George Harrison: Blow Away

George Harrison: Blow Away
VH1
14 February 1979
Music Video
VHS
B-

This came out late enough in the '70s that it not only is pretty much a Music Video As We Know Them, but there are some not bad special effects.  It's not a very memorable song though.

The Beatles Anthology: Episode 3

The Beatles Anthology: Episode 3
ABC
November 23, 1995
Documentary
VHS
B+

"And in the end the love you take, is equal to the love you make."  Backing up to Brian's death, this is mostly about the "slow death" of the Beatles, so there's less giddiness here, and more reflection.  No mention is made of the years that came after the break-up, including Lennon's murder, but John's spirit is present throughout of course.  My favorite part is about the rooftop concert in Let It Be, especially with the reactions of the spectators, including a delighted little old man.  Overall, a very moving documentary, maybe not "complete," but very satisfying.

The Beatles Anthology: Episode 2

The Beatles Anthology: Episode 2
ABC
November 22, 1995
Documentary
VHS
A-

This takes us into late '67, so it definitely covers a period of the Beatles that is more interesting to me.  Also, I laughed out loud several times, at everything from Ringo praising George's song-writing skills and then asking, "Which of his songs was on Revolver?", to psychedelic-era John doing the Twist.  With both parts (maybe not so much in Part Three I'm guessing, with the break-up and all), I remember that, despite all the drama, this was a four-sided bromance, and part of the charm and joy of the Beatles is that they enjoyed being together and they invited us to watch and listen.  It's fitting that the episode ends with the "Real Love" video, mixing vintage and '95 footage.  Again though, death is omitted, even as important a death as Brian Epstein's.

The Beatles Anthology: Episode 1

The Beatles Anthology: Episode 1
ABC
November 19, 1995
Documentary
VHS
B+

This is the version that aired on ABC, edited from the version that had aired in Britain, and of course not containing whatever's on the DVD version.  And through a concatenation of circumstances, I honestly never watched it before.  The ex taped it at the time I think but then I spent the following semester in England (and, yes, went to Liverpool) and somehow never got around to playing the three videotapes, until now.  I'm very pleasantly surprised.  There's a great deal of material-- footage, interviews, and even songs-- that I don't have in any other form.  The editing is well done, concise and yet playful.  And the whole thing ends with the video to "Free As a Bird," which I'd also never seen before.  (I'd of course heard the song, and "Real Love.")

The documentary isn't perfect.  To take just one example, it feels weird to hear about Julia Lennon and Stu Sutcliffe and not have their deaths mentioned.  The darker side (other than in Hamburg) is generally omitted, and there so far is no mention of the Beatles' wives or siblings.  This part goes up to mid-1964, with Ringo happily rejoining the group on tour after having his tonsils out.  I look forward to the other two parts, especially since, to be honest, I don't like the pre-Rubber-Soul music of theirs as much.

(And, no, I'm not going to tag everyone, but I will note that a youngish Dudley Moore appears briefly, and we see clips from The Wild One and The Girl Can't Help It.)

Traveling Wilburys: End of the Line

Traveling Wilburys: End of the Line
Song released January 23, 1989
Music Video
VHS
B

Simple but satisfying video for possibly the best song of this '80s version of a power group, with the touching if corny touch of representing the recently deceased Roy Orbison by a photo and an empty but still rocking chair (great visual pun).

Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers: I Won't Back Down

Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers: I Won't Back Down
Song released April 1989
Music Video
DVD
B

Petty again uses then cutting-edge visual technology but it's Ringo who steals the show.  Also features fellow Traveling Wilburys George Harrison and Jeff Lynne.  Note that the "book and box" motif would be reused in future TP & HB videos.

2 on the Town: The Beatles

Hostess Melody Rogers around that time

2 on the Town: The Beatles
CBS
Sometime between July and October 1987
News
VHS
C+

Half-hour-long local station report on the 20th anniversary of the Sgt. Pepper album, although too much of the show is about promoting the show, and not enough time is given to seeing the Beatles, including contemporary interviews (well, one-liners) from Paul, George, and Ringo.  Of historical interest at this point, including the excitement of Beatles music being released on CD for the first time.

The Rutles: All You Need Is Cash

The Rutles: All You Need Is Cash
NBC
March 22, 1978
Comedy, Musical
VHS
B+

This movie is roughly equivalent to the big-screen Spinal Tap movie of six years later, although it's a more band-specific parody.  Much of the Beatles history-- including their looks and sounds-- is captured and lovingly but not gently satirized.  The Yellow Submarine Sandwich segment is up there with the top scenes ever made for television.  However, with the exception of Mick Jagger, I don't think the cameos are on the same level as the Lads from Rutland.

This first aired on the same network as Saturday Night Live (Lorne Michaels and much of his cast were involved) and was the worst-rated show of the week!  It did better on BBC2 a few days later and has since become something of a cult show.  Both Idle's corny McCartney and Innes's "nasty" Lennon are even funnier than they would've been at the time.  (I taped this off Comedy Central around '93.)

Magical Mystery Tour

Magical Mystery Tour
BBC
December 26, 1967
TV-Movie, Musical, Fantasy
VHS
C+

It's easy to see why critics blasted this 48 years ago, and why many fans have said, "It's not that bad."  It's always tricky to be objective about the Beatles, and gosh knows I've seen this multiple times, although not recently.  I think it remains an incoherent mess with some good songs in it, including a show-stopper by the Bonzo Dog Doo Dah Band.  In evaluating it now, I tried to just simply grade how entertaining it is, and I must admit that even the best songs are not filmed terribly well, and there's more filler in the film (including dream sequences) than I remembered.  I still would rather watch this than Help, and not just because it's shorter.

The genre labels are the best I can do: it's definitely a musical, the wizards make it fantasy, and it is a movie made for television.  It has been shown theatrically, but not till much later, unlike the situation with, for instance, Enchanted April, which was made for TV but got a big-screen release.