The Beatles - The First U.S Visit [DVD] [2004]

At the risk of showing my age, if you really want a nostalgic whiff of Beatlemania that depicts what it was really like at the time then this will beat hands down all the other contenders (yes I accept the full Anthology set will satisfy the historic completist but this is the brief time snapshot that is worth it's weight in gold in showing their initial impact and why the Beatles meant so much to so many people in the mid-1960s).Given the paucity of few UK complete visual recordings (e.g. no London Palladium or Royal Variety Show tapes kept)or UK documentaries, we must be forever grateful to whoever at UK Granada TV had the great insight to guess that in hitting the US for just over one week with the platform of the Ed Sullivan shows (NY and Miami)and an intervening live show in Washington DC would deliver a unique artefact of Beatlemania. On top of that to then decide to use the Maysles Brothers with their "hands on" cinema verite style to make these historic recordings was a truly inspired choice (proven yet again in their later "Gimme Shelter" documentary of the Rolling Stones in the late 1960s).While the recordings of certain parts of this DVD may be topped in quality elsewhere in other recent releases, having seen this documentary several times in torrid "old TV" tapes format across the 1980s in UK cinemas this DVD is a very good quality version given access to the original tapes. The additional footage of deleted scenes plus Albert Maysle commenting on what it was like really like in making the film, underlines that this is an amazing record with a level of access to the Beatles that was never repeated plus captures beautifully how fully they conquered the USA in 1964, without realising at the time what they had achieved.Interesting other observations having watched the DVD several times are how much all four Beatles were in strong personal empathy ( especially Ringo as the lynchpin of a lot of their dry humour which so enraptured them to the Americans and against the backdrop of the prior sacking of Pete Best)plus the growing absence of Lennon (based on the film footage shown here)who seems already to have started to inhabit his own space.A priceless visual documentary record!

Anyone who went to a Beatles concert in 1964 or 1965 will tell you that you couldn't hear a thing and were lucky to see anything either such was the hysteria that went with the Beatles playing live. This DVD is a piece of pop history the likes of which will probably never be repeated and whilst much of the Beatles and Sixties music hasn't stood the test of time particularly well the music represented here along with the behind the scenes insight is welcome indeed, especially if you are a Beatles fan. The content and quality is good and the DVD captures a particular time in many peoples lives spot-on.

I happened to catch most of the movie on TV last year and kicked myself for not recording it. I was delighted to find it available via Amazon and it is a must for anyone who has memories of Beatlemania like mine. The sheer excitement of the times is here to be relived and the lads themselves come across as truly loveable, witty and humourous characters. The bonus feature is just that, a real bonus. I'd recommend this to anyone who counts himself a fan of the early Beatles. Why not talk your kids or grandkids through it ? One day there'll be no one left who was there.

With the 50th Anniversary of the Beatles First US visit this year, I thought it was a good idea to re-watch this fun documentary, filmed by the renowned documentary filmmaking team, Albert and David Maysles in February, 1964. Apparently, they were called by Granada television to ask if they would consider making a film shortly before the Beatles landed. Albert Maysles had never heard of The Beatles; luckily, his brother had, so they agreed to make the film.This really captures the excitement of Beatlemania, when it was a joy to be having success in America (a task no other British act had ever really succeeded in) and before the crowds, noise and general mayhem had not become something to be avoided. You feel that the screaming crowds were a huge surprise to the band - John Lennon comments with amazement that he wasn't aware, "anyone knew we were coming!" as the kids run alongside the car. Their tolerance, and willingness to act up in front of the cameras, leads to some enjoyable and intimate scenes. As Albert Maysles says, when interviewed in "The Making Of the First US Visit", an extra documentary - included in this disc - their access was virtually unlimited. The Maysles brothers accompanied the band in New York, to Washington DC and Miami Beach.This documentary includes clips of the bands concert in Washington, of the Ed Sullivan Show performances, of the band at the Peppermint Lounge (poor George would clearly have preferred to have gone to bed, but is out voted by the others, keen to see something of New York now they are there), on the train travelling to Washington, messing about in hotel rooms, having photo ops in Central Park and, always, both on show and on the run from the crowds. There is no voice over in the documentary - allowing the footage to speak for itself. However, in The Making of...., Albert Maysles offers many comments on his favourite parts of the film, there is extra footage - including the scrum of the British Ambassadors Ball, which so upset John Lennon - and it is nice to hear his thoughts about that time, when the Americans welcomed the Beatles with open arms.

In 1963 The Beatles took the UK by storm;Beatlemania started with She Loves You.In February 1964 not many thought they would succeed in the USA(I did!)and this film documentary follows them as they toured the USA and includes essential live footage from the Ed Sullivan Show(s).It's video footage is ahead of it's time,and predates the famous 'Don't Look Back'film featuring Dylan.McCartney is the one most aware of the camera,John and George less so,and Ringo displays his humour(he ended up being the most popular one in The States on this tour).Essential buying,an historic document of the end of pop and the beginning of rock music.

if you want to know what the early 60s was like this is the one.V good

on revit en regardant ce dvd

perfecto

昔VHSで持っていたのを懐かしくなり、あえて当時と同じジャケットの物を再購入。（前の方が映像がきれいだった気がする）アメリカでのコンサートの合間に垣間見えるユーモアたっぷりのビートル達のやりとりが、とても魅力的。私は特にリンゴのファンになった。ジョンもいいな、なんて家族で言い合いながら観てた思い出がある。その後は当然BEATLESマニアへ・・・エンディングに「It Won't Be Long」をもってくるセンスが良い。しかし、再発売のジャケットはイマイチだし、この作品もジョージのみがクローズアップ（笑）最高の映像集なのにそこはなんでかな。

This purports to be the documentary named in the title, but it is actually about a half an hour of performance video only. No narration, off-stage footage or anything. Even the chapter headings listed on the back cover are false. In other words, a rip-off.

Lo adoro. E' arrivato in tempo e non mi ha fatto aspettare. Condizioni perfette! Grazie mille.Un fantastico pezzo di storia che ogni Beatlemaniac (Beatlesiano) dovrebbe avere nella videoteca.