Beatles '64: The upcoming film that captures Beatlemania’s birth in 4K

David Tedeschi, the director of the upcoming documentary Beatles '64, recently shared insights with NME about this Martin Scorsese-produced film.

The documentary, streaming exclusively on Disney+ starting November 29, explores the Beatles’ transformative first trip to the United States in February 1964, a pivotal moment in the band’s rise to global fame. The film features rare 4K-restored footage originally shot by the Maysles brothers for their 1964 film What’s Happening! The Beatles in the U.S.A. It includes remixed performances from their debut American concert at the Washington Coliseum and their iconic Ed Sullivan Show appearances (where they introduced Americans to "I Want to Hold Your Hand"), events that captivated over 73 million viewers, setting a record for the time.

Though plenty of Beatles documentaries exist, this one has some special elements. Restoration and remixing of the audio were overseen by Giles Martin, the son of Beatles producer George Martin, and completed by WingNut Films in New Zealand. New interviews with Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr, and fans are interwoven to provide fresh perspectives on this historical moment. Tedeschi is no stranger to music documentaries, having collaborated with Scorsese on Shine a Light (The Rolling Stones) and George Harrison: Living in the Material World.

These documentaries are intended to dig deep into these stories, beyond the surface level. As Scorsese explained about the Harrison documentary: "The more you're in the material world, the more there is a tendency for a search for serenity and a need to not be distracted by physical elements that are around you."

What Beatles '64 has in store

In NME’s interview, Tedeschi explained his connection to the project, emphasizing how the Beatles impacted him personally and culturally, particularly during his move to New York in the late 1970s. He noted how their arrival in the U.S. during the culturally and politically tense 1960s parallels contemporary societal divisions, making the film’s themes resonate today. The documentary also delves into the overwhelming adoration the band received from American fans, with Tedeschi describing the ecstatic reactions as visceral and indescribable, often expressed through the screams that defined Beatlemania.

The film balances the Beatles' meteoric rise with intimate moments showcasing their camaraderie amidst their (at times perhaps excessive) success. Beatles '64 is accompanied by the re-release of seven American Beatles albums on 180-gram audiophile vinyl, cut from their original mono master tapes. This box set celebrates the band's prolific output during this period, further highlighting their everlasting influence on music and culture.

It was an influence so huge that even the band itself grew weary. For example, Paul McCartney admitted that, by a certain point, he decided to no longer signs autographs, explaining: "It always struck me as a bit strange — 'here, can I write your name down on the back of this till receipt please?' Why? We both know who I am..."

So now he says he wants to actually engage with fans...the saner ones anyway. How nice! Well, even if you never meet Paul in person, documentaries like this, and the music itself, gives you a chance to experience much of what the fuss was, and still is, all about.