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      The Compleat Beatles

      1982 2h 0m Documentary List
      Reviews 97% 100+ Ratings Audience Score Malcolm McDowell narrates this music documentary, which covers the history of the Beatles, from the legendary British rock band's early days in Liverpool, England, to the act's eventual dissolution. In addition to featuring live footage of the group, along with rare photos of the Fab Four -- John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr -- the film presents interviews with many of their close associates, most notably producer George Martin and session musician Billy Preston. Read More Read Less

      Audience Reviews

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      Audience Member Engrossing, moody, impeccably edited documentary. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 02/21/23 Full Review Audience Member A stunning 2 hour b&w documentary thats about as "complete" a review of the group's evolution from childhood band to iconic status as The Beatles. Nothing is missed, complete with notable interviews of fellow performers at the time in Liverpool and Hamburg, before they EVER gained popularity. A treasure trove of early, really early Beatle history. A sacred bible for those fans and anyone interested to know. The narrator is none other than that lead actor from A Clockwork Orange and he does a grand job too! Start with the first part of the film here and hopefully you will find the other parts as you go on youtube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RLv9pyjervw "It wasn't their music which sold them to me; it was their charm. They were very charming people."-George Martin. [img]https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRg8KC45syHhk3FenStjhpa5GGT5H2sLi7tBfUjCB2egVHKErM4_w[/img] You'll find out all sorts of trivia. For instance, their popular US album "Meet the Beatles", with black and white faces of the fab four with shadows was inspired by a girl photographer named Astra, dating Stuart Sutcliff, a fellow friend/ music college student of Paul. Of course, all the common knowledge biography is here, but lots lots more. "They generally wrote their own songs...they would play them, one to the other...It was very much a competition, and a very healthy one."-George Martin [img]http://i1.ytimg.com/vi/5RBEFKNvWC4/hqdefault.jpg[/img] teen John Lennon in the Quarry Men group he founded [A strange trivia fact is that the title is using the archaic 1653 spelling "compleat", as used in the title of the Compleat Angler written in 1653. The correct spelling today is, of course, "complete", but you won't find the film on RT or Amazon.com if you use the word complete. You must use "compleat".] "At the moment they were being given a philosophy in which they could live their lives as individuals, at that very second, Brian died: the one who wanted them to be as a group."-Marianne Faithfull [img]http://img0091.popscreencdn.com/134375449_the-compleat-beatles-vhs-oop-big-box-documentary-ebay.jpg[/img] My vhs copy Narrated by none other than Malcome McDowell of A Clockwork Orange, the MGM documentary got rave reviews. Can be watched more than once for rare Cavern and Hamburg film footage plus the band's U.S. tour and beyond. [img]https://encrypted-tbn3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTX1SS5bJAuJet8H5TlrNgY4kjUoRjOBjlvU4vqGXTvOFspY3xs7g[/img] The documentary covers this dark period too NOTES about the film: 1 The Compleat Beatles, released in 1982, is a two-hour documentary, chronicling the career of the "Fab Four". Though it has since been supplanted by the longer and more in-depth documentary Beatles Anthology, The Compleat Beatles was for many years largely regarded as the definitive source of information on the Beatles. 2 "The weary faces on the cover of the next British LP, Beatles for Sale, showed that Beatlemania was taking its toll." 3 "Magical Mystery Tour...was their first venture following Brian's death. Largely a project of Paul's, the idea was to travel the English countryside in a bus filled with friends, actors and circus freaks, and to film whatever happened. Unfortunately, nothing did." 4 ""Hey Jude" was their first release from the newly formed Apple Corps. The song was seven minutes long, double the length of most singles. Radio stations usually refused to play a song that lasted more than three minutes, but once again the Beatles were the exception to the rule. "Hey Jude" became the Beatles' largest-selling single of all." Directed by Patrick Montgomery Produced by Patrick Montgomery, Stephanie Bennett Written by David Silver Narrated by Malcolm McDowell (A Clockwork Orange) Starring John Lennon Paul McCartney George Harrison Ringo Starr George Martin Marianne Faithfull Bruce Johnston Billy J. Kramer Gerry Marsden Billy Preston Tony Sheridan Music by: The Beatles Distributed by MGM Release date(s) 1982 Running time 119 min. [img]http://qiqru.org/media/npict/1401/big/polnaya_istoriya_bitlz_the_com_1826648.jpeg[/img] Rated 5 out of 5 stars 01/19/23 Full Review Audience Member Brilliant doco about the Beatles from the cavern club days to their 8 successful years as the biggest band in history. Its a hard one to get though you'd be hard pressed to find it anywhere. I loved it! Only available on VHS as far as I know. Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 02/10/23 Full Review Audience Member this was the first Beatles docs I ever saw and was brill back in the early 80s. It's not lame, it does NOT feature music from other bands, it contains real Beatles music. They even had the guts to use, in the background, some unreleased Beatles music from the Get Back sessions. I got my first glimpse of the Strawberry Fields and Hey Jude promos.Still worth watching if you want a shortish introduction and haven't got the time for The Anthology! Recommended to new Beatles fans! Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 01/29/23 Full Review Audience Member Engrossing, moody, impeccably edited documentary. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 01/28/23 Full Review Audience Member never mind bootleg review contains real Beatles music, nearly impossible to find now I have an old copy. Well narrated and insightful. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 01/13/23 Full Review Read all reviews Post a rating

      Cast & Crew

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      Critics Reviews

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      Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat Spirituality & Practice A tribute to the musical magic of the Beatles. Rated: 3/5 Aug 19, 2004 Full Review Read all reviews

      Movie Info

      Synopsis Malcolm McDowell narrates this music documentary, which covers the history of the Beatles, from the legendary British rock band's early days in Liverpool, England, to the act's eventual dissolution. In addition to featuring live footage of the group, along with rare photos of the Fab Four -- John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr -- the film presents interviews with many of their close associates, most notably producer George Martin and session musician Billy Preston.
      Director
      Patrick Montgomery
      Genre
      Documentary
      Original Language
      English
      Runtime
      2h 0m