise. This would be the last live Beatles performance. The movie Let It Be became a document about the breakup of the band. Paul marries Linda Eastman the same day the police arrest George on drug charges. John marries Yoko . At this point, the documentary features statements from each of the Beatles concerning the band's dissolution. Allen Klein is brought in to stop Apple from hemorrhaging money because none of the bandmembers are competent businessmen. Wishing to end on a better note than the acrimonious Let It Be sessions, Paul calls up their producer George Martin and asks him to record one last album with the band. Abbey Road became the group's triumphant swan song (even though it was released before Let It Be). Ringo sums up the emotional dynamics of the Beatles when he states, "We were four guys who loved each other." This final episode of The Beatles Anthology ends with the video for "Free As a Bird," the first new Beatles song in 25 years. — Perry Seibert |
| Personal Details |
| Seen It |
Yes |
| Index |
96 |
| In Collection |
Yes |
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| Product Details |
| Format |
DVD |
| Region |
Region 1 |
| Release Date |
2003 |
| Nr of Disks/Tapes |
1 |
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