Beatles – Let It Be (2024 Upgraded Version Remastered by Peter Jackson) AND bonus disc with original 1970’s theatrical widescreen version.)

Let It Be is a filmed documentary of the Beatles rehearsing and recording their new album in 1969.  The film culminated with a concert by the group set on the rooftop on their own Apple office building in London’s west end.  Paul McCartney’s concept for the album and film was that it wasn’t going to have studio trickery like overdubs and effects.  It was “back to the roots” with the Beatles performing the songs in a natural way.  The film and it’s accompanying soundtrack was delayed while the Beatles recorded and released their final album “Abbey Road”.  It was eventually released in 1970 and received an Academy Award for it’s title song.

For the Beatles completist and serious fans, the biggest frustration has been in not finding the “Beatles – Let It Be” in a complete, uncropped, great quality version. The reason for this is quite interesting. The original film was shot in 16mm (standard TV 4×3 format).  However, when the film was released, they cropped the 16mm print by chopping off parts of the top and bottom and blew it up to 35mm widescreen.  Many wondered in the 1970’s why the picture quality was so mediocre right in the movie theatre!  Now we all know why.  So even in the theatre, one did NOT get to see the full picture that was filmed.

Then to add insult to injury, when Let It Be was released in the 1980’s on Beta and VHS videotape and on Laserdisc (all in standard TV 4×3 format), the manufacturers did NOT go back to the original 16mm film that was shot in the same format. INSTEAD, they sourced it from the 35mm widescreen theatre print and CHOPPED it AGAIN, this time from the sides. So anyone purchasing previous Beta, VHS and Laserdisc versions of Let It Be, now got to see even LESS!, since it had now been chopped on all 4 sides.

This 2024 upgrade version remastered by Peter Jackson and currently being shown on the Disney Plus streaming channel has rectified all of these problems.  For anyone that saw the film in the theatres in the 70’s, it is great now to be able to see the original filmed version in stereo AND in much improved, virtually perfect quality AND in the original filmed 4X3 aspect ratio.  Since a North American official release on Blu-Ray and DVD is either unlikely or a long way away, we are pleased to offer this import version. right now, for those that want to own a hard copy and not rely on streaming.

Several of our customers have indicated that they still prefer to view the 1970’s theatrical widescreen release that they saw in theatres way back then, so it is also included with this set.

Setlist:
1.  Peter And Michael Intro
2.  Piano Theme
3.  Don’t Let Me Down
4.  Maxwell’s Silver Hammer
5.  Two Of Us
6.  I’ve Got A Feeling
7.  Oh! Darling / Just Fun
8.  One After 909
9.  Piano Boogie / Two Of Us
10.  Paul And George
11.  Across The Universe
12.  Dig A Pony
13.  Suzy Parker
14.  I Me Mine
15.  For You Blue
16.  Besame Mucho
17.  Octopus’s Garden
18.  You Really Got A Hold On Me
19.  The Long and Winding Road
20.  Oldies Jam:  Shake Rattle and Roll / Kansas City / Miss Ann / Lawdy Miss Clawdy
21.  Dig It
22.  Two Of Us
23.  Let It Be
24.  The Long and Winding Road

Rooftop Concert (January 30th, 1969)
25.  Get Back
26.  Don’t Let Me Down
27.  I’ve Got A Feeling
28.  One After 909
29.  Dig A Pony
30.  Get Back

BONUS MATERIAL:
31.  Let It Be Movie Trailer #1 (April-30-2024)
32.  Watch John (Let It Be streaming May 8th)
33.  Watch Paul (Let It Be streaming May 8th)
34.  Peter Jackson and Michael Lindsay-Hogg discuss the restoration trailer (May-6-2024)
35.  Watch George (Let It Be streaming May 8th)
36.  Watch Ringo (Let It Be streaming May 8th)
37.  Let It Be is out today on Disney (May-8-2024)
38.  Let It Be (2024 Promo Video, May-10-2024)

Video Quality:
Disc One:  This 2024 restored version by Peter Jackson is a pretty amazing upgrade of a film that was originally filmed in the smaller film format of 16mm.  The quality is very, very good, bordering on excellent, about an 8.75-9.0, using our quality rating table located on our website
Disc Two:  This original theatrical release in the widescreen format is not restored like disc one, but is still one of the best quality versions out there, basically better than good, approaching very good, about 8.25-8.5, using our website quality rating table.

Running Length:  103 minutes

Disc Format:  2 NTSC Blu-Ray BD-R discs.