Anthology (documentary series)

Movie
German title	Anthology
Original title	Anthology
Country of production	UK
original language	English
Publishing year	1995/2003
length	DVD 1: 151 minutes DVD 2: 144 minutes Disc 3: 143 minutes DVD 4: 155 minutes DVD 5: 81 minutes
Age rating	FSK 12
Rod
Director	Geoff Wonfor Bob Smeaton
script	Bob Smeaton
production	Neil Aspinall Chips Chipperfield
music	The Beatles
cut	Andy Matthews
occupation
The Beatles George Martin Brian Epstein Neil Aspinall Derek Taylor
chronology
←  Predecessor The Beatles: The First US Visit (1991) Successor  → The Beatles: Eight Days a Week - The Touring Years (2017)

Anthology is a documentary series about the Beatles . The film is directed by Geoff Wonfor and Bob Smeaton. The documentary first aired on November 19, 22, and 23, 1995 on ABC in the United States and released on September 5, 1996 by Apple on VHS cassette.

Emergence

Background: The Long and Winding Road

In 1968, Denis O'Dell, then head of Apple Films, contacted television stations to get footage of the Beatles. In 1969 and 1970 work began on a documentary about the Beatles, with Neil Aspinall in charge . In February 1970, the New York Times reported that a biographical film entitled The Long and Winding Road would appear after the film Let It Be . Apple planned to release the movie in December 1970, and it was featured in the Beatles Monthly fan magazine in October 1970 . On November 15, 1970, Paul McCartney sued the other Beatles and Apple with the aim of breaking up the Beatles. Paul McCartney was no longer willing to participate in the film project, so that further work was discontinued. After more archive footage was used for the documentary in 1972, Apple reported in November 1972 that the film would now be titled Ten Years in the Life of the Beatles . In the first quarter of 1973 this should now have its cinema premiere, but this date was also not kept, since the legal problems of the Beatles with Apple and their former manager Allen Klein were not solved until January 1977 .

In 1976, Neil Aspinall gave each of the Beatles a rough draft of the film, which George Harrison loaned to his friend Neil Innes , who used it as the basis for a documentary entitled All You Need Is Cash about the fictional group The Rutles , which Harrison also played in . At the end of the 1970s, considerations arose to hire a well-known director who would then redesign and finish the documentary. Since no contact was made, further work was discontinued.

Due to the renewed popularity of the Beatles, a Broadway musical entitled Beatlemania was performed on May 26, 1976 in the Winter Garden Theater in New York , and 1006 shows ran until October 17, 1983.

The Beatles disapproved of the performance, and on November 28, 1980, John Lennon wrote a statement citing the unreleased documentary as the reason for discontinuing production.

His explanation read: “Myself and the other three ex-Beatles have plans to host a reunion concert, an event that will be filmed and recorded as the finale for The Long and Winding Road , the official documentary produced by the Beatles, and midway through 1980s to be published. "

John Lennon was murdered ten days after this statement, it is not verifiable whether Lennon's testimony was based on actual plans to release the film along with the recording of a concert in mid-1980, or whether he made this statement to end the Broadway show . Regardless of his motives , after his statement was read in court on June 7, 1986, Beatlemania's producers had to pay Apple $ 10.5 million in damages.

After the death of John Lennon, the work was completely stopped in the 1980s.

The director Patrick Montgomery released the commercially successful Beatles documentary The Compleat Beatles in 1982 , but without the participation of the Beatles. From 1984 the film was also shown in some cinemas. The production and distribution of the film was discontinued in the following years for legal reasons.

The Beatles Anthology

In the early 1990s, the three Beatles were approached by Neil Aspinall on the documentary The Long and Winding Road . It was jointly decided to produce a comprehensive documentary themselves, which the participants Paul McCartney, George Harrison, Ringo Starr as well as George Martin , Neil Aspinall and Derek Taylor should be told in filmed interviews. Archival material should be used for John Lennon's comments. Work began in 1992, Neil Aspinall put together a team as a producer, consisting of co-producer Chips Chipperfield, director Geoff Wonfor, editor Andy Matthews, writer Bob Smeaton and interviewer Jools Holland . New archive material was viewed and technically processed. Essentially, one-on-one interviews were conducted, but interviews with McCartney, Harrison and Starr were also conducted jointly.

A first rough version was completed in 1993, the final completion was probably not until 1995. The documentary was first broadcast on November 19, 22 and 23, 1995 on ABC in the USA. It was shown in six parts, with a total running time of 320 minutes. It premiered on German television on December 22, 25 and 28, 1995. The ZDF presented the documentation in a three-shorter version, with a total running time of approximately 300 minutes.

The full film was released on September 5, 1996 on eight VHS tapes and eight laser discs . It comprises eight episodes and has a running time of 600 minutes. The DVD release on March 31, 2003 also includes an 81-minute special features DVD and new mixes in stereo and 5.1 in Dolby Digital and DTS format. The additional DVD mainly contains scenes with McCartney, Harrison and Starr that were filmed in 1994 and 1995. The sound engineers were Peter Cobbin, Paul Hicks and Guy Massey.

The film won a Grammy Award in the Best Long Form Music Video category on February 26, 1997 .

content

Episode 1: July 1940 to March 1963

St Peter's Church Hall: On July 6, 1957, John Lennon and Paul McCartney met at a parish garden party

The childhood of the Beatles, how they discovered rock 'n' roll , the development from the Quarrymen to the Silver Beetles to the Beatles, the Hamburg years, the replacement of Pete Best in favor of Ringo Starr, the death of Stuart Sutcliffe , their discovery by Brian Epstein and George Martin and their very first chart successes with Love Me Do and Please Please Me .

• Chapter of the DVD (length: 79 minutes)

1. Liverpool : The Childhood Years [7:35]
2. Discovering Rock & Roll [11:23]
3. John, Paul & George - The Beginning of The Beatles [5:21]
4. First Recordings 1958–1960 [2:55]
5. Stuart Sutcliffe [3:20]
6. Early Tours [6:59]
7. Pete Best [2:07]
8. Hamburg [13:16]
9. Growing Pains [1:09]
10. Stuart Sutcliffe Leaves [2:08]
11. The Cavern [4:08]
12. Decca Sessions [1:28]
13. George Martin [1:40]
14. Ringo Arrives [4:44]
    • Some Other Guy (Leiber-Stoller-Barrett) - Video of the performance at the Cavern Club.
15. Love Me Do [3:13]
16. Please Please Me - "We're No. 1" [7:27]

Episode 2: March 1963 to February 1964

The Beatles in front of the Birmingham Hippodrome, 1963

The rise in Europe and the phenomenon of Beatlemania , tours of Great Britain and France , first TV appearances, appearance at the Royal Variety Performance, the second album With the Beatles , the first No. 1 success in the USA with I Want to Hold Your Hand .

• Chapter of the DVD (length: 72 minutes)

1. Racing Up the Ladder [11:02]
2. Touring Britain - 1963 [11:30]
3. London - 1963 [4:01]
4. Early Television Appearances [3:45]
5. Voice Clips from Abbey Road Studios [4:56]
6. Reflections on Sudden Fame [5:13]
7. Beatlemania [4:41]
   • Excerpts from the TV show Drop In, Sweden, November 3, 1963.
8. Royal Variety Performance [9:43]
9. Second album: With the Beatles [9:39]
10. Olympia Theater, Paris - 1964 [1:22]
11. I Want to Hold Your Hand Reaches No. 1 in The US [5:50]

Episode 3: February 1964 to July 1964

Paul McCartney and John Lennon , 1964

First trip to the USA, appearances on the Ed Sullivan show, vacation in Miami , filming of the film A Hard Day's Night , John Lennon's first book In His Own Write , world tour in the summer of 1964, world premiere of the feature film A Hard Day's Night .

• Chapter of the DVD (length: 73 minutes)

1. Arrival In The US - February 1964 [10:00]
2. First Appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show [3:55]
3. The Coliseum Concert - Washington DC [10:29]
4. Reception at the British Embassy [1:08]
5. Miami Beach [3:00]
6. Second Appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show [3:54]
7. Return to England [1:59]
8. They're Going to Put Us in the Movies! [2:56]
9. Filming A Hard Day's Night [10:54]
10. In His Own Write [3:00]
11. World Tour 1964 [14:45]
12. World Premiere of A Hard Day's Night [2:14]
13. Liverpool Homecoming [5:42]

Episode 4: July 1964 to August 1965

Beatles in Key West , Florida , September 10, 1964

The first major US tour, the first meeting with Bob Dylan and her first contact with marijuana , recordings of the albums Beatles for Sale and Help! , Creation of the pieces Help! , Yesterday and Ticket to Ride , George Harrison talks about his compositions, the Beatles receive their MBE medals from the Queen .

• Chapter of the DVD (length: 71 minutes)

1. First Major US Tour - Summer, 1964 [9:12]
2. Meeting Bob Dylan [3:01]
3. The Pressures of Touring [6:13]
4. Feedback - I Feel Fine [3:50]
5. Recording Beatles for Sale [8:49]
6. Filming Help! [14:27]
7. Yesterday [5:09]
8. NME Poll Winners' Concert - April 11, 1965 [2:00]
9. George Talks About His Songs [4:07]
10. Ticket to Ride [2:44]
11. The Beatles Receive The MBE From The Queen [11:01]

Episode 5: August 1965 to July 1966

The Beatles at Madrid Airport , July 1, 1965

The concert at Shea Stadium ( New York ), the meeting with Elvis Presley , the creation of the albums Rubber Soul and Revolver (especially the songs In My Life , Norwegian Wood , Nowhere Man , Drive My Car , Tomorrow Never Knows , Yellow Submarine and Taxman ), the influence of LSD , the creation of the singles Day Tripper / We Can Work It Out and Paperback Writer / Rain , world tour 1966.

• Chapter of the DVD (length: 72 minutes)

1. Shea Stadium Concert - August 15, 1965 [3:37]
   • Twist and Shout (Russel Medley) [Live]
   • I Feel Fine [Live]
   • Baby's in Black [Live]
   • I'm Down [Live]
   • Help! [Live]
2. Meeting Elvis Presley [5:04]
3. More Tour Pressure [2:31]
4. New Musical Directions - Rubber Soul and Revolver [8:20]
5. Yellow Submarine [3:40]
6. Tomorrow Never Knows [1:27]
7. Technical Limitations in the Studio [2:56]
8. LSD (3:15)
9. Day Tripper [3:15]
10. We Can Work It Out [2:47]
11. Taped TV Promotional Films [1:34]
12. Paperback Writer [2:55]
13. Rain [3:02]
14. World Tour 1966 [15:24]

Episode 6: July 1966 to June 1967

John Lennon, 1967

Trouble in the Philippines , the “Jesus Controversy”, the creation of Eleanor Rigby and I'm Only Sleeping , the end of the tour and the last concert in San Francisco , John Lennon as actor, Paul McCartney as film composer, George Harrisons Trip to India , the creation of the concept album Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band and the songs Strawberry Fields Forever and Penny Lane , report on the influence of drugs in the 1960s.

• Chapter of the DVD (length: 71 minutes)

1. Trouble in the Philippines [8:35]
2. Eleanor Rigby [9:25]
3. Touring Takes It Toll [2:35]
4. The Last Concert - San Francisco, August 29, 1966 [4:52]
5. Individual Directions [5:44]
6. The Making of Strawberry Fields Forever [5:50]
7. Penny Lane [5:17]
8. Sgt. Pepper's [5:35]
9. Reaction to Sgt. Pepper's [3:07]
10. Drugs Reflect The Times [4:38]
11. Baby You're A Rich Man [5:03]

Episode 7: June 1967 to July 1968

Beatles, 1968

The Beatles play All You Need Is Love on the TV show Our World , the Maharishi Mahesh Yogi , the death of Brian Epstein, the Magical Mystery Tour , the Beatles in Rishikesh (India), the founding of Apple Records , back to the roots with Lady Madonna , the film Yellow Submarine , John Lennon meets Yoko Ono .

• Chapter of the DVD (length: 74 minutes)

1. Satellite Broadcast of All You Need Is Love [10:10]
2. Meeting The Maharishi [4:17]
3. Brian Epstein's Death [8:16]
4. Magical Mystery Tour [10:05]
5. I Am The Walrus [5:11]
6. Hello, Goodbye [3:45]
7. The Apple Boutique [2:20]
8. Rishikesh, India [8:42]
9. Apple Records [7:58]
10. Lady Madonna [2:26]
11. Yellow Submarine [4:05]
12. John Meets Yoko Ono [6:23]

Episode 8: July 1968 to the end

Savile Row 3 , location of the last live performance

The White Album , the song Hey Jude , the get-back sessions, Billy Preston , the last appearance on the roof of the Apple building, weddings between Paul McCartney and Linda Eastman and John Lennon and Yoko Ono, the song The Ballad of John and Yoko , recordings for the last album Abbey Road , comments on the separation of the Beatles.

• Chapter of the DVD (length: 81 minutes)

1. The "White" album [9:23]
2. Revolution [3:21]
3. The Apple Boutique Closes [1:52]
4. Hey Jew [8:27]
5. Recording At Twickenham Studios [9:52]
6. The Rooftop Concert January 30, 1969 [10:03]
7. Let It Be [4:08]
8. Paul Marries Linda, John Marries Yoko [2:57]
9. The Ballad of John and Yoko [2:55]
10. Comments On The Break-Up Of The Band [5:28]
11. Abbey Road [8:56]
12. Free as a Bird [7:49]

Episode 9: Special Features

Only in the DVD edition from 2003: 81 minutes, including a jam session by Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr in a home recording studio and shared memories of the three Beatles. George Harrison says: “This is Candlestick Park ” in reference to the Beatles' last public concert in the USA in 1966. The last joint recording of the remaining three Beatles.

• Chapter of the DVD (length: 81 minutes)

1. Recollections - June 1994 [16:51]

   Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr play the following songs:

   Baby What You Want Me to Do (Reed)

   Raunchy (Justis-Manker)

   Thinking of Linking (McCartney)

   Blue Moon of Kentucky (Monroe)

   Ain't She Sweet (Yellen-Ager)

2. Compiling The Anthology Albums [10:48]
3. Back At Abbey Road - May 1995 [14:51]
4. Recording Free as a Bird and Real Love [10:57]
5. Production Team [13:03]
6. Making The Free as a Bird Video [11:12]
7. Real Love Video [4:07]
8. Credits [0:57]

Soundtrack albums

year	Title Label Catalog No.	Top ranking, total weeks, awardChart placementsChart placements (Year, title, label catalog number , rankings, weeks, awards, notes, list of titles)					Remarks	Track list
		DE	AT	CH	UK	US
1995	Anthology 1 • DE: Apple 8344452 • UK: Apple CDPCSP727 • US: Apple 34445	DE1 gold (14 weeks)DE	AT4th gold (11 weeks)AT	CH2 platinum (10 weeks)CH	UK2 × 2 Double platinum (12 weeks)UK	US1 × 8 Eight times platinum (29 weeks)US	First published: November 20, 1995 Sales: + 7,485,000
1996	Anthology 2 • DE: Apple 8344482 • UK: Apple CDPCSP728 • US: Apple 34448	DE4 (12 weeks) DE	AT9 (7 weeks) AT	CH4 (5 weeks) CH	UK1 platinum (15 weeks)UK	US1 × 4 Quadruple platinum (37 weeks)US	First published: March 13, 1996 Sales: + 3,060,000
	Anthology 3 • DE: Apple 8344511 • UK: Apple CDPCSP729 • US: Apple 34451	DE9 (9 weeks) DE	AT15 (4 weeks) AT	CH23 (5 weeks) CH	UK4th gold (13 weeks)UK	US1 × 3 Triple platinum (16 weeks)US	First published: October 25, 1996 Sales: + 1,935,000

publication

title	format	language	date	Label	Remarks
The Beatles Anthology	VHS	English	23 Sep 1996	Apple	eight VHS tapes
	DVD	English with subtitles	March 31, 2003		Sound track 5.1 ; Contents of the VHS cassette on four DVDs, plus a bonus DVD with special features, which among others Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr and partly George Martin listening to "old" recordings and producing "new" recordings in the studio in the years 1994 and 1995 show

Awards

Country / Region	Award	Sales
Awards for music sales (country / region, Award, Sales)
Argentina (CAPIF)	platinum	8,000
Germany (BVMI)	platinum	50,000
France (SNEP)	gold	10,000
Canada (MC)	2 × diamond	200,000
Mexico (AMPROFON)	platinum	20,000
Poland (ZPAV)	gold	5,000
United States (RIAA)	13 × platinum	1,300,000
United Kingdom (BPI)	2 × platinum	100,000
All in all	2 × gold 18 × platinum 2 × diamond	1,693,000

Main article: The Beatles / Music Sales Awards

Web links

• official page
• imdb: Anthology
• Information about the documentary: The Long and Winding Road
• More information about the documentary: The Long and Winding Road
• Information about the documentary: Anthology

literature

• Mark Lewisohn: The Complete Beatles Chronicle . ISBN 0-600-61001-2 .

Individual evidence

1. ^ Beatles documentary The Compleat Beatles