Titled “What’s Happening! The Beatles in the USA“, this release is primarily supported by the Maysles’ movie, which has been revitalized, reworked, and enhanced by David Tedeschi, a frequent collaborator of Martin Scorsese. Fresh interviews with well-known admirers who were influenced by the events of February 1964 have been incorporated into the original footage, including Joe Queenan, who appears visibly moved and compares the Beatles’ arrival in America to “the light coming on”. Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr are also interviewed; however, their voices are often overshadowed by numerous other voices, resulting in a fan-centric celebration rather than a focused account of their contributions.

Regrettably, numerous talking-head testimonies become long, aimless speeches, slowing down the movie’s tempo. At times, it seems as if every member of the 73 million viewers who watched The Beatles on The Ed Sullivan Show has been given a chance to speak. Additionally, the film is overloaded with old interviews of the Beatles from later in their lives, and the constant switching between these interviews does more to confuse than enlighten. The endless repetition of philosopher Marshall McLuhan’s TV clips discussing abstract topics only adds to the confusion.

Essentially, this seems like an unnecessary reheat of an Apple dessert; the company previously reworked Maysles’ footage in 1991 for “The Beatles: The First US Visit“. The additional elements added – nostalgic recollections, vague social context, and an excess of archival material – detracts from the enjoyment of what we came for: a ride in the backseat of the limo with the Beatles as they take over America.

The original film and soundtrack have been beautifully restored, making it a pleasure to watch the boys at their best and listen to them sound fantastic. It’s evident that they are excited to be in the country where rock’n’roll, soul, and R&B were born. Paul is often spotted with a Pepsi-emblazoned transistor radio near his ear, soaking up every bit of the music scene.

The Beatles ’64 provides an intriguing counterpoint to Disney’s Get Back docuseries, as it offers a similar behind-the-scenes glimpse into the band, but this time during their peak years, while the latter portrays them in their final stages, five years later.

Instead, the general atmosphere in “Beatles ’64” can be described as optimistic about what lies ahead. Amidst all the stresses and chaos enveloping them, these young men are enjoying their journey as their popularity continues to soar. For a grief-stricken America following JFK’s assassination, their emergence was a symbol of brighter days ahead. To the youth of the ’60s, looking back on that era, this represented a fresh start and the commencement of healing.