The Beatles: Eight Days a Week – The Touring Years

Ron Howard is a gifted storyteller and this is a terrific story to tell. This is the Beatles, not just the greatest musical force to hit the planet, but a global social phenomena.

The post-war economic mire was over and the 60’s were swinging. Beatlemania was the musical canvas. More a verbatim film than your standard music documentary, this film focuses on the touring years.

The footage and still photographs are beautiful. The early interviews capture their unpretentious mischief – they were very funny. Much is made of the personal bonds that held the group together through the intense pressure of touring. The innocent stand against racism in America and the ‘Jesus’ quote by Lennon brought enormous pressure, but it was as much their restless inventiveness that saw them dis-band.

The final scene, the last concert on the rooftop of Apple studios in London, is incredibly cool. It was 1969 and light-years from their beginnings at the Cavern Club in 1961. It was a whirlwind we’ll never see again. (GW)

★★★★