The Beatles,being the greatest rock band in the planet has indeed revolutionized everything.Their music,prowess and charisma were definitely ahead of their time.They made music videos long before MTV was born and one would consider the film Let It Be as the first reality movie ever made with the band being filmed working,rehearsing and recording both in the studio and the Apple Building rooftop. It also highlights their life as a band(at least some parts of it) with both their good and bad sides seen.
One film in particular mirrors in what people call today as Reality TV in which a movie focuses on a day in the life of a person is "Whats Happening! The Beatles In The USA" which was later re-edited and named "The Beatles:The First US Visit". It was February 7,1964,the Beatles had just arrived at JFK Airport and America has never been the same.
The men who shot the event,Albert and David Maysles were both Boston natives and were known for their documentary type of filming long before the term "reality tv" was accepted by the public.Albert,who was six years older than David,graduated with a BA degree at Syracuse University and later finished his Masters degree at Boston University.The younger David however,died of a stroke in 1987 and Albert went on filming on his own years after his younger brother died.
The brothers' film project on the fabs which was first released in 1964,was strange and way ahead of its time.With no recorded music,except for a footage they took of the Beatles' concert in Washington Coliseum which was considered to be the very first concert the band ever held in America.The film reviews of "Whats Happening!.." was mixed and at the same time both Albert and David were praised for capturing the band on every single angle and thus was called the world's greatest cameramen.It was unfortunate though that they weren't able to film the Beatles while they performed on three of Ed Sullivan's shows as they weren't allowed to go inside the studio.But they were quick enough to mend the situation that they went to a house nearby and filmed a family instead watching the Beatles perform at Ed Sullivan's show on tv.This magic moment,filming a family watching the Beatles on television was included on the re-edited version of the movie and retitled as The Beatles:The First US Visit as a bonus feature on the DVD release along with the brothers' film footage of Brian Epstein.The film,was first re-edited and re-issued in 1991 where they included the Beatles' performances on the three Ed Sullivan shows held in New York and Miami.
The Beatles had their very first number one record on the Billboard charts with "I Want To Hold Your Hand". They opened the doors for other British groups and boasts a record of 20 number one hits.Not to mention their astonishing performance on the US charts wherein all top five songs on the Hot 100 were all occupied by the Beatles.A feat that is still unbeaten up to this day.A band or artist today will have one or two singles on the charts and that is already a big accomplishment for them.But all five? Inconceivable now.
A person who would slip the DVD and see the movie for the first time will leave someone in awe as he travels back in time in the year 1964,that is,if you weren't born yet during the sixties and will make someone capture a glimpse of the cool decade.If you're 60 or something,it will bring back beautiful memories especially if you live in and around New York City.
The Beatles were at first reluctant of going to America with Paul saying in an interview that they're not going unless they had a number one hit in which they later did.George Harrison was heard saying back then that it wasn't necessary for the band to go to the US;"they already have everything there,what do they need us for?".In the late fifties,most of the pop music in Britain were covers of American standards as the Beatles had always refer to rockabilly and R&B as their prime influence to their music.Alas,the band suddenly found themselves facing the American press and audience.With a catchy question and answer portion on behalf of the fabs: "Will you sing us a song?" "No we need money first". And that fun moment when the Maysles brothers filmed when the Beatles were aboard the train from New York City en route to Washington,DC.
One would smile at the Beatles goofing around the train with John and George comparing notes on their cigarettes.Ringo clowning around and the rest of the press people laughing along with them.One would look at the Maysles brothers' footages as if you were in those scenes right there next to the band,playing along,laughing along and having fun.
So these footages of the Beatles' first visit to the United States has indeed made the Maysles Brothers a household name when it comes to documentary films.The brothers also had a hit with one famous reality film in the sixties called "Salesman".The documentary focuses on four men who went off to sell Bibles door to door.The film was largely composed of that of Paul Brennan's,an Irish-American catholic who struggles to maintain his sales.The film was selected in 1992 by the Library Of Congress for preservation in the United States National Film Registry being cited as culturally and historically significant.
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While both Albert and David were savoring the success of "Salesman",the brothers filmed that winter what would be the epitome of a rock n' roll nightmare.The Rolling Stones were considered to be the Beatles' biggest rival in the sixties and was often compared with one another.Though both bands were very good friends,the music press seemed to be intrigued on both of these biggest groups on earth and they just can't stop comparing them and would follow them off,finding out on what these bands were up to.
The Altamont concert was called by many as "Woodstock West". With the ever successful Woodstock-a three day event of peace,love and music[not to mention communal nudity] was somewhat disrespected of its sacredness as copycat festivals were marred with riots,violence and rape.
Gimme Shelter was the title given to a film about the Altamont Free Festival given by the Stones during the last leg of their 1969 US tour that winter.Shot under extremely dangerous conditions,both Albert and David Maysles captured the essence of being in a rock concert that all went wrong.
Other films made by the Maysles Brothers include Grey Gardens which was a documentary film about two reclusive socialites.Released in 1976,it was among the brothers' films that were also selected for preservation to the United States National Film Registry being cited as culturally and historically significant.Meet Marlon Brando,released in 1965,showcases the actor being interviewed for his new film but instead turned into heavy larking when he was interviewed by one former Miss USA.
One sports documentary made by the Maysles Brothers was Muhammad And Larry.The film was actually made in 1980 but wasn't released until 2009.It shows the highlights of the bout between Muhammad Ali whose been in the boxing business for nearly twenty years and was on the peak of retirement and the younger Larry Holmes."The fight that should've never happened"--as one publication had said shows the aging boxer Ali being beaten savagely by the younger Holmes.Though sports films is not really on their forte,the film only shows how versatile the brothers are in filming the lives of people,famous or not.
Other numerous "projects"made by the brothers shows how they deserved to be called the World's Greatest Cameramen.
One would look at these reality shows today and would wonder how or why these programs even exists.When we look back we will all realize that these concepts wasn't really new,and with all these materials present,Im pretty sure the names Albert and David Maysles will not be ignored.
(c) Keith Vernon Adagio
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