Get Back - Peter Jacksons Beatles Documentary

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Anybody watched/watching it? So much I want to discuss. I have loved every second of it:

Ringo - hilarious but clearly struggling with alcoholism
Yoko - sat chilling in the middle of rehearsals. Controlling or just so in love? I am quite impressed with her inability to feel any awkwardness at her being a spare part
Paul - how the hell can he write songs that quickly?
John - what was his deal?
Mal - the road manager. What a trooper!
Glyn and George the producers - how annoyed were they getting with them but had to keep it zipped!

So much more but would like to hear what others found interesting?

@KeepingAnOpenMind

I couldn’t believe how indifferent the spectators were during the rooftop concert!

Don’t forget, they couldn’t actually see who was playing.

I cried many times watching this. The Beatles were the musical background to my childhood.

I've watched most of it- not quite got to the rooftop concert yet.

We've loved it- I've always considered myself a fan (albeit a 90's Oasis-inspired one), DH never rated them. But we've both really enjoyed watching this. Personally, I'm struck by

a) How young they are. Like PP said, to me they were always 'in the past' and although logically I knew the age they were in their heyday, I just watch this and GOGGLE at how young and beautiful they ALL were

b) How gifted they were musically. They really knew their shit.

c) Just how well they actually got along together. A genuine camaraderie, even when their focus lay in different directions. And how much the other three all clearly love Ringo

d) How nice John Lennon was, even though he obviously had a sharp dry SOH. My whole life, I've thought he was a bit of a diva (even though I've loved some of his work). In this, he just comes across as a funny, gentle soul.

Not going to lie, I skipped to the bits with sexy George in.

The clothes! The clothes were so good. And I really liked how it gave you an insight into the much under appreciated but very difficult job of producer. Glyn was a total babe. I would have been like a bee to honey around him.

@CeleriacOfTheNight JL was really nice wasn't he? I was surprised at how wrong I had got him. I shouldn't really have had an opinion on the man, as I only listened to his music and glanced at press.

I agree it's the best thing I've seen on tv for a while - I feel like I've spent the whole weekend with the Beatles.
They really were musical geniuses just swapping instruments- even Billy Preston was amazing to watch.

Tried to describe it to colleagues : 'well it's several hours of The Beatles in a studio and on a roof'. It's just not possible to describe how fascinating it is. I was entranced.

And how lovely is this:
rock929rocks.com/2021/12/08/man-spots-mom-among-rooftop-concert-crowd-in-the-beatles-get-back/

I think the previously released film did a lot of damage to reputations - bad editing that made Yoko look responsible for the split? I'm sure Peter Jackson said he purposefully didn't just add to the previous film but instead went through all the footage and wanted to present it accurately.

The relationship between the band members was so lovely to see. It was like any group of siblings or old friends who were beginning to grow apart but come back with the old in jokes and affection.

Might watch again!

I think Yoko, as an artist, was enjoying quietly 'vibing' with the creative process.

The whole thing showed the tremendous bond between them and the musicianship they'd developed from the long hours they had to put in working in Hamburg.

I thought Paul and Linda were very sweet - you could see that was a relationship that was really meant to last, and in the songs Paul wrote for her. I noticed at one point he mentioned something about moving to a farm, which is what he and Linda did and I gather managed to bring their kids up with some semblance of normality, including sending them to state schools. Paul comes over as a very grounded person.

@cortex10 - yes it was very sad to think about how John and George's lives were cut short.

This might sound dramatic, but I found the whole thing very healing.

I suffer from SAD and struggle at this time of year.

But watching it under my blanket, I felt cocooned and happy, like I was actually in the studio with them.

It busted two major myths.

Yoko was not the bad smell in the room as she had previously been portrayed. She was very sweet and adoring. And she was rightly welcomed.

The Beatles weren't at each others throats as the last film had insinuated. Their bonds were strong, genial and supportive.

Thanks OP for starting this thread.

Oh it's soooo amazing. Watching songs we've all loved for years being created is so special. So many things to love too! Like a PP said, it looks like it was filmed yesterday and they're so young and personable; you get such a great insight into their personalities and 'gang' dynamic, I feel like I just spent the weekend with them! And they're all so handsome

Totally agree about Yoko getting a bad rap being a load of misogynistic rubbish. She was there because John loved her and wanted her to be there with him. Paul pretty much says that - and that he thinks she's great! I love how she just sits there quietly in the middle of it all and they're all fine with it. Paul eventually did the same with Linda - made her part of Wings so they could be together and she got the same nasty comments. I think there was something about these two guys unapologetically centering the women they loved that really rubbed some people up the wrong way.

Oh and can we talk about George's outfits?? He's a one man 1969 catwalk show!

I'm a Beatle fan, I devoured each episode as soon as they were released. I loved it. As PPs said, the clarity of the film footage is glorious. I especially enjoyed the cups of tea, the mundane bits where they're ordering dinner etc. And the clothes.

One thing that annoyed me though was little Heather, at first it was nice to see them playing with her but then she was clearly in the way and sort of getting on their tits while they were working and Linda was doing that drippy mother who doesn't take the hint that the child should leave thing that you read about so often on mumsnet 😁.

I really loved it too though I thought there were a lot of undercurrents.

Agree re Glyn - v tasty.

@littleburn - yeah, I especially loved George's outfits.

The embroidered boots! The red cords with mustard jumper! The pink stripey suit! swoons He was really rather.... fans self

I loved billy Preston and agree about heather. Cute at first. Then she needed to go to the park

I had been annoyed with Yoko being so close to John all the time but I recently read that 3 months prior to this she had lost a baby at 6 months. So still recovering from that and it’s around the time of her due date. It now make more sense.

I loved it, and agree about George the clothes horse - he clearly loved fashion and he was absolutely ravishing.

Also agree that Yoko’s reputation seems to have been based entirely on misogyny and racism. I’m delighted that this film will correct that.

It was so interesting to see and feel the tensions, and how they just disappeared as soon as they started jamming. They were four young lads in Liverpool again at times.

Fascinating the part where they were talking about the retreat in India. It was obvious that George was the only one who took all the spiritual stuff seriously, and John and Paul were on the verge of absolutely ripping the piss out of it all, but pulled back for George’s sake (or to stop him walking out again…). John and Paul were just naughty schoolboys really.

John these days would love being a professional troll I think - like Ricky Gervais. He was a brilliant artist and musician, but loved irony and satire and sending up the world. He looked quite manic and clearly high as a kite a lot of the time.

George seemed much more sincere and serious.

Ringo was just a sweetheart, and a bloody fine drummer actually, despite the jokes people make about him. Amazing how little ego he seemed to have - just contributing the literal heartbeat of the band without vying for the limelight.

I can see why George felt sidelined though, he was such a good guitarist.

The sheer joy when they were all jamming with Billy Preston was delightful.

Debbie the receptionist and Jimmy the dooorman were the heroes of the film. The way they played dumb with those poor, hapless coppers…

I keep remembering other bits - like when George wanted to do a solo album - John and Yoko were really supportive.

Billy Preston was fantastic - and I found it interesting how they talked about him maybe joining the band!

Did anyone see Yesterday? I thought I'd hate it but I didn't. And there's a bit when the main character takes a trip and... I actually sobbed. It makes me well up just thinking about it. I don't want to spoil the film in case anyone hasn't seen it and wants to. But watching it then watching Get Back gave me all the tender feelings and wishes that I'd been alive and a teenager when The Beatles were big.

My mum is from Merseyside and was a teenager in the 60s. Must have been thrilling.

I know the bit of yesterday that you mean. I am really surprised how much this has effected me. It was so moving.

I loved this documentary, and I’m not even a particular Beatles, or music documentary fan! It was just so utterly compelling. My parents would have been around 17/18 when this was recorded, and I got them to watch it - they adored it, it was the absolute backdrop to my mums teenager-dom, and they loved seeing all the clothes etc.

Also, did you notice the total lack of paper cups / takeaways etc? They were always drinking big cups of tea out of proper mugs. I mean, of course they were - but it would be so different today!

Tea and toast! Food of champions.

I have found myself idly wondering which Beatle I'd marry. I mean obviously George, but each has their charms