BEATLES REVOLUTION, THE (TV)
Summary
A documentary examining the impact and cultural relevance of The Beatles on popular culture via interviews with various celebrities. The Beatles first arrive in the United States in 1964, immediately drawing widespread popularity and attention. Their music represents a marked change from the prevailing popular music at the time, and they inspire fervor from teenage girls everywhere. They affect the popular image of the rock band, embodying a sort of youthful energy. Their first film, "A Hard Day's Night," makes fun of their own popularity while breaking new ground in filmmaking with its non-linear editing and off-kilter sense of humor. The distinct personalities of all four Beatles, John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, and Ringo Starr, all begin to surface in the public mind, and young people respond to their antiestablishment demeanor. Many bands follow the Beatles' formula, most notably the Rolling Stones; all influenced by African-American music, which they help to bring into the forefront of society. Teenagers seek to emulate the Beatles' hair and fashion sense, causing protests from older generations who take a dim view of such style. This comes at the forefront of London's "mod" movement, starting a wave of "pop art " typifying the youthful spirit working its way through the entire generation. Television, film and advertising are all influenced by the Beatles and their contemporaries. As time goes on, the Beatles abandon their previously "clean" look for one emphasizing a more psychedelic style. They are surrounded by controversy when Lennon makes his infamous "bigger than Jesus" comment, inciting many to conduct mass burnings of Beatles paraphernalia. Irate protestors attack the band all over the world, and they are forced to surround themselves with more and more security to keep themselves safe. Finally they give their last concert in 1966 in San Francisco, announcing that they will no longer perform live and will focus entirely on studio work. For months they disappear from the public eye amid rumors of their dissolution, working for months on what would become Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band, an album moving their sound in an entirely different direction. Although some think of their music as becoming "weird" or bizarre, many embrace their new direction and look, and for the first time pop music comes to be viewed as art in itself. Their music is described as deeper and more "existential" than their earlier fare. The band branches out in other direction as well. They take a trip to India at Harrison's behest, and immerse themselves in Eastern mysticism and spirituality. Their trip helps to popularize these beliefs throughout the Western world. They start to appeal to a more global audience with their songs, spreading a message embodying peace and love above all else. For the first time they use their music to try to effect social change, proving that rock music is capable of such things. However, by 1968 the band's members start to move in other directions, growing apart from each other. They would record together less and less, and formed their own relationships, such as Lennon's with Yoko Ono and McCartney's with Linda Eastman. However, the British government sees an opportunity to crack down on them and other rock stars when Harrison is arrested for marijuana possession; it is believed that they fear rock stars' tremendous influence over young people. Lennon writes the song "Revolution" to discourage his followers from using violence to achieve their ends, as some had already done. In November 1968, the Beatles release what would be known as the White Album, seen as a representation of the conflicting ideals and ideologies of the time. The album has a widespread effect on the public, even a dark one at times; Charles Manson claims that the album inspired him and his followers to commit a series of horrific murders. In January 1969, the Beatles set about recording what would be their final album, Abbey Road. As shown in the documentary film "Let it Be," the band still enjoys recording together but grow further apart as people, reaching a sort of maturity as their inevitable breakup nears. At Woodstock, their influence can be felt by how many of their songs are performed. The Beatles go their separate ways, and each of them uses their fame to focus on various current issues: Harrison puts on the first all-star concert for Bangladesh, McCartney dedicates himself to animal and environmental rights, and Lennon continues to pursue his dream of world peace. Tragedy strikes in 1980 when Lennon is assassinated, resulting in mass public grief and mourning. In the following years, rock musicians everywhere are inspired by Lennon and the Beatles to use their music as a way to spotlight world issues, employing celebrity towards a useful end. Some believe that the Beatles' influence was instrumental in ending the Cold War, an example of their legacy which continues to this day. The program ends with various celebrities talking about their favorite Beatles songs. Includes commercials.
Details
- NETWORK: ABC
- DATE: November 17, 2000 8:00 PM
- RUNNING TIME: 1:00:00
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: B:63090
- GENRE: Public affairs/documentaries
- SUBJECT HEADING: Public affairs/documentaries
- SERIES RUN: ABC - TV, 2000
- COMMERCIALS:
- TV – Commercials – "Fantasia 2000" home video
- TV – Commercials – "The Beatles: 1" CD
- TV – Commercials – "The Perfect Storm" home video
- TV – Commercials – "Unbreakable" motion picture
- TV – Commercials – 7UP soft drinks
- TV – Commercials – America Online internet provider
- TV – Commercials – Arm & Hammer baking soda products
- TV – Commercials – Best Buy department stores
- TV – Commercials – Burlington Coat Factory coats
- TV – Commercials – Celebrex arthritis medication
- TV – Commercials – Centrum multivitamin supplements
- TV – Commercials – Dimetapp flu medicine
- TV – Commercials – Dockers clothing
- TV – Commercials – E.P.T. pregnancy tests
- TV – Commercials – Elizabeth Arden cosmetics
- TV – Commercials – Ford automobiles
- TV – Commercials – Gateway computers
- TV – Commercials – HP electronics
- TV – Commercials – Honda automobiles
- TV – Commercials – K-Mart department stores
- TV – Commercials – Kodak cameras
- TV – Commercials – MasterCard credit cards
- TV – Commercials – McDonald's restaurants
- TV – Commercials – Panasonic electric razors
- TV – Commercials – Radioshack electronics
- TV – Commercials – Reynolds Wrap aluminum foil
- TV – Commercials – Schweppes tonic water
- TV – Commercials – Sears department stores
- TV – Commercials – T.G.I. Friday's restaurants
- TV – Commercials – Terry's chocolate
- TV – Commercials – UPS shipping
- TV – Commercials – Viagra erectile dysfunction pills
- TV – Commercials – Zales jewelry
- TV – Promos – "20/20"
- TV – Promos – "ABC Sports College Football"
- TV – Promos – "Dharma and Greg"
- TV – Promos – "Once and Again"
- TV – Promos – "Santa Who?"
- TV – Promos – "The Geena Davis Show"
- TV – Promos – "The Practice"
- TV – Promos – "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire: Celebrity Edition"
CREDITS
- Rudy Bednar … Executive Producer, Director
- Bill Flanagan … Executive Producer
- David Saltz … Executive Producer
- Richard Gerdau … Senior Producer, Writer
- Oren Jacoby … Producer, Writer
- Mary Wharton … Producer
- Michael Bicks … Producer
- Grace Hu … Associate Producer
- Melissa Alonso … Associate Producer
- Ralph Avellino … Segment Producer
- Dana Arrick … Researcher
- Meredith Vieira … Host, Narrator
- Mike Myers … Interviewee
- Justin Timberlake … Interviewee
- Kate Hudson … Interviewee
- Billy Joel … Interviewee
- Jon Bon Jovi … Interviewee
- Christy Turlington … Interviewee
- Oscar de la Hoya … Interviewee
- Billy Crystal … Interviewee
- Ricky Martin … Interviewee
- Robin Williams … Interviewee
- Sinead O'Connor … Interviewee
- Tim Allen … Interviewee
- Twiggy … Interviewee
- J.K. Rowling … Interviewee
- Phil Collins … Interviewee
- Garth Brooks … Interviewee
- Bono … Interviewee
- Dick Clark … Interviewee
- Keith Richards … Interviewee
- Pete Townshend … Interviewee
- Salman Rushdie … Interviewee
- Tommy Hilfiger … Interviewee
- Jann Wenner … Interviewee
- Emma Burton … Interviewee
- Victoria Beckham … Interviewee
- Mick Jagger … Interviewee
- Chris Kirkpatrick … Interviewee
- Anoushka Shankar … Interviewee
- Meshell Ndegeocello … Interviewee
- Matt Groening … Interviewee
- Al Green … Interviewee
- Jeff Bezos … Interviewee
- Chuck D. … Interviewee
- Deepak Chopra … Interviewee
- Eric Idle … Interviewee
- Lenny Kravitz … Interviewee
- Martin Scorsese … Interviewee
- Bill Clinton … Interviewee
- Wendy Wasserstein … Interviewee
- Bonnie Raitt … Interviewee
- Michael Kamen … Interviewee
- Cameron Crowe … Interviewee
- Roger Ebert … Interviewee
- Smokey Robinson … Interviewee
- Marianne Faithfull … Interviewee
- Bruce Springsteen … Interviewee
- Tom Hayden … Interviewee
- George Martin … Interviewee
- Brian Wilson … Interviewee
- Alice Cooper … Interviewee
- Jeremy Irons … Interviewee
- Ken Kesey … Interviewee
- Sting … Interviewee
- Stanley Jordan … Interviewee
- Peter Gabriel … Interviewee
- Yoko Ono … Interviewee
- Mike Love … Interviewee
- Albert Maysles … Interviewee
- Milos Forman … Interviewee
- Yury Pelyushonok … Interviewee
- John Lasseter … Interviewee
- David Bowie
- George Harrison
- John Lennon
- Charles Manson
- Linda McCartney
- Paul McCartney
- Ringo Starr
- Ed Sullivan