Cheap The Beatles - The First U.S. Visit (DVD) (Susan Frömke, Kathy Dougherty, Albert Maysles) Price

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Customer Reviews of The Beatles - The First U.S. Visit

An incredible release. Its the real "Hard Days Night"
The footage released as part of the 83 minute DVD is absolutely fantastic and documents the Beatles first US visit. See them in the hotel, see them on the train, see their first stateside photo shoot. Complete full length versions of all the their appearences on Ed Sullivan with fabulous Dolby digital sound. Everything has been fixed up and as near perfect as technically possible. As well there are several songs from their Washington D.C. Arena concert (sound is rough but they are an absolute blast and theres nothing else available like it) Put together by Neil Aspinal, who is the Beatles historian. What else can I say....first class all the way.

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I LOVE IT, YEAH, YEAH, YEAH! THIS IS JUST PLAIN FUN!
I love this video. I really do. I am SO GLAD that I have it. This is such a treat!

This delightful video traces the Beatles' first visit to the U.S. in February, 1964. The video opens with New York disc jockey Murray ("the K") Kaufman, introducing the Beatles via radio. Fans flock to the airport in masse to greet the Beatles' plane, Pan Am flight 101 on February 7, 1964.

The Beatles themselves are trailed from the minute they step off the plane to the limo to their hotel to their endorsement of AM-radio station, WINS per Murray the K. From the hotel, we, the viewers are treated to the Beatles' first performance on Ed Sullivan's TV show on February 9, 1964. From that point, we are ushered along with the Beatles via train to Washington, D.C. for a live concert. After we "Twist and Shout" there, we then travel to Miami with the Beatles for a special performance on Ed Sullivan.

From Florida, the video tracks the Beatles to New York for their February 16, 1964 performance on Ed Sullivan. One wants to cheer for them -- the music is as fresh, vibrant and fun as it was in 1964.

After the famous Ed Sullivan performance, we then rejoin the Beatles for some light banter and impromptu jamming in their hotel rooms. After a light hearted respite, we then board the plane bound for England.

I love this video. It is pure fun, yeah, yeah, yeah!

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Historically interesting and entertaining
This black-and-white documentary chronicling the Beatles' first US visit in 1964 is very interesting for the historical perspective it gives. Hate 'em or love 'em, there is no doubt the Beatles completely shook up the music world. Some of the crowd reactions are scary/funny with their frenzied screaming fanaticism.

Much of it is comprised of the Beatles in hotel rooms as they watch TV, smoke cigarettes incessantly, and chat among themselves, or going out and about town, or riding in trains. This is intercut with various DJ's discussing the upcoming Ed Sullivan show event, crowds and crowd comments, and the actual appearance of the Beatles on that show.

The sound and image of the straight documentary portion is pretty good. However, the appearance from the Washington Coliseum concert comes across very poorly, mostly due to the limitations of the original recording and skimpy stage equipment. At one point, when Ringo gets to sing "I Wanna Be Your Man", he is barely heard.

There is a 50-minute "making of" the 80-minute documentary, as well as a commentary by the film-makers, and a booklet with some quotes and photographs. If you like the early Beatles, this is the DVD for you.