Who directed the 1970 film Let It Be about the Beatles?
Let It Be was directed by Michael Lindsay-Hogg, who had previously worked with the Beatles on promotional films for songs including "Paperback Writer", "Rain", "Hey Jude" and "Revolution".
Questions about Let It Be (1970 film)
Short answers, pulled from the story.
What is the rooftop concert in the Let It Be film?
On the 30th of January 1969, the Beatles and pianist Billy Preston performed an unannounced lunchtime concert on the roof of the Apple building on Savile Row in London, playing for 42 minutes. It was the group's last public performance together. The police arrived during the set to shut it down, citing disruption to nearby businesses.
Did the Beatles win an Oscar for Let It Be?
Yes. John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr won the Academy Award for Best Original Song Score for Let It Be, with Quincy Jones accepting the award on their behalf. The soundtrack also won a Grammy for Best Original Score, though the Recording Academy mistakenly omitted Starr's writing credit on "Dig It" from the listed recipients.
Why was Let It Be unavailable on home video for so long?
Let It Be has not been officially available on home video since its VHS and LaserDisc releases in the early 1980s. Attempts to release a DVD alongside the 2003 album Let It Be... Naked did not materialise. Apple Corps' Neil Aspinall stated in 2007 that revisiting the outtakes raised old controversies, and a 2008 report suggested McCartney and Starr were reluctant to publicise footage showing internal tensions within the band.
When was Let It Be made available to stream on Disney Plus?
A 4K restored version of Let It Be was released on Disney+ on the 8th of May 2024, restored by Peter Jackson's Park Road Post production company. It was the first time the film had been publicly screened since its original theatrical release.
What happened when George Harrison quit the Beatles during the Let It Be sessions?
Around lunchtime on Friday the 10th of January 1969, Harrison told the other Beatles he was leaving the band, following ongoing tensions at Twickenham Film Studios. He went home and wrote the song "Wah-Wah" that afternoon. He agreed to return at a meeting on the 15th of January on the condition that elaborate concert plans be dropped and sessions move to Apple's studio on Savile Row. This entire episode was omitted from the finished film.