Rating: 
Summary: A most enjoyable view
Review: Much has been written and seen about the Beatles landing in America. After winning many fans over worldwide prior to February of 1964, the Beatles were ready to conquer the U.S. although they were not quite prepared for the overwhelming response they received once they arrived. Originally intended for a UK audience, the Maysles brothers' documentary follows the Beatles from the very moment they landed at JFK airport until they departed for home some two weeks later. Included are highlights from the Beatles' performances on the Ed Sullivan Show as well as portions of their first American concert at the Washington Coliseum. Behind the scenes footage from the hotel rooms, the Peppermint Lounge (for a night on the town), press photo shoots, and on the train to (and from) Washington, D.C. give an idea of how amazingly close the Maysles brothers were to the center of it all. Their landmark style of creating documentaries provides an amazing "fly on the wall" perspective. There is no narration and there are no formal interviews. The film lets the event speak for itself as it captures the action quite naturally and spontaneously. Nothing is staged and the film provides a most intimate look at the Beatles' interaction with each other as well as with the excitement of Beatlemania. For those of us born too late to witness and experience the mania, this is our link to the past and a glimpse at the beginning of a very important revolution in pop music and culture.The re-release of this noteworthy documentary provides a noticeable improvement over the original version. There is now an audio commentary by Albert Maysles. Furthermore, there is a 51-minute interview with him which includes his presentation of a handful of outtakes from the original film. One notable highlight of the personal interview includes Maysles' discussion of how his camera was accidentally turned on at the Washington Coliseum concert. Without a second thought, he propped it up on his shoulder (without security seeing him). His brief footage provides a very rare view of how a Beatle fan saw and "heard" the Beatles play. It's very clear from the footage that fans interested in listening to the show simply could not do so. Other intriguing highlights include recorded comments from teenagers and adults on the street and at JFK airport. The drawbacks to be noted about this DVD are the result of other previous DVD releases including the Ed Sullivan Presents the Beatles DVD set and The Beatles Anthology. The Sullivan set contains ALL of the shows in their entirety while this release only includes portions of shows. The Anthology set contains a good segment of the Coliseum concert taken from an absolutely pristine film print and not the more common well-worn copy. This release still contains the worn footage. It would have been nice to see a bonus feature containing the complete Coliseum concert from the master print. However, this DVD is the original documentary and the integrity is maintained throughout. It's important to note that the Maysles brothers did not have permission to film in either the CBS studios for the Sullivan shows or in the Washington Coliseum. (One other highlight on the extra footage is Paul McCartney trying to come to the brothers' aid when security blocked them from the CBS studio for the first show.) A color booklet is included with a handful of photos and quotes from each of the Beatles; however, perhaps Apple could have designed a better booklet to include reprints of news articles and reviews from 1964, transcripts of Beatle interviews, and, perhaps, a reprint of the diary of events from Mark Lewishon's Beatles Chronicle. This is definitely a treat for Beatle fans and a great example of how to produce a quality documentary. I also recommend the Maysles brothers' production, Gimme Shelter, where they capture the exciting and controversial events surrounding the Rolling Stones 1969 tour, including the tragedy at Altamont.
Rating:
Summary: Another Great DVD For BeatleFan!!!
Review: This DVD is another ithem collector for BeatleFan great great songs live and footage form the night party and airport only the Ed Sullivan performans is see en the same name DVD The Ed Sullivan Show The Beatles but collection is collection great 80minutes of beatles scenes
Rating: 
Summary: Ladies and Gentlemen, The Beatles!
Review: I've owned this film on VHS for many years. I'm glad it's being rereleased on DVD soon. This tape features highlights from the Ed Sullivan Shows and, though incomplete, they are a beautiful piece of history and a treasure to any Beatles fan. Also presented here are highlights from the Washington, D.C. concert. That is very exciting to see. Then, of course, this video is packed with behind-the-scenes footage, much of which was taken from the "What's Happening in the USA" special. You can see the Beatles in hotel rooms and in the back seat of their limo, and on the train going from New York to Washington. This tape is a must for any Beatles fan.
Rating:
Summary: 4 kids shake the globe
Review: What an amazing DVD! Take A Hard Day's Night, and turn it into a real-time documentary of the historic Ed Sullivan appearance. So many fascinating moments are captured here. John is visibly thrown by the "Sorry Girls, he's married." subtitle, and then acts out hilariously at a terrific concert in DC. George sits in a hotel room fingerpicking a terrific spontaneous imitation of Bob Dylan's Talkin' Blues, making you want to just shake him and tell him to go ahead and write his own. Ringo entertains the media non-stop with all kinds of physical comedy, while a strangely petulent Paul sourly comments that he doesn't "feel like being funny." Of course it's the angelic faced bass player who takes the lead for the first couple of songs on Sullivan, and for a while the cameras assume that he is the focus of the band. Only after the second show in Miami, when John is more prominently featured, does the angle of presentation change, now going past him towards the pair at the other mike, with Ringo centered above. TV's earliest presentation already picks up on the tension and power of the great rivalry. Honestly, you get some of this stuff on Anthology and as it is now out of print the cost of tracking one down might be a little prohibitive. But no mistake, this is a thorough, honest view of a rare, magical moment in the course of popular culture.
Rating:
Summary: The Beatles had the core issues mastered
Review: The most valuable thing that the Beatles had was their extraordinary songwriting ability.| Oh, yes, they had many other great cards to play, but their songwriting was their ace of spades. To use a sports analogy, their songwriting ability was their Babe Ruth or Wayne Gretzky in their lineup of formidable talents. This video shows this. It shows the Beatles showcasing songs that collectively run circles around their competitors. Yes, occassionally a group or artist will come out with a song that can hang with the calibre of those of the early Beatles, but NO ONE or NO GROUP has had an output of such relentless quality in such a condensed time frame. This isn't recognized enough, in my opinion. But, had these magnificent sonic blueprints that the early Beatles created not been properly handled, the Beatles' impact would have been far less. We can all be thankful that the songs were delivered with infectious joy and cheekiness and feeling. We can count ourselves very lucky that the Beatles had great vocal gifts, especilly for harmonizing. We can consider ourselves fortunate that Brian Epstein "cleaned them up" for public viewing (in matching suits, and so forth). We can thank ourselves that they weren't "neat freaks" about letting a little rawness into their musical execution. There are untold numbers of talented band musicians with superb execution, but where has that gotten them? Up to a point, reasonably crisp execution is necessary; but beyond that, it runs the grave risk of impeding the flow of more important things, such as joie de vivre. The Beatles were not at all guilty of blocking the flow of joy, of generativeness. What the Beatles were "guilty" of was, instead: 1) playing WELL WRITTEN SONGS (that this is so very crucial to great success seems to escape so many artists and bands); and, 2) exhibiting joy and buoyancy (who is going to consider the nihilistic output of rappers and punkers with nostalgia and misty-eyed remembrance 40 years from now? Not many, I can assure you. History does not long applaud and laud such "energies." Nobody long cherishes negativity).
I am so very pleased that this video exists to show future genrations that the pinnacle of musical output is not trash-talking or in-your-face decibels. It is instead quality musical craftsmanship and joy that hits the mark for the long haul. (It is great and most heartening, though not AT ALL unexpected that, forty years later, the Beatles CD "1" topped the charts. Is a similar thing going to happen with a rapper or a punk musician or Madonna or Nirvana? Bloody unlikely. They simply have not delivered the goods for the ages as the Beatles have.) For committing the lovely "crimes" of bringing top quality songwriting and bouyant joy to the stage and to our ears, long live the Beatles!--and they shall long live, for the reasons discussed above.
Rating:
Summary: I want a Time Machine!!!
Review: For writing a review, I wish I could focus on the quality or technical aspects of the film, but that's been covered by others. My thoughts on this won't help anyone else, but it doesn't matter - I have to say it anyway. These guys are just heartbreakingly adorable and simply mesmerizing to watch. It's a combination of so many things - the hair, the grins, the goofiness, the energy, and their sheer joy in being, singing, and playing together. They absolutely sparkle. Their energy when performing still jumps off the screen 40 years later. This film's footage doesn't capture my favorite Beatles period music-wise, which is more the 65-66 era (although watching and hearing them do This Boy live... *drool* hah!) My fascination with this movie is more with them personally. Here I am 37 and as hopelessly besotted in love as any of the screaming, sighing 14 year olds in this film! Highly recommend, needless to say.
Rating:
Summary: Behind the scenes with the Beatles
Review: In my opinion, this DVD is a must for anyone who is a fan of the Beatles (assuming of course they have a DVD player). This gives a great look at what it must have been like to be alive then (I'm only 20). To see the excitement, to watch them play, fantastic. But not only do you get to watch this public side of them, you also get to see them as average guys. While some may find these behind the scenes scenes a bit on the boring side, I really enjoyed seeing them, as they really were. What made it especially interesting to me is when they tried to amuse themselves on the train, some of their antics seemed like some of the stuff my friends would do, which really gave them a human quality. And if you like their music, and of course you do, or you shouldn't be reading this review, then you can just jump to the concert scenes if you wish.
The video quality and audio is pretty good for the most part, though quite horrible for the Washington DC trip. Also, I think they should have included all of the Beatle's songs performed on The Ed Sullivan Show. As I understand it, some of them were cut. Overall though, still a very good disc, with it's good points far outnumbering the bad. As said before, a must for hardcore fans, though newbies may want to check out their movies such as A Hard Days Night and Help!
Rating:
Summary: Technical Only - Comments on Audio
Review: The DVD video quality is quite good for the period considering source material available. I have seen better versions televised on CBS when they do specials, involving some identicle segments. As for the Audio however, someone forgot to do an A/B comparison with the original unfiltered sound as they went,(or has a tin ear..), before giving it the final press. Other reviewers claim the sound is great for the Sullivan Shows. Not really. And its remarkable what influence good video has on the opinion of those litening to its associated audio. In reality the sound is thin and squished. Worse, it has some sort of steady "flanged" type sound effect(less the rotation), and virtually all the low end has been removed, likely with a highpass digitalfilter. The result is bad or missing low dynamic punch that should be there, and a nice analog sound turned digitally inferior. The vocals in particular, sound more-- "vocally" true to life on an original, whereas they sound "processed", and factory fake on this DVD.(I have some raw '64 Sullivan show video I compared it to. -- Poor video,you bet; but better sound by far) The raw unprocessed sound, is more lifelife, fuller, and real. Its the way it sounded, and way it should always sound. The filtered, thinned-out and compressed version on this DVD, take a bit of the magic and realism out. Too bad. The Wow and flutter control worked out quite well, but I must wonder if it was at the expense of the aforementioned lifelessness quality it resulted in. Only those with other sullivan show video would see the dynamic range and audio differences. And I don't mean to imply it's Huge. Yet its not so subtle it will escape you either. Without it to compare to, sure they'd say it sounds great. But to whomever the sound engineer was on this: You get a D. Next time use the A/B switch, and get a second opinion. You may just go with the original unaltered analog track.
As for content, thats been covered in other reviews. I liked it!! And its such a nice collection all in one place that overall I rate this 4 of 5. If audio hadnt been fiddled with I'd give it a 5+
Rating:
Summary: Beautiful! The History of the best of Music!
Review: "The first U.S visit" of The Beatles is unquestionable the most extraordinary dvd movie you could possibly find today. It is so nice to go back to the sweet sixties and to the four beetles, the musicians ever was and ever will be.
If you're looking for something to keep for another twenty years or a lot more, don't think twice. Beautiful. Special show, I'm speechless. Perfect music of the best of the best- The Beatles/
Rating:
Summary: Fascinating private view of the Beatles
Review: This is an amazing document. Ringo's and Paul's nervous glances out the limo window upon their first glimpses of New York, John's rapier put-down of Murray the K (shamelessly riding the Beatles' coattails) in their hotel room moments before they leave for the first Sullivan performance, and Ringo's joyous dancing at the Peppermint Lounge make the Beatles accessible in a way all the press coverage and adulation never could. They perform knowing full well just how good they are (like John's solo on This Boy), their confidence and ability live before tens of millions of viewers. By the time they leave for England, though, the guardedness has begun to set in. You don't even need to be a fan to like this one because this is a fascinating view of the private world of four young men about to become global icons.
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