Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #1496 in DVD
• Released on: 2003-04-01
• Rating: NR (Not Rated)
• Aspect ratio: 1.33:1
• Formats: Box set, Black & White, Color, Dolby, DTS Surround Sound, DVD-Video, NTSC
• Original language: English
• Number of discs: 5
• Running time: 674 minutes

Amazon.com
Initially broadcast as a TV miniseries to go with the series of three Anthology double-CD albums, this set of eight documentary tapes has the heft and scope of one of Ken Burns's expansive projects. Still, unless you are either a historian or a truly committed fan, you'll find yourself with way more material--particularly about the Beatles' early lives as lads in Liverpool--than you'll want to watch. The documentary material is copious, including early performance films and tapes, at the point before they found their true voices. The actual Beatlemania years--beginning in 1963 and concluding in 1970--feature extensive performance films, as well as home movies and archival material. The best parts, of course, are the interviews with the Beatles themselves, who produced the entire thing. Along with reworking two previously unreleased John Lennon tracks as "new Beatles songs," the Anthology includes some unseen Lennon interview tapes so that his acerbic voice can be heard as well. This stands as a comprehensive document of that heady period, the second coming of rock & roll, as the Beatles took what Elvis had started and expanded upon it exponentially. The tapes give a solid sense of the historical context and the way these four musicians changed the world around them in the 1960s. --Marshall Fine

Customer Reviews

Beatles Anthology
Thanks so much--this was perfect. Just what I wanted and expected and at a very fair and reasonable price. Timely delivery as well. Great transaction.

If you're a big Beatles fan...
I purchased this documentary on VHS when it first came out (for about $100! ) so that should tell you how I feel about it! If you are a big fan (big- not "moderate" or "casual") you'll eat this up. Besides the early never before heard recordings, photos, performances, and interviews, the stories told by the Beatles and their close associates are just fascinating. And what's great (and pretty funny also) is that they don't always have the same opinions or recollections on events surrounding the band. For example, it seems apparent that George Harrison disliked Beatlemania but Ringo sounds like he really enjoyed it. Also, it's great to learn that despite the eventual acrimony they were very close to one another, something else that makes this worth watching. The last few chapters kind of bum me out because of the dissension and eventual breakup, but you'll get an insight as to why it happened and I think come to realize it was their only option. The added disc has special features about the making of the documentary and accompanying videos that will also be devoured by "big" fans. If you're near my age, 50, it will bring back great memories of a great time and answer all the questions you ever had about the Beatles, The most enjoyment a Beatle fan can have for $49.95. Highly recommended.

Enjoyable to watch and learn about the Beatles
Since purchasing this set, I have watched it through twice and some parts three or more times. It is both entertaining and gives a good overview of Beatles music. The real strength of this set is the range of music it includes and the very fine video from televised performances, newsconferences, reporting, documentaries, etc. The film clips are very good. I also liked the special features extremely well, particularly the feeling of the remaining Beatles (three at that time) about arranging and recording John's "Free As A Bird" and "Real Love" tapes.

The film gives only a very general chronology. It also addresses some controversies in passing, but the main focus is on the music and the sensation that resulted from it as well as recording the individual personalities of The Beatles. Ringo probably talks more and is more open in the interviews on this series than I have ever seen him.

I found that the series fed my desire to explore specific topics of Beatles history including the Hamburg experience, Stu Sutcliffe, Pete Best, Brian Epstein, George Martin and Goeff Emerick at EMI studios; Cynthia Lennon and Yoko Ono. So, it's not the whole story, but the central portion of it--the boys themselves and as musicians. And I take it as a very strong complement to these materials that I was encouraged to look deeper.