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It looks so effortless: on stage in London in 1963, a 21-year-old Paul McCartney shakes his mop of bowl-cut brown hair while singing ‘Twist and Shout’, and the hordes of teenage girls in the audience start to scream. Of course, there’s little that’s simple about the hard work that led to this moment, inspiring such a frenzied reaction to a group that seemed to rise to fame overnight. Nor is there much that’s straightforward regarding the mania that would continue to follow the Liverpool lads as they travelled around the world.
Turning documentarian for the second time since 2013’s Made in America, Ron Howard (In the Heart of the Sea) examines the whirlwind that was McCartney, John Lennon, George Harrison and Ringo Starr’s time on the road from 1962 to 1966; however The Beatles: Eight Days a Week – The Touring Years seeks to present more than to probe. Combining archival footage, photographs, media coverage and interviews held then, now and in between, what emerges is a time capsule rather than an investigation. That said, while the stir the group caused and the toll their tours took isn’t news, the veteran filmmaker explores their efforts with a healthy dose of insight and an infectious amount of adoration.
What eventuates is a song-filled chronological account of progressing from playing eight hours a day in Hamburg to appearing on stages and television programs around the globe, and then from packing out New York’s Shea Stadium to beginning to tire of their incessant public performances thanks to their non-stop schedule, with ample focus directed towards their time in America. With narration absent, the task of providing guiding words primarily falls to the band members themselves over the course of several chats, as well as the somewhat random selection of others Howard has assembled. The latter includes old clips of their manager, the late George Martin, to whom the film is dedicated; stars Sigourney Weaver and Whoopi Goldberg, who reminiscence about their girlhood fandom; and the likes of comedian Eddie Izzard and Love Actually helmer Richard Curtis, who share their personal connections.
Even when you’re The Beatles, touring isn’t much fun, the film offers — but sticking together helped get them through. Hearing these sentiments directly from the group adds depth to the documentary, and emotion beyond the hysteria. Indeed, once Paul and John share just how literal ‘Help!” really was, watching them perform the song takes on another dimension. Similarly, George and Ringo’s thoughts on the importance of their unanimous decision-making process colours their gradual but far from unsurprising choice to pursue music in the studio rather than playing live.
Both segments furnish a glimpse of not only the consequences of their success, but of the band maturing. While editor Paul Crowder’s (Sound City) finessed work splicing the wealth of material together never fails to impress, his — and the movie’s — biggest achievement springs from fashioning a portrait of The Beatles’ evolution across their overseas jaunts in many senses of the word. Again, what seems easy is actually anything but, with The Beatles: Eight Days a Week – The Touring Years masterful at building toward the final rooftop gig that provides its conclusion. Accordingly, as excitement is relived, flames of fondness re-fanned and toes kept tapping, so is an appreciation for the artistry behind the acclaim.
Rating: 3 ½ stars out of 5
The Beatles: Eight Days a Week – The Touring Years
Director: Ron Howard
UK | USA, 2016, 99 mins
Release date: September 16
Distributor: StudioCanal
Rated: M
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