McCartney and Others

The new Beatles film, Let It Be, is instant history. Not only is it supposed to be their last movie; it is also the only extensive audiovisual record of the way they work together in a recording studio. Rock scholars and Beatles fans will be enthralled with the film. Others may find it only a kind of mildly enjoyable documentary newsreel.

Shot 15 months ago, mostly in and around the Apple recording studios, the film concentrates heavily on Paul McCartney, so much so that the billing might be changed to "Let It Be, starring Paul McCartney and some other Beatles." There are flashes of John dancing with his wife Yoko Ono, and George and Ringo picking out Octopus Garden on guitar and piano, but most of the good footage belongs to Paul. He is the one who seems to be running the recording sessions, and he is surely the one who gets to sing--mostly in lingering closeups--all the great songs, like Let It Be and Get Back.

It is the music, indeed, that is the film's great strength. There are no more charismatic performers or immaculate musicians on the rock scene today than the Beatles, and to watch them running through more than a dozen good tunes is a pleasure. Let It Be may not be much of a movie, but it's a fine concert.

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