Take a first look at the new film

Nothing else that could happen to them in their career could be greater than going to America. At least that’s what the Beatles thought in 1964.

“On this journey they are all so free and joyful,” says David Tedeschi, director of the new Disney+ documentary “Beatles ’64” (streaming Friday), which follows the Fab Four and their most loyal fans through the chaotic days before and after the band’s February 9 appearance on “The Ed Sullivan Show.” “Even later in 1964 it wasn’t as exciting as February.”

Filmed by Albert and David Maysles for a rarely seen 1964 television documentary (“What’s Happening! The Beatles in the USA”), the footage is supplemented by recent interviews with Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr, as well as recollections from these early admirers. Martin Scorsese, a producer on the project, also gets a tour of Starr’s well-preserved Beatles wardrobe, including the pink “Sgt. “Pepper” uniform and “Hey Jude” green pinstripe jacket.

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Most exciting for audiences will be the restoration of the original 16mm film, with live performances mixed by WingNut Films by Get Back director Peter Jackson and remixed by Beatles producer Giles Martin. The band’s famous concert at the Washington Coliseum – their first in America – can finally be heard beyond the screaming, crying and raving crowd.

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USA TODAY spoke with Tedeschi about what viewers can expect from “Beatles ’64”:

(Edited and condensed for clarity.)

Question: Fans have seen a lot of this footage, but it’s safe to say that the Maysles brothers’ documentary is unknown to most. So why start a new documentary here?

David Tedeschi: We have 17 minutes of new footage of the Maysles, not to mention a wealth of other material we were able to find. The project started with Apple, and I think they felt that this particular story wasn’t really being told in “What’s Happening!”

I’ve never seen the fans like I did here. They speak quite eloquently about what’s happening, both in the new interviews and in 1964, when they were so young. Her perspective gives the film a real emotional backbone.

The surprising backstory:How the Beatles went viral in 1964

What really stands out is that the journey is the prototype for “A Hard Day’s Night.” There’s all these shots of them getting up to mischief on the train from New York to Washington.

I think they were. They have a lot of energy and it was their dream to be in the United States. It’s a joke at the press conference when they ask George (Harrison), “What are your ambitions?” And he says, “Come to America.” But it’s also true.

The trailer has that goosebumps moment as they get off the plane and return home from their trip to America. And you see it from their perspective, it’s literally shot over their shoulder. Were there any other moments that you felt were particularly telling about your experience?

When they go to rehearsal and the crowd of young women comes towards them. They don’t know if they can get out of the car and you see literally hundreds of people walking next to the car. And the appearance in Washington was a revelation. It was as if the recordings grabbed me by the throat and transported me back to 1964, and I got a real feel for what the Beatles were like as a live band.

Almost everyone in the film identifies their favorite Beatle, which was a thing back then.

Jamie Bernstein (Leonard’s daughter) says it clearly: If you were a Beatlemaniac, you had to have one. That was in her head; Some kind of unwritten rule. She loved George and it was all about George, but then she moved on to John (Lennon). I love them all, you know.

Ronnie Spector says the Ronettes managed to take the Beatles to a barbecue in Spanish Harlem, where they remained unrecognized. I can’t imagine this happening at any other time on this trip.

Remember, this was before “Sullivan.” So “I Want to Hold Your Hand” was No. 1, the Beatles were always playing on the radio, but not everyone knew what they looked like.

The film tells of the Beatles’ concern as their plane approached the United States and John’s mention of Lee Harvey Oswald. Were there concerns about their safety after Kennedy’s assassination?

Her biggest concern was that no one would meet her at Kennedy (airport). They didn’t know what to expect. Many veteran observers like Frank Sinatra really didn’t think they would have much of an impact in New York. No British act had ever done that.

ByAmelia Journalton

By Amelia Journalton

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