Disney+ to Premiere Restored “Let It Be” Film Showcasing The Beatles’ Final Performance

Published on 4/16/24 by Craig Smith

the beatles let it be disney plus Disney+ has announced an exclusive premiere of the restored 1970 documentary “Let It Be,” directed by Michael Lindsay-Hogg, which offers an intimate glimpse into The Beatles’ final days as a band. Scheduled for release on May 8, 2024, this marks the first time in over five decades that the film will be available to the public.

“Let It Be,” initially released in the turbulent period surrounding The Beatles’ breakup in April 1970, captured the iconic band during a critical juncture in their career. The film provides a raw and unfiltered look into the creation of the Grammy-winning album of the same name and features their historic final live performance on the rooftop of Apple Corps’ London headquarters. This poignant moment in music history has been brought back to life through a meticulous restoration process overseen by Peter Jackson’s Park Road Post Production, the same team behind the acclaimed 2021 docuseries “The Beatles: Get Back.”

The restoration involved a detailed refurbishing of the original 16mm negatives and a sophisticated remastering of the soundtrack using MAL de-mix technology, which was also utilized in “The Beatles: Get Back.” The efforts were aimed at preserving the authenticity of the footage while enhancing the audiovisual experience for today’s audiences.

Michael Lindsay-Hogg, the original director, reflected on the film’s context and its initial reception, noting that the breakup of The Beatles shaded the public’s perception of the film with a sense of loss. However, he emphasized the significance of the documentary as a rare insight into the creative process of one of the world’s most legendary bands. Lindsay-Hogg expressed his admiration for the restoration work done by Peter Jackson, highlighting how it complements and completes the narrative started in “The Beatles: Get Back.”

Peter Jackson shared his excitement about bringing this important piece of musical history back to the screen. “I’ve always thought that ‘Let It Be’ is needed to complete the ‘Get Back’ story,” said Jackson. He described “Let It Be” as the climactic conclusion to the expansive tale of The Beatles that he presented in his docuseries, now enriched with greater context and clarity.

The film features John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, and Ringo Starr, with a notable appearance by musician Billy Preston. It was produced by Neil Aspinall, with The Beatles themselves serving as executive producers. The director of photography was Anthony B Richmond.

With its exclusive release on Disney+, “Let It Be” is poised to offer both longstanding Beatles fans and new audiences alike a restored look at the enduring legacy and dynamic camaraderie of the Fab Four in their final moments as a band.