Following the success of “The Beatles: Get Back” and “Let It Be”, Disney is once again taking a look back at the life of the iconic British pop group, but this time sharing details on the electrifying moment of The Beatles’ first visit to America.  This documentary features never-before-seen footage, and the film gives a rare glimpse into when The Beatles became the most influential and beloved band of all time.  

The documentary features lots of footage from their first trip to the US, where we get to see how crazy the situation was for them. As they had become so popular, they were basically locked into their hotel room because all of the girls were trying to see them.  

It does a great job of setting the tone of the era, highlighting some of the musical inspirations for The Beatles and highlighting why American teenagers were going crazy for the band.  It also highlights how they broke the mould and had to deal with incredible stress and pressure because of their popularity.  We also get to see how they handled the situation, often with humour at the insane moments, that very few had ever experienced. 

There are also modern and archived interviews interweaved throughout the film, explaining some of the reasons and thoughts behind the crazy events of their adventures in the United States. 

We’ve seen a few different Beatles projects released on Disney+ over the past few years, and this one captures them at their initial high while the group were all getting on, enjoying life and embracing the incredible experience. 

One of the other key elements of this film is covering how the girls were reacting to The Beatles, interviewing not just their fans but also older passers-by, who didn’t understand the fuss.  It’s also fascinating to look back and compare how much of what was seen as crazy in 1964 is now considered normal.  The film is a good representation of how life has changed so much since then.  It’s also kinda interesting how you could argue that the worries about many of the parents and older people at the time, in some way, have come true when you consider how The Beatles would be considered tame compared to today’s modern artists.

As you might expect, the film does feature lots of footage of musical performances, and I liked that it didn’t pull away from them too quickly, letting you get sucked into their music.   The pacing of the documentary is also far better than “Get Back” since this film is under two hours, compared to almost seven hours for the three-part series. 

Roger’s Take:  “Beatles ’64” is a fascinating look at a unique time in entertainment, when Beatlesmania took over and changed music forever.   The documentary gives an excellent insight into that wild time and shows how the band members dealt with the craziness by being humble and not taking it all too seriously.   This is a must-watch for fans of The Beatles or those wanting to learn more about Beatlemania and is also a great insight into life in the mid-1960s.

Rating – 4 Out Of 5

 “Beatles ’64″ will stream exclusively on Disney+ on November 29th, 2024.

Are you looking forward to watching “Beatles ’64”?  Let me know on social media!

Roger Palmer

Roger has been a Disney fan since he was a kid and this interest has grown over the years. He has visited Disney Parks around the globe and has a vast collection of Disney movies and collectibles. He is the owner of What's On Disney Plus & DisKingdom. Email: Roger@WhatsOnDisneyPlus.com Twitter: Twitter.com/RogPalmerUK Facebook: Facebook.com/rogpalmeruk

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