The Beatles Anthology [DVD] [1995]

Probably the best piece of Beatles memorabilia you could ever buy. I had originally taped the series of TV way back in the mid 90's, but the DVD is now a permanent storage that won't have Gardner's World taped on it! With all the members of the band present (except of course for the late John) their is a real authenticity about the footage - not just what a narrator thinks. They all give great in-depth in-sights, from how they all met, to the final and emotional days of Abbey Road. Perhaps one unique thing about the band members are their personalities - rarely would a band member these days take the time to produce such a long, in depth story of one of the greatest bands we've known. The editing is super, and sets it aside from other documentaries. No split second footage of songs, so tiny cuts people talking - its just transcends so nicely. Many songs are actually footaged in their entirety, and the moving between stories/years is so smooth. Perhaps the most emotional part of this collection is the end. The interviews end quite bluntly, but its rather fitting, as Ringo explains, because the band never talked about 'it being the end'. They just enjoyed making Abbey Road, and went their separate ways. The editing at thr very end which plays clips of songs mixed together, with the sad but happy photo of them in the field really touches your heart, after everything they had been through for almost a decade. It's not surprising however that, in typical Paul McCartney fashion (ie. he wants to be 'different'), we see him not just talking and giving stories in one chair. He is constantly in several places, from piloting a boat, to rather oddly having a camp-fire in a field. Hmm... What makes this more special now is that, with poor George passing (my fave Beatle for his simple down to earthness) we still have a lovely record of him here and looking very healthy. It was a real shock when he died, as he seemed such a lovely guy. I can't recommend this highly enough. It's quite pricey, but what you may not realise is the sheer length of time it actually scales, and for that, its definitely worth considering.

The Beatles is a name known all over the world. It is a name known in each and every household. As a child I heard about the Beatles from my older brothers and sister. However, I was never a devout fan. I knew of their music, I just never listened to it. That was until this Christmas. I was browsing Youtube, listening to odd music videos when I stumbled upon 'Blackbird' by the Beatles. I said to myself; what the heck, I'll give it a listen. One Beatle video led to another and then to another and then to another and soon Beatlemania broke out all over again in my own home and I just had to have every 'beata' Beatle's material that ever existed! In January I discovered the Anthology box set and my dearest mother bought me it as a late Christmas present. I have told her over and over that she will never be able to top it. It was simply the most wonderful gift I have ever received in my entire 17 years on this planet! When it came in the post (and it came remarkably fast, thanking you Amazon!)I immediately sat down to watch it. I was perched on the edge of my seat, trying to get as near to the screen of the tv as possible drinking in every bit of the Beatle's story from their childhood, right through to their burst into international stardom until finally ending on the Beatle's tragic demise. I have watched this wonderful collection of dvd's three times over (although I have been unable to bring myself to watch the last dvd as I find the part about the band's break-up heartbreakingly sad!). For any Beatles fan it is a definite must have and I'm surprised you don't already possess a copy! Even for those strange folk who can exist without listening to a Beatles song each day, it is an immensely entertaining and extraordinary insight into the life story of four 'once-upon-a-time' ordinary and good-natured lads. It is obvious from the interviews with Paul, George (RIP) and Ringo that they, too, thoroughly enjoyed retelling their story as it really happened. Even though John sadly was killed many years before this programme was contemplated, he is brought back to life in this documentary as it uses pieces from earlier interviews with him so that he, too, can tell his story. It is truly one of the best put together and enjoyable documentaries that I have ever seen and would whole heartedly recommend it to both the extreme and non-extreme Beatles fans and music lovers! It has some wonderful footage of concerts and interviews and might I add Paul is particularly adorable throughout! It reveals in all their glory the lives and music of four of the most famous and astounding figures that have ever walked this planet. In this documentary you will see that these four lads were musically and imaginatively ahead of their time; creating music and exploring areas that had never been thought of before. This documentary is a show case of their utter brilliance and talent and reveals how and why the Beatles music has survived and will continue to permeate and inspire the future music industry. The Anthology box set made me realise that I was born in the wrong era and made me firmly believe that I am a sixties kid at heart! I could go on and on but this review is already ten times too long so I will end on this last comment;LONG LIVE THE BEATLES, LEGENDS OF THE TWENTIETH CENTURY AND THE CENTURIES TO COME!

This DVD can be seen as indispensable for those of us who were lucky enough to see and hear The Beatles in the 1960's, or a brilliant social and musical document for the curious who were not. Within a period of only seven years of recorded output, they managed to redefine pop/rock through 12 studio albums, 13 E.P.'s and 22 singles, breaking barriers and influencing immeasurably those that followed them. Produced 25 years after their messy break-up, this DVD benefits from good production decisions. Firstly, it's the band themselves who tell the story, both as it happened through historical clips and interviewed on hindsight. John Lennon's views are not forgotten, as comments from earlier interviews with him are included alongside those of his fellow-Beatles (George Harrison was still alive during the making of this DVD). Secondly, the numerous musical clips included are mostly taken from live performances, and not from mimed output which was favoured at the time. There is some occasional repetition of early hits as the rest of the world caught up with Britain's Beatlemania about a year later, but the content always remains relevant and fascinating. Through a series of eight televised programmes of roughly 75 minutes each (now condensed into 4 DVD's), the Anthology takes us a to the band members childhood and band formation, through Beatlemania and global domination, before the end came with the break-up in disillusionment and acrimony. The outstanding quality of music to be found in their back catalogue is showcased brilliantly here, with most of the songs presented in full without editing. A fifth DVD has been added which features reminiscences from Paul, George and Ringo; the story behind the production of the DVD; and the making of the video for 'Free As A Bird', a new song created to coincide with the release of the Anthology series. Among the highlights are lengthy sequences from their famous appearance at the Royal Variety Show in October 1963, and their ground-breaking appearances on the Ed Sullivan Show and at Shea Stadium in New York in 1964 and 1965 respectively. There's also dialogue from leading figures within their inner circle, like producer George Martin, manager Brian Epstein and press officer Derek Taylor, who all witnessed first-hand the pressures on the band and the madness of the touring years, both national and international. The Beatles latter years clearly show a weariness from all concerned, though the music continued to be of an exceptionally high standard. The break-up is handled honestly and openly. This DVD is a delight from start to finish. Even without the brilliance of the musical interludes, the Beatles story remains fascinating as a chronicle of the times. Though most of the songs are now 50+ years old, many have become standards and are a benchmark for all current musicians. Should you buy this ? Yeah, Yeah yeah !

Comprising of 5 discs the Beatles Anthology covers their own stories from childhood until the inevitable end of the group in 1970. The first 4 discs span from 1940 until the end, whilst the fifth disc featues the remaining Beatles reminiscing and giving insight into how the anthology was compiled. The story of the Beatles from their own perspective is intriging and never fails to involve the viewer in their unique world. From their beginnings as the Quarrymen, through the Hamburg scene, returning triumphantly to Liverpool, and finally recording their first single you are with them body and soul. It becomes clear how they became more than a rock n' roll band and gradually transformed into the phenomenon that engulfed the world, with the astute guidance of George Martin, and the blossoming talents of Lennon & McCartney. There are many scenes of the group performing at various stages of their career. Some of these may be new to many, and further boost their credentials a tight live band in a period when amplification was in its infancy. Interspersed with the story are views given by the remaining Beatles, made even more poignant with the recent death of George. John's views are represented - but you wish he was able to make a comment and for a few minutes be performing with the others. Overall the story is one of Love - Love of their music, Love of performing, Love of recording, and Love and respect for one another. There are may occasions when this shows through - notably when George Martin talks about ' A Day in the Life ', and always when Ringo is on screen. Although completely diverse in characteristics, the ties that bound them served them well over all the television appearances, touring, filming, and press conferences that consumed their lives. Indeed after viewing you are amazed that this most creative of groups was able to stay together as long a they did given all the pressures that were piled high upon them over which they had little control. This package is a must for Beatles fans, but also necessary for any student of popular culture, or anyone who wants to know ' What made the Beatles so great ? ' . The answers are contained on this wonderful box set that shows their life over a finite period when they changed the world with their Music, Creativity, and Love.

This series defines the word definitive. Alot of us have felt like the Beatles were a part of us through their music and films. The die hard fans read books and watched interviews but nowhere has so much infomation on the band been presented in such a compelling fashion and from such a reliable source (the Beatles themselves) I've watched the first release on Laserdisc about 5 times and it's good to see that the full length episodes (longer than the 1 hour episodes screened on TV) have made it to the DVD release. Old interviews from John Lennon are spliced into newer interviews from Paul, George and Ringo and there is an overwhelming sense that what's presented is honest. Warts and all as they say. It is undoubtedly even more poignant to watch now that George has left us and it is now indisputable that the Beatles are history. Perhaps there is a little too much bias towards the early days and there may be not enough on the time when I personally felt they were at their absolute peak (the Rubber Soul/Revolver era) but these are small criticisms. The DVD extra material disc is also fantastic and I bought the set mainly for this as it wasn't part of the Laserdisc release. It was worth it. It was fantastic to see Paul, George and Ringo jamming together for fun and working in the studio on Free as a Bird and Real Love. Another treat was to see their own enthusiasm for listening to the original takes of songs like Tomorrow Never Knows and Golden Slumbers. My favourite bit must have been George asking which album the latter track was on! Finally the price is incredible. At a fraction of the price of the original Laserdisc or VHS release, it is an essential purchase for anybody who has any desire to know more than just the albums and songs.

If you are a Beatles fan this is a must have collection, definitive and concise, covering their history from the 1950's Quarrymen days right through to 1970. Rare footage, newsreel and a wonderful soundtrack make this a joy for Beatles fans, pure nostalgia and interesting and absorbing insights into the fab 4 and their musical roots and inspirations. They were originally inspired by the music of the Delta and Chicago blues men, Big Bill Broonzy, Muddy Waters, Howlin' Wolf, and co. and of course by rock n rollers like Elvis, Little Richard, Eddie Cochrane, etc. It is fascinating to see how they progressed through the years from a skiffle/ rock n roll band to the psychedelic, groundbreaking and influential band who gave us Rubber Soul, Revolver, Sgt Pepper, The White Album and Abbey Road, all the way experimenting, pushing through boundaries and influencing countless musicians and fans along the way. Fascinating, nostalgic and informative, with lots of insights from the Beatles themselves, this is a classic collection, and now at an amazing price too, thanks Amazon!

I have owned this DVD for many years now and have watched it many times and it is always very enjoyable and informative. Basically it is a Documentary series of The Beatles career narrated by themselves and those close to The Beatles inner circle. It cleverley segues the modern series interviews (circa earlier 1990's the Lennon interviews for obvious reasons are all archive) with classic performances and promotional videos. You learn an awful lot about the times and music of The Beatles through this series and it is good for both serious and casual fans alike. The interviews are informative and Ringo in paticurlar is hilarious with some of his anecdotes of the times. My only complaint is that the last two episodes do cover over a lot of the tensions and trauam which went along the Breakup and the appearance of Yoko Ono which is obviously down to the fact taht this is an offical glossed up history but it is ashame as the details are part of the story and make a lot of the final songs (You never give me your money, Two of us, The Long and Winding Road) more poignant. But this is only a minor critiscism - In short buy this its great.

This is the dvd release of the Beatles Anthology series that was shown on tv in 1996. I was pleasantly surprised to find this box-set for around £35, bearing in mind the VHS version still costs over £100. Taking into account all the special features, quality picture and audio, there's no comparison between the two formats. Each disc contains two episodes, and runs for about 2 and a half hours, making it a very comprehensive set. Along with the entire series there's a special features disc that has some absolute gems on, such as the Making of the Free as a Bird video. As you all know, the series covers the (very) early beginnings of the group, right up to the end, and the 90's studio reunion. The historical feel of how the band met, early gigs etc is conveyed well, and for fans there are countless hair-standing-up-on-the-back-of-the-neck moments! The series offers loads of behind the scenes insights into how the records were made, who influenced the band and so forth. All the information is from the horses mouth, so to speak, making it the most accurate and genuine account of the Beatles incredible career. The DTS sound is amazing, and I'm really pleased the option was included on this box-set because it would have been the easier option to overlook it. In hindsight, the fact it's included is typical of the care and attention that has been put into the entire Beatles Anthology project over the years. Along with the three cds and the brilliant book, this dvd set represents the complete official history of the Beatles. I cannot recommend it enough.