michael jackson last tour documentary

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A compilation of interviews, rehearsals, and backstage footage of Michael Jackson as he prepared for his series of sold-out shows in London. A compilation of interviews, rehearsals, and backstage footage of Michael Jackson as he prepared for his series of sold-out shows in London. A compilation of interviews, rehearsals, and backstage footage of Michael Jackson as he prepared for his series of sold-out shows in London.

• Kenny Ortega
• Michael Jackson
• Alexandra Apjarova
• 243 User reviews
• 137 Critic reviews
• 67 Metascore
• 6 wins & 10 nominations

• Dancer at the Audition

• All cast & crew
• Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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Did you know

• Trivia Guitarist Orianthi Panagaris states in an interview that she received an invite to audition for a spot on the tour via MySpace. When she showed up to audition, Jackson and other producers asked her to play the solo from the song "Beat It." After playing the piece, Jackson approached Panagaris, took her arm, and asked if she could play the solo walking across the stage at a specific speed. When she responded she could handle the assignment, Jackson hired her on the spot.

Michael Jackson : [to guitarist Orianthi Panagaris, encouraging her to play louder] This is your moment to shine.

• Crazy credits There are two scenes after the closing credits. The first was a clip of Michael rehearsing "Human Nature" a couple of weeks before his death. The other was a video of the little girl who appeared in "Earth Song" holding the earth with the words "Heal The World" above her, followed by Michael's signature, and his final message to his fans: "I love you."
• Connections Edited from The Whole Town's Talking (1935)
• Soundtracks They Don't Care About Us Written and Performed by Michael Jackson

User reviews 243

• Oct 28, 2009
• How long is This Is It? Powered by Alexa
• Is there anything after the end credits?
• Were any body doubles used in the rehearsal footage shown ?
• October 28, 2009 (United States)
• United States
• Official Facebook
• Michael Jackson's This Is It
• Staples Center - 1111 S. Figueroa Street, Downtown, Los Angeles, California, USA
• Columbia Pictures
• The Michael Jackson Company
• See more company credits at IMDbPro
• $60,000,000 (estimated)
• $72,091,016
• $23,234,394
• Nov 1, 2009
• $267,983,588

Technical specs

• Runtime 1 hour 51 minutes
• Dolby Digital

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'This Is It': Michael Jackson's Last Act

Late pop superstar Michael Jackson's last stage moments are captured in the new film, This is it . But will the film return Jackson's name to the all-time ist of legendary performers? Host Michel Martin speaks with Ronda Racha Penrice, author and pop culture critic, for more.

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Tell me more, never can say goodbye (no, really), web resources.

For A Fallen Star, One Final Chance To Shine

MICHEL MARTIN, host:

(Soundbite of song, "Wanna Be Starting Something")

Mr. MICHAEL JACKSON (Entertainer): (Singing) I said you wanna be starting something. You got to be starting something.

MARTIN: Now we turn to the King of Pop.

(Soundbite of song, "Billie Jean")

Soundbite from movie, "This Is It")

Unidentified Man #1: There's the man.

Unidentified Man #2: There's Michael.

Unidentified Man #3: Woo.

Unidentified Man #1: The man is here.

Mr. KENNY ORETAGA (Director, and choreographer): We're all here because of him, may that continue with him leading the way.

(Soundbite of sound effects)

Mr. JACKSON: This is the moment.

Mr. JACKSON: This is it.

MARTIN: "This Is It" is the documentary film pieced together from some 80 hours of rehearsal footage of what was to have been Michael Jackson's comeback tour. It was released yesterday worldwide. That tour, of course, never came to fruition because of Jackson's sudden death in June at the age of 50.

Joining us to tell us about the film is Ronda Racha Penrice. She's an author and pop culture critic and she wrote a review of the film for The Grio and she joins us now.

Welcome. Thank you for joining us.

Ms. RONDA RACHA PENRICE (Author, pop culture critic): Thank you, Ms. Martin for having me.

MARTIN: So, were you excited to see the film? I understand there was a lot of anticipation. There were midnight screening scheduled in some cities.

Ms. PENRICE: Well, I was one of the people who was skeptical about seeing it, but I had so many friends around me who kept pushing me to see it that I relented and I was absolutely ecstatic that I did.

MARTIN: Why were you skeptical to see it?

Ms. PENRICE: Well, because with all the constant information that you've gotten since Michael Jackson's untimely passing, it was portrayed as if it was just going to be more like just reliving all of his great moments, and this was so much more than that.

MARTIN: Well, tell us about it. Let's get to your bottom line. In your piece for The Grio, you write quote, "Clearly separating him from other artists of his day, long-time collaborator and the film's director, Kenny Ortega, emphasizes exactly why Michael Jackson earned his King of Pop title."

Well, tell us.

Ms. PENRICE: Well, what you see is how absolutely involved in these productions he was. From dealing with the music, the lighting, the choreography and coaching the different people who are working with him, also you see him at the rehearsal stage singing and dancing simultaneously. And as we know, there are many artists touring now who don't do that.

MARTIN: So the idea that he was some sort of creation of other minds or other talents, that he was kind of just a cipher for other people's talents - you said if anybody had that question or that idea, that puts this totally to rest.

Ms. PENRICE: Absolutely. You know, what we've seen from Michael Jackson or about Michael Jackson is this constant child-like, forever-boy person. And what you see in "This Is It" is a man. You see a man who is capable of putting together a team and voicing to them what it is he wants to see, while also allowing them to share their talents and for them to all come together to create just a masterpiece.

MARTIN: And I want to play a short clip to that effect. I mean you write in your piece that "This Is It" reminds us that Michael Jackson was a generation of cultivated and honed talent where practice did indeed make perfect. There was no resting on laurels with Michael Jackson. It wasn't just magic. It was tireless work and effort - the two attributes that are not often applied to the genius of African-American performers.

So, liberally - and obviously, you're dealing with a lot of history in that paragraph - but let me just play a short clip of where you hear him playing such an active role in the rehearsal. Here it is.

(Soundbite from movie, "This Is It")

(Soundbite of sound effect)

Mr. JACKSON: I got to cue that. I got to cue that.

Mr. ORTEGA: Yeah.

Mr. JACKSON: That should trigger on its own.

Mr. ORTEGA: Guy, that should be a special on...

Mr. JACKSON: That can't trigger on its on.

Mr. ORTEGA: ...our girl.

(Soundbite of song, "The Way You Make Me Feel")

MARTIN: You also deal in your review with I think a subject that I think is natural. I mean that it's going to be on people's mind. You write: Throughout the film, it's only natural to look for signs of his death. Did Jackson have a premonition? What did you conclude? Did you have a sense that he was ill in any way - under the weather? I mean in the clips that I've seen, he seems very thin, you know, but a lot of performers do to me. So what did you draw from it?

Ms. PENRICE: Well, it was hard to tell if when you saw weariness, was it because he was weary or was it, you know, because he's put in all of this time, work, and effort? It's only natural for you to be tired. But for myself, I did not see signs that he wasn't going to be among us.

MARTIN: Obviously, people bring so much of their own feelings about Michael Jackson to viewing a film like this. But what role do you think this film will play in how we view Michael Jackson's legacy from here on out?

Ms. PENRICE: I think that the role that the film will play will be one of acknowledging his absolute, complete dedication to the art form, the actual work that it took to be Michael Jackson.

MARTIN: Who do you think will enjoy this film?

Ms. PENRICE: Everyone. I think obviously, you know, his diehard fans will just be amazed. But I think even if you're skeptical, once you see this film, you will understand a little better, if you're looking at it from a fresh eye -looking at Michael Jackson as the artist, the performer. I don't think that there's any way you can not appreciate that about him.

MARTIN: Ronda Racha Penrice is an author and pop culture critic. She was kind enough to join us from Georgia Public Broadcasting in Atlanta. If you want to read her review of "This Is It" for The Grio, we'll have a link on our Web site. Just go to NPR.org, go programs, and click on TELL ME MORE.

Ronda, thank you so much for speaking with us.

Ms. PENRICE: Thank you so much.

(Soundbite of song, "This Is It")

Mr. JACKSON: (Singing) ...I can say, I'm the light of the world, run away...

MARTIN: And that's our program for today. I'm Michel Martin and this is TELL ME MORE from NPR News. Let's talk more tomorrow.

Mr. JACKSON: (Singing) Every time I'm in love that I feel. And I feel as though I've known you since 1,000 years. And you tell me that you've seen my face before. And you said to me you don't what me hanging round. Many times, you wanna do it here before. Oh, yeah...

Copyright © 2009 NPR. All rights reserved. Visit our website terms of use and permissions pages at www.npr.org for further information.

NPR transcripts are created on a rush deadline by an NPR contractor. This text may not be in its final form and may be updated or revised in the future. Accuracy and availability may vary. The authoritative record of NPR’s programming is the audio record.

'Michael Jackson's This Is It' Premiere Special Tells The Film's Untold Stories

You've been hearing about it for months, since the days just after his death: the rehearsal footage of [artist id="1102"]Michael Jackson[/artist] as he geared up for his epic comebacks concerts in London. On Tuesday (in select markets) and Wednesday, finally, the recordings will be unleashed as the documentary "Michael Jackson's This Is It." Hours before then, the red-carpet premiere kicks off in Los Angeles and MTV News will be broadcasting live in front of the Nokia Theatre as the action unfolds.

Airing on Tuesday at 8:30 p.m. ET, MTV's special will showcase inside stories you've never heard before about MJ and his planned concerts. We sat down for in-depth interviews with dancers, band members, the [article id="1624545"]choreographer Travis Payne[/article] and the [article id="1624516"]director Kenny Ortega[/article] -- all those people who knew Jackson so well during his final days and who were helping him put the entire production together. It's all part of the untold story of how the "This Is It" concert series came to be, how Jackson planned to make them his best shows ever, and what it was like working with the King of Pop on what became his final project.

One segment called "The King of Pop: Royally High Expectations" details how MJ's aspirations to make this the greatest concert ever meant that everybody worked around the clock to ensure his high standards were upheld. Musicians, dancers and Ortega tell stories about Michael being such a perfectionist that he'd notice even a few missing notes in a song.

Another segment shows the "This Is It" crew dishing the secrets they unearthed while working with the legendary pop star -- from the reasons he wore those iconic white socks to the power behind his cologne. And the special also takes a look at MJ's last 24 hours, as those who worked with him talk about Michael's last rehearsal.

Anchoring all the proceedings from the carpet will be Sway and Tim Kash. They'll be greeting stars as they arrive and getting their personal stories about meeting, working with or admiring Michael Jackson. And it all begins on Tuesday at 8:30 p.m.

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Concert film documents King of Pop's final labor of love.

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Here's what Michael Jackson planned for final 'This Is It' tour that never happened

"He wanted to make sure that there were really important moments."

Before Michael Jackson suddenly passed away back in 2009, he was due to play a massive string of shows in London as part of his This Is It tour.

While we never got to see how the shows turned out – except in rehearsal form as part of the Michael Jackson's This Is It documentary – the tour's choreographer has opened up about what plans they did have.

"From the very, very start, when Michael called me, he said to me, 'Kenny, this is it'. He said 'this is it' so many times that I went back to him and said, 'Why don't we just call the tour This Is It?'

"But he had given me reasons, and he really wanted to do a tour so that his children could have an opportunity to see him in action, and to see him doing what he's loved all his life.

Ortega also revealed that Jackson wanted to do the tour for his "loyal" fans, as well as using the stage as a "platform to remind the world" of the "vulnerability of the planet".

"So Michael really had a vision for this tour, and every part of it played into those three reasons," Ortega continued.

"He wanted a likefulness to it, and he wanted to make sure that there were really important moments that were reminding his audiences to step out there and to take a responsibility, to do their part to make sure that we have a world that we recognise in the future."

Jackson passed away on June 25, 2009, and his daughter Paris recently shared a poignant tribute on what would have been her dad's 59th birthday.

"You are always with me and I am always with you," she wrote. "Though I am not you, and you are not me, I know with all of my being that we are one. And our souls will never change in that way. Thank you for the magic, forever and always."

Want up-to-the-minute entertainment news and features? Just hit 'Like' on our Digital Spy Facebook page and 'Follow' on our @digitalspy Twitter account and you're all set.

Sam is a freelance reporter and sub-editor who has a particular interest in movies , TV and music. After completing a journalism Masters at City University, London, Sam joined Digital Spy as a reporter, and has also freelanced for publications such as NME and Screen International .  Sam, who also has a degree in Film, can wax lyrical about everything from Lord of the Rings to Love Is Blind , and is equally in his element crossing every 't' and dotting every 'i' as a sub-editor.

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The 10 Best Documentaries about Michael Jackson

Oct 10, 2023 | Best Of , Celebrities , Music

From the moonwalk to the ‘Thriller’ era, Michael Jackson left an indelible mark on pop culture. He was a musical genius and his influence is still felt around the world. To honor his legacy, we’ve put together a list of some of the best documentaries about Michael Jackson that explore different aspects of his life and career. From behind-the-scenes accounts to in-depth interviews, these documentaries will give you a better understanding of the man behind the music. So put on your dancing shoes and get ready to learn more about ‘The King of Pop’.

Square One: Michael Jackson (2019)

Michael Jackson’s This Is It (2009)

Beyond the Headlines: Michael Jackson (2017)

Leaving Neverland (2008)

Michael Jackson: Who Was the Man in the Mirror ? (2016)

Michael Jackson’s Journey from Motown to off the Wall (2002)

Michael Jackson: Spike Lee Bad 25 (2012)

Fatal Addiction: Michael Jackson (2022)

Michael Jackson: Searching for Neverland (2017)

The Best Free Documentaries about Michael Jackson

1. new mj documentary: march, 2017 (man in the mirror) with earnest valentino.

Earnest Valentino, the adult Michael Jackson, had to endure much pain and suffering during his lifetime. Despite those he thought were close friends, there was a constant barrage of accusations and abuse. The documentary brings these moments into vivid clarity, allowing viewers to experience it alongside him. It is a difficult journey for us all, as we bear witness to a person who faced such turmoil in his life. Yet, we must also recognize the strength and resilience he held within to keep going despite the odds stacked against him. Let us strive to honor his spirit by learning from his trials – an example of how one can remain strong and dignified under pressure. Together, let us ensure that Michael Jackson’s legacy lives on for generations to come.

2. Michael Jackson: Life, Death and Legacy

Michael Jackson had an incredible influence on popular culture and music worldwide. His sense of style, his signature dance moves and his incomparable talent were all part of a package that made him one of the most successful entertainers of all time. One man dubbed him the King of Pop, and for good reason – millions around the world found inspiration in Michael’s unique artistry. This documentary takes a deep dive into the life of Michael Jackson, from his time as a child performer in the Jackson 5 to his untimely death in 2009. We will explore both the highs and lows of an extraordinary life, told by those who knew him best – friends, family members, industry professionals and journalists alike. The film begins with the recent imprisonment of Jackson’s doctor Conrad Murray, but will focus on the impact that Michael had on people around the world. Through interviews and archival footage, we will get an intimate look at what it was like to be a part of Jackson’s musical journey and how his life story continues to inspire us today.

3. Michael Jackson: The Victim Of Fame

Michael Jackson was a man who experienced fame on an unimaginable level. His life, even before he entered the limelight of stardom, was marked by tragedy and misfortune. Born the seventh child of an African-American family in Gary, Indiana, Michael’s early years were filled with poverty and heartache. From infancy to adulthood, Michael had to endure the pressure of fame as well as physical and emotional abuse. In his teens, Michael was put under intense scrutiny from an industry that saw him more as a commodity than a human being. He was expected to deliver top-notch performances in the face of cruel criticism and unyielding expectations.

4. Killing Michael Jackson: The Tragic Death of a Music Icon (Mystery Documentary)

In 2019, ZigZag Productions released their documentary Killing Michael Jackson, which chronicles the story of the late singer’s death and explores how and why it happened. The film includes interviews with those involved in the initial investigation as well as experts on medical negligence and legal proceedings surrounding such a tragedy. It also offers insights into how the justice system works and how tragedy can affect a community. The documentary proves to be an important look into the events that shocked the world over ten years ago. Killing Michael Jackson remains a powerful reminder of what happens when tragedy strikes and serves as a sobering examination of the consequences associated with medical negligence. It is both inspiring and heartbreaking at once, and its lasting legacy will continue to be felt for years to come.

5. The Story of A True Pop Genius

This film takes you on a journey exploring the magical and memorable music of Michael Jackson, starting from his early recordings with the Jackson 5, through to his latest and greatest hits. As we watch we start to unravel the story of a true pop genius – how he evolved, changed and influenced generations of music lovers alike. Prepare to be captivated by rarely seen performances and interviews, alongside some stunning archive footage. This is the story of Michael Jackson – told as it was meant to be told!

6. Michael Jackson

Michael Jackson was a true superstar. He had an incredible talent, and the world came to recognize him as one of the greatest artists ever. His music touched people in ways that many could only dream of, inspiring generations to come. In addition to his musical prowess, Michael also possessed an unparalleled charisma and showmanship that allowed him to captivate any audience he performed for. He had a unique sense of style and an infectious smile that won over millions around the world. Michael’s fame was nothing short of extraordinary, and it seemed like he could do no wrong. His music videos were always hugely popular, and his concerts sold out in record time. Everywhere he went, crowds followed him in adoration. He created a legacy that will never be forgotten, and his influence is still felt today.

7. Michael Jackson: Who Was the Man in the Mirror?

Michael Jackson had a huge responsibility upon himself to keep up a certain level of performance and character in public. This was an immense burden, both physically and mentally, that he had to carry every day. It wasn’t easy for him, as the pressure weighed heavily on his shoulders and caused him pain and suffering. Despite this, however, Michael Jackson’s amazing talent still shone through and he managed to achieve some incredible feats during his career. Despite the strain and stress, he was able to keep going and make music that has since become iconic. It just goes to show how strong he was, both mentally and physically, and serves as an inspiring example of never giving up in the face of adversity.

8. Michael Jackson’s Final Moments REVEALED

On June 25th, 2009, the world was stunned by the sudden passing of Michael Jackson. An undeniable force in music and dance, his life had been a source of tremendous joy as well as controversy. As news spread of his death, speculation grew to fever pitch and no one knew what would be revealed in the days that followed. Questions remained unanswered and details were shrouded in mystery. The memorial service held at the Staples Center in Los Angeles to honor his life was attended by an estimated 1.6 million people, demonstrating just how much he had touched the world. The outpouring of love and grief from fans around the globe was nothing short of incredible—a testament to Jackson’s iconic status and timeless legacy.

9. Horrible death of  Michael Jackson

This documentary uncovers the untold story of the tragic demise of an international icon. Join us as we dive deep into the events surrounding Michael Jackson’s shocking death, providing unprecedented access to exclusive interviews and expert analysis. We’ll explore his rise to superstardom from a child prodigy to one of the most successful musicians in history, giving viewers a comprehensive understanding of the pressures and struggles Michael faced throughout his career. Through heartfelt testimonials from family, friends, and colleagues, we seek to paint a real portrait of The King of Pop – the man behind the music and fame. The documentary will challenge prevailing narratives by looking at both personal demons and media scrutiny that Michael Jackson encountered. We’ll recount the events of that fateful day, providing an emotional rollercoaster that aims to honor the memory of a musical genius who left an indelible mark on the world. But this documentary is not just about Michael Jackson’s life and death, it will also look at what can be learned from his example – whether it be in the music industry or in life more generally. We’ll examine his philosophy and outlook, providing insight into how we can live our own lives a little better.

10. Killing Michael Jackson: What Really Caused His Death?

The death of pop superstar Michael Jackson has always been shrouded in mystery. On June 25, 2009, the world mourned as yet another brilliant talent was taken away too soon. But why? What really caused his demise? While much speculation has focused on drug use and other issues that may have precipitated his death, the primary cause of his passing has been officially classified as “acute propofol intoxication” combined with other drugs. Now, many questions still remain unanswered. Was Jackson’s untimely demise due to accident or intentional overdose? Did he receive proper medical care beforehand? What role did painkillers play in his demise? To this day, no one truly knows the answers. What we can do is look at the evidence and draw our own conclusions. The autopsy report showed that Jackson had a high level of propofol in his system, along with other drugs such as lorazepam, midazolam, and diazepam. It’s clear that he was taking medication prior to his death, but the exact cause of the overdose is still unclear.

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'Daunting' Michael Jackson biopic wows CinemaCon with first footage of Jaafar Jackson

LAS VEGAS – The first glimpse at the upcoming Michael Jackson biopic was a real thriller.

On Wednesday, movie theater owners at CinemaCon got an exciting sneak peek at director Antoine Fuqua's "Michael" (out April 18, 2025), which stars the King of Pop's nephew Jaafar Jackson as the music legend and is currently in production.

"Michael, you have a very special light. So let your light shine unto the world," MJ's mom Katherine (Nia Long) says in voiceover. The first footage showed the icon with the Jackson 5 (with Juliano Krue Valdi as young Michael) and then in concert doing all the smooth moves fans know and love. (And in case you're wondering, Jackson has his uncle's look and dancing down pat.)

Who is playing Michael Jackson in the movie?

Set mostly to "Man in the Mirror," the first footage of Jaafar Jackson covered different musical moments but also family life and some of the darker bits as well, such as being overwhelmed in the public eye and being rushed to the hospital.

In a Lionsgate presentation, producer Graham King ("Bohemian Rhapsody") promised the biopic would cover Jackson's musical successes, including more than 30 songs, and his controversies. "There are biopics, and then there is Michael," said King, who called him "an enigma full of eccentricities."

Jackson "was a simple man who lived a complicated life," King added. "When you mention his name, everyone has an opinion of him." And so far, putting his life onscreen has been "a daunting task to say the least."

The "Michael" cast also includes Oscar nominee Colman Domingo as family patriarch Joe Jackson, Miles Teller as attorney John Branca, Kat Graham as Diana Ross and Larenz Tate as Berry Gordy.

Domingo told USA TODAY earlier this year that he was "still exploring what I love about" about Joe Jackson "and the one thing I've found so far is how strong he was."

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Peter Jackson to release restored version of Beatles’ 1970 documentary Let It Be on Disney+

Directed by Michael Lindsay-Hogg, the film captures the recording sessions of the band’s final album

After decades out of circulation, the Beatles’ 1970 documentary Let It Be has been restored by Peter Jackson’s production company.

Directed by Michael Lindsay-Hogg, Let It Be captures the recording sessions of the band’s final album of the same title. It was originally released mere weeks after the Beatles officially announced their split. None of the members of the band attended its premiere in 1970.

The documentary has since become remembered as a little-seen curio chronicling the group’s demise, with scenes of internal strife and bickering alongside the frenzy of their month-long recording process.

Let It Be also served as the starting point for Jackson’s 2021 miniseries The Beatles: Get Back, an eight-hour epic pieced together from nearly 60 hours of behind-the-scenes footage initially shot for Lindsay-Hogg’s film.

Jackson’s version of Let It Be employs the same technology used in Get Back to restore the vintage footage, Variety reports.

Let It Be has not been available in any official form since the early 80s, though low-quality bootleg versions copied from earlier VHS and laserdisc releases have circulated among fans over the years.

“I’m absolutely thrilled that … Let it Be has been restored and is finally being rereleased after being unavailable for decades,” Jackson said in a statement. “I’ve always thought that Let It Be is needed to complete the Get Back story.”

Jackson said that he considers the two projects as “one epic story”.

“Michael Lindsay-Hogg was unfailingly helpful and gracious while I made Get Back,” he continued. “It’s only right that his original movie has the last word … looking and sounding far better than it did in 1970.”

In an interview with the New York Times on Tuesday , Lindsay-Hogg said that Jackson was “the catalyst” of Let It Be’s rerelease, advocating for the project with the Beatles’ company Apple Corps.

In the same interview, Lindsay-Hogg said he had no preconception of the Beatles’ split while shooting his documentary.

“What you see in the movie is that the affection is eternal between the four of them. But they were living very separate lives,” the 83-year-old film-maker told the Times.

“I thought they might go off and do their own thing, follow their heart and release separate albums, but then get together … I didn’t think the Beatles were going to break up till they broke up.”

Let It Be will premiere globally on Disney+ on 8 May.

Let It Be’s restoration arrives during a glut of Beatles news. Earlier this month, James McCartney and Sean Ono Lennon – sons of Paul McCartney and John Lennon – released a song titled Primrose Hill; Ringo Starr also released a new single, February Sky, the same day.

And in February, Sam Mendes announced that he will direct four films centred on each Beatle , due for release in 2027.

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He continued, “But, that was on the last one. Now, I don’t think I’m going to show up.”

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Beatles’ 1970 ‘Let It Be’ Documentary, Out of Circulation for Four Decades, Headed to Disney+ After Restoration by Peter Jackson’s Team

By Chris Willman

Chris Willman

Senior Music Writer and Chief Music Critic

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For decades, the attitude toward the documentary “ Let It Be ” in the Beatles ‘ camp seemed to be: Let it rest in peace. But the film is finally going to be seen again. A restored version of the 1970 movie is coming soon to Disney+ , the same service that brought fans “The Beatles: Get Back,” the 2021 Peter Jackson docuseries that used outtakes from director Michael Lindsay-Hogg ‘s original film.

Popular on Variety

Jackson used hours of outtakes from Lindsay-Hogg’s footage to assemble “The Beatles: Get Back.” During the publicity campaign for that project, he repeatedly vowed that his fresh treatment of the material was meant to complement the original film, not forever supplant it, and that the original doc would eventually be seen again so that they could stand as companion pieces.

During the campaign for “Get Back,” Jackson told Variety that he thought “Let It Be” had been unfairly characterized as depressing, partly because it came out immediately in the wake of the Beatles’ breakup, but also because the color scheme of the 16mm film, as released in 1970, had a dreary look that lent itself to a downbeat interpretation. “Get Back” had a more colorful look to it, and that seems likely to be true of what Jackson’s team has done with the original elements of “Let It Be” now, too.

Moreover, though, Jackson’s team has had a fresh crack at the audio of the 1970 movie. A press statement says that “with Lindsay-Hogg’s full support, Apple Corps asked Peter Jackson’s Park Road Post Production to dive into a meticulous restoration of the film from the original 16mm negative, which included lovingly remastering the sound using the same MAL de-mix technology that was applied to the ‘Get Back’ docuseries.”

Lindsay-Hogg sounded his approval of the new efforts in a statement. “’Let It Be’ was ready to go in October/November 1969, but it didn’t come out until April 1970,” he recalled. “One month before its release, the Beatles officially broke up. And so the people went to see ‘Let It Be’ with sadness in their hearts, thinking, ‘I’ll never see the Beatles together again. I will never have that joy again,’ and it very much darkened the perception of the film. But, in fact, how often do you get to see artists of this stature working together to make what they hear in their heads into songs? And then you get to the roof, and you see their excitement, camaraderie and sheer joy in playing together again as a group and know, as we do now, that it was the final time, and we view it with the full understanding of who they were and still are and a little poignancy. I was knocked out by what Peter was able to do with ‘Get Back,’ using all the footage I’d shot 50 years previously.”

Lindsay-Hogg elaborated on the new restoration in an interview with the New York Times published Tuesday. “When Peter first showed me some restored images of the film, one was of a couple of the Beatles from the back, and their hair in the original looked very clumped,” the director noted. “Then he said, “Now let me show you what we’ve been working on.” It was the same shot, but you could see the individual strands of hair. The new version is a 21st century version of a 20th century movie. It is certainly brighter and livelier than what ended up on videotape. It looks now like it was intended to look in 1969 or 1970, although at my request, Peter did give it a more filmic look than ‘Get Back,’ which had a slightly more modern and digital look.”

Other restoration efforts had reportedly begun on the film in the 1990s and again in the 2000s, with an eye toward a possible DVD or theatrical release. Although the abandonments of previous restorations were widely ascribed to the disinterest of the surviving Beatles, Paul McCartney said in a 2016 interview that he was not the hold-up, and that he was encouraging of efforts to make the documentary available again.

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Peter Jackson restores classic 1970 Beatles documentary ‘Let It Be’

A rarely seen 1970 film following the Beatles just before the band’s breakup will be released on Disney+ after being restored by Hollywood director Peter Jackson, the streaming service announced Tuesday.

The release on May 8 will mark the first time that “Let It Be,” directed by Michael Lindsay-Hogg, has been available in more than 50 years, according to a statement from Disney+.

Jackson, who also made the award-winning 2021 docuseries “The Beatles: Get Back” for Disney+, has carried out a “meticulous restoration” of the film as well as “lovingly remastering the sound,” according to the statement.

The documentary follows the band as they write and record their final album, “Let It Be,” on a rooftop in London and perform live for the last time – something Lindsay-Hogg said influenced the film’s reception.

“One month before its release, The Beatles officially broke up. And so the people went to see ‘Let It Be’ with sadness in their hearts, thinking, ‘I’ll never see The Beatles together again. I will never have that joy again,’ and it very much darkened the perception of the film,” he said in the statement.

“But, in fact, how often do you get to see artists of this stature working together to make what they hear in their heads into songs? And then you get to the roof, and you see their excitement, camaraderie, and sheer joy in playing together again as a group and know, as we do now, that it was the final time, and we view it with the full understanding of who they were and still are and a little poignancy.”

Disney+ said that “fan clamour for the original ‘Let It Be’ film reached fever pitch” following the release of “The Beatles: Get Back,” and Jackson said that “the two projects support and enhance each other.”

“I was so lucky to have access to Michael’s outtakes for ‘Get Back,’ and I’ve always thought that ‘Let It Be’ is needed to complete the ‘Get Back’ story,” Jackson said in the statement.

Fans of the Beatles will also have more films to watch, following the announcement that Oscar-winning director  Sam Mendes  is set to direct four separate feature-length biopics chronicling the story of the band through the eyes of each of its members: Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr and the late John Lennon and George Harrison.

According to a statement from Sony Pictures Entertainment in February, the films will be told from each band member’s point of view and collectively “intersect to tell the astonishing story of the greatest band in history.”

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News - 14 April 2024

“LET IT BE” – AT LAST

Michael Lindsay-Hogg’s Original 1970 Film  About The Beatles, Meticulously Restored by Peter Jackson’s Team at Park Road Post Production to  Launch Exclusively on Disney+ May 8, 2024

BURBANK, Calif. (April 16) – Today, Disney+ announced that “Let It Be,” director Michael Lindsay-Hogg’s original 1970 film about The Beatles, will launch exclusively on Disney+ May 8, 2024. This is the first time the film is available in over 50 years. 

First released in May 1970 amidst the swirl of The Beatles’ breakup, “Let It Be” now takes its rightful place in the band’s history. Once viewed through a darker lens, the film is now brought to light through its restoration and in the context of revelations brought forth in Peter Jackson’s multiple Emmy Award®-winning docuseries, “The Beatles: Get Back.” Released on Disney+ in 2021, the docuseries showcases the iconic foursome’s warmth and camaraderie, capturing a pivotal moment in music history. 

“Let It Be” contains footage not featured in the “Get Back” docuseries, bringing viewers into the studio and onto Apple Corps’ London rooftop in January 1969 as The Beatles, joined by Billy Preston, write and record their GRAMMY Award®-winning album  Let It Be , with its Academy Award®-winning title song, and perform live for the final time as a group. With the release of “The Beatles: Get Back,” fan clamour for the original “Let It Be” film reached a fever pitch. With Lindsay-Hogg’s full support, Apple Corps asked Peter Jackson’s Park Road Post Production to dive into a meticulous restoration of the film from the original 16mm negative, which included lovingly remastering the sound using the same MAL de-mix technology that was applied to the “Get Back” docuseries. 

Michael Lindsay-Hogg says, “’Let It Be’ was ready to go in October/November 1969, but it didn’t come out until April 1970. One month before its release, The Beatles officially broke up. And so the people went to see ‘Let It Be’ with sadness in their hearts, thinking, ‘I’ll never see The Beatles together again. I will never have that joy again,’ and it very much darkened the perception of the film. But, in fact, how often do you get to see artists of this stature working together to make what they hear in their heads into songs. And then you get to the roof and you see their excitement, camaraderie and sheer joy in playing together again as a group and know, as we do now, that it was the final time, and we view it with full understanding of who they were and still are and a little poignancy. I was knocked out by what Peter was able to do with ‘Get Back,’using all the footage I’d shot 50 years previously.” 

“I’m absolutely thrilled that Michael’s movie, ‘Let It Be,’ has been restored and is finally being re-released after being unavailable for decades,” says Peter Jackson. "I was so lucky to have access to Michael’s outtakes for 'Get Back,’ and I’ve always thought that ‘Let It Be’ is needed to complete the ‘Get Back’ story. Over three parts, we showed Michael and The Beatles filming a groundbreaking new documentary, and ‘Let It Be’ is that documentary – the movie they released in 1970. I now think of it all as one epic story, finally completed after five decades. The two projects support and enhance each other: ‘Let It Be’ is the climax of ‘Get Back,’ while ‘Get Back’ provides a vital missing context for ‘Let It Be.’ Michael Lindsay-Hogg was unfailingly helpful and gracious while I made ‘Get Back,’ and it’s only right that his original movie has the last word...looking and sounding far better than it did in 1970.”

“Let It Be,” directed by Michael Lindsay-Hogg, stars John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, and Ringo Starr, with a special appearance by Billy Preston. The film was produced by Neil Aspinall with The Beatles acting as executive producers. The director of photography was Anthony B Richmond.

“Let It Be” will debut exclusively on Disney+ May 8, 2024.

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Long Dismissed, the Beatles’ ‘Let It Be’ Film Returns After 54 Years

Michael Lindsay-Hogg’s unloved — or misinterpreted? — 1970 documentary, the source for Peter Jackson’s “Get Back,” will stream on Disney+.

By Alex Williams

In 2021, the director Peter Jackson’s sprawling and vibrant Beatles docuseries, “ The Beatles: Get Back ,” streamed on Disney+ to nearly universal acclaim. The three-part epic, which ran nearly eight hours, captured the drama and frenzy as John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr recorded, over the pressure-filled month of January 1969, what would become the last album that the Beatles released, “Let It Be.”

As fans were well aware, Jackson’s series was culled from nearly 60 hours of behind-the-scenes footage originally shot by the director Michael Lindsay-Hogg for “Let It Be,” his little-seen, though often dismissed, 1970 documentary about those recording sessions.

After its initial theatrical run, Lindsay-Hogg’s film largely disappeared for more than a half-century with the exception of low-quality VHS versions and bootlegs. Fans tend to remember it as an intriguing historical document capturing the late-stage creative flights of a seismic musical force, but also as a divorce proceeding of sorts, with stark moments of internal discord as the band hurtled toward a nasty split.

By that view, “Get Back,” with its abundant moments of jokey banter and on-set clowning, was seen by some as an overdue corrective to “Let It Be.”

Little surprise but Lindsay-Hogg, 83, has a very different view. The acclaimed director had a hand in inventing the music video, with his promotional films for the Beatles and the Rolling Stones in the mid-1960s, and went on to win plaudits for the 1980s British mini-series “Brideshead Revisited.” He has fought for a half-century for “Let It Be” to get a second look and, in his mind, a fair shake.

On May 8, he will get his wish, when “Let It Be,” meticulously restored by Jackson’s production team, begins streaming on Disney+ in collaboration with Apple Corps, the company that oversees the Beatles creative and business interests. Lindsay-Hogg spoke to The New York Times about the culmination of a long crusade. These are edited excerpts from the conversation.

You have been working for decades to revive “Let It Be.” What finally changed?

Peter was the catalyst. He and I met in December 2018, before he really started on “Get Back,” and he said, “Tell me the story of ‘Let It Be’ — you know, what’s happened since you made it, because I’ve seen it pretty recently and I think that movie should come out.” So a year or two went by, and he told me that he had a very good relationship with Paul and Ringo and also with Sean Lennon and Olivia Harrison, George’s widow, as well as with Jonathan Clyde, who produced “Get Back” for Apple. So he started to advocate for “Let It Be” to come out. He and Clyde got a budget for the restoration work, and slowly it moved through Apple.

Is “Let It Be” just a short version of “Get Back”?

Peter very much didn’t want “Get Back” to look like he just pulled it from “Let It Be,” so if he wanted to show a scene that was in my film, he would show it from different angles and reconstruct it differently. There are scenes in “Let It Be” that aren’t in “Get Back.” They’re very different, although obviously they have many great similarities.

A lot of people remember “Let It Be” as a bad-vibes movie, probably in part because of that famous scene in which George and Paul bicker about George’s guitar part on “Two of Us.” Was that exchange another sign of the beginning of the end?

No one had ever seen the Beatles have a fight, but that wasn’t really a fight. Up to that point, no one had filmed, except in bits and pieces, the Beatles rehearsing. So that was new territory. That exchange between Paul and George, they never commented on, because it was the same kind of conversation that any artistic collaborators would have. As a director in the theater and in movies, I know that kind of conversation happens five times a week.

When “Get Back” came out, a lot of fans saw it as happy corrective to “Let It Be.” Is that accurate?

I would say most people who saw Peter’s picture as a corrective to mine haven’t seen mine, because no one was able to see it for 50 years. So unless they were children when they saw it in theaters, the only way most people would have seen it was on VHS or bootlegs, which changed the original aspect ratio and had dark and gloomy pictures and bad sound. That is part of the reason the movie was put in the closet for a long time.

How much does the digital restoration change the look and sound of “Let It Be”?

When Peter first showed me some restored images of the film, one was of a couple of the Beatles from the back, and their hair in the original looked very clumped. Then he said, “Now let me show you what we’ve been working on.” It was the same shot, but you could see the individual strands of hair. The new version is a 21st century version of a 20th century movie. It is certainly brighter and livelier than what ended up on videotape. It looks now like it was intended to look in 1969 or 1970, although at my request, Peter did give it a more filmic look than “Get Back,” which had a slightly more modern and digital look.

The four Beatles skipped the 1970 premiere of “Let It Be.” Was that in protest?

As we now know, the Beatles were in the process of breaking up when the film was getting ready to go. People were feeling perhaps rancorous toward each other; they weren’t getting on. They announced their breakup in April 1970, and “Let It Be” was released in May. “Let It Be” was collateral damage. People didn’t see it for what it was, and went looking for what it wasn’t.

As recently as 2021, Ringo said there was “no joy” in the film. Did the members of the band actually seem unhappy with it at the time?

Well, after we watched the rough cut in July, the day before Neil Armstrong landed on the moon, John and Yoko [Ono], Paul and Linda McCartney, Peter Brown from Apple and me and my girlfriend went out for dinner at Provans in London. The film, I think, was regarded very much as a promising work in progress. There was no snarky business going on. We sat and had a good time like friends do. We talked about our childhoods, had a couple of bottles of wine. When we showed them the final cut in late November, we all went out for dinner again, to a place with a discothèque. We all had a nightcap and a chat, and Paul said he thought the movie was good. Ringo was jiving out on the dance floor. He’s a good dancer.

After 54 years, do you think fans will have a different perception of the film?

If you see it with no preconceptions, the picture works very well, and it’s clear that you’re looking at four men who have known each other since they were teenagers — well, three of them anyway — who love each other as brothers might. But they weren’t any more the Fab Four, the mop tops. A couple of them are pushing 30. They had stopped touring, which is a very big change for a rock ’n’ roll group. What you see in the movie is that the affection is eternal between the four of them. But they were living very separate lives now.

During filming, did you get the sense that they were on the verge of breaking up?

No, not at all. We started shooting with four Beatles. We ended it with four Beatles. It was not like the San Andreas Fault. I thought they might go off and do their own thing, follow their heart and release separate albums, but then get together, because the Beatles were a very powerful artistic force, and also social force. I didn’t think the Beatles were going to break up till they broke up.

Even critics of “Let It Be” would have a hard time arguing that their final live set on the roof of Apple Corps wasn’t a joyous moment.

How lucky can you get that the last line in the movie is from John, up on the roof. The set has been broken up by the police — which is good, because that’s as many songs as they had rehearsed anyway — then John says, “And I hope we passed the audition. ” Because if anyone did pass the audition, in that entire decade, it was the Beatles.

Alex Williams is a reporter in the Obituaries department. More about Alex Williams

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