Let It Be

If one believes what he or she reads, 1970's LET IT BE has been dismissed and all but buried by surviving Beatles Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr, who are said to be concerned about how the documentary portrays the Fab Four in the studio.  Those pesky creative differences of which we often hear.  This film has the reputation of being morose and maudlin.  Sessions filled with infighting that led to George Harrison's brief exit from the band.

LET IT BE is eighty minutes in length, distilled from hundreds of hours of footage of the quartet's rehearsals and recording of an album that McCartney wanted to be a "back to basics" collection.  Songs not distinguished by multiple overdubs and post production wizardry.  His mantra: write it simply, then complicate it, not vice versa.  The film was originally intended for television, but as time dragged on (and tensions mounted) director Michael Lindsay-Hogg felt he had a feature.  No argument.  With a plethora of cameras the director manages to capture both the excitement and ennui of the recording process.  By 1969, the boys were itching for outside projects.  John Lennon was also heavier into drugs and was now joined at the hip with Yoko Ono, who appears here as if some washed out waif, a grim reaper of sorts in the studio.

The film is not (entirely) the expected downer.  Lots of fun moments are captured: Ringo and Paul duet on the piano.  Paul sings "Besame Mucho" in that playful voice.  Billy Preston brings some cheer on the electric piano. We get some full length performances during the recording.  But there are also the well known scenes of Paul and George's minor dustup and Paul's long blather to John, who barely responds.  Moments where everyone looks uncomfortable.  Paul seems to get the most screen time, often coming off as bossy and boorish.  Maybe that's why LET IT BE hasn't had a legitimate home video release in over thirty years.  Will we have to wait until the remaining Beatles pass before we get that remastered Blu-ray?

The final third of the film documents the famous lunchtime rooftop concert, the one atop Apple Studios.  Tony Lenny's editing is excellent - shots of the growing crowd on street (and a few climbing to the top of the building) are cut with the boys jamming through their new tunes, and actually looking happy.  Especially Lennon.  Did he know just then that it would be their final bow? We get a few brief interviews from those down below.  Most are pleasantly surprised, one guy feels that while, ahem, such music has its proper place, it is just plain disruptive today.  

Being a consummate Beatles devotee, I was fascinated with every single moment of LET IT BE, even some of the draggy studio footage.  I can watch musicians noodle and experiment for hours.  Maybe Lennon and McCartney were done with each other by this time (though remarkably regrouped to write and record Abbey Road after Let It Be).  The 16mm blowup may make the film look like crap, but it feels like long lost home movies, and the scratchy print only added to the experience for me.  I feel like I did indeed discover old reels that someone tried to bury.  It's worth the effort.