The Beatles - The First U.S. Visit [DVD]

The Beatles First U.S. Visit uniquely chronicles the inside story of the two remarkable weeks when Beatlemania first ignited America. The pioneering Maysles Brothers who filmed at the shoulders of John, Paul, George and Ringo, innovated an intimate documentary style of film-making which set the benchmark for rock and roll cinematography that remains to this day.

Through the eyes of The Beatles the 81-minute film reveals a pivotal time in American history when, in 1964, the post-Kennedy nation was sprung from its gloom by its enthusiasm for the new sensation from England.

Granted all areas access, the Maysles Brothers filmed The Beatles off-guard and off-duty; in hotel rooms and nightclubs, at photo-sessions, press conferences, travelling side-by-side in limos and on trains to record the trip as The Beatles sped around the States leaving the nation spellbound.

Besides revealing The Beatles offstage, this extended version of the Maysles documentary now includes film of their debut concert at The Washington Coliseum and their three historic appearances of The Ed Sullivan Show - including the seminal moment on February 9th when the band first exploded into the homes of 73 million TV viewers. Featured songs from Washington are: "I Saw Her Standing There," "I Wanna Be Your Man" and "She Loves You." The ten performances from the Ed Sullivan shows include: "All My Loving," "Till There Was You," "From Me To You," "This Boy," "Please, Please Me," "Twist And Shout" and "I Want To Hold Your Hand."

The DVD package features the 51-minute Making Of The Beatles First U.S. Visit with footage that's never been seen before. The experience is revealingly recalled in a new interview with Albert Maysles, who also provides an audio commentary for the main film - which itself marks a defining moment in the cultural life of a nation.

By Kayla