The Beatles were the first. Teen idols and rock 'n' roll stars existed before them, but all the stereotypes we associate with a rock band – a self-sufficient group, an emphasis on the “album” and constant reinvention, breaking up due to creative differences – began with the Beatles. That's why, decades after their breakup, they remain an object of fascination even for people who might otherwise be indifferent to the inner workings of a rock band.
The Beatles Anthologya multimedia extravaganza, offered a kind of clarification and, in some cases, correction of the record. Generally, Anthology Consisting of an eight-part documentary series originally airing on ABC in 1995 (as well as VHS and LaserDisc releases in 1996 and DVD in 2003), three double volumes of rare books, and a hefty coffee table book published in 2000. The set became a sly piece of brand-building for a generation whose experiences of the band were filtered by the nostalgia of their parents.
The documentary series uses contemporary interviews and archival materials to Paul McCartney, George Harrison, Ringo Starr And John Lennon tell their story as they saw it, from childhood until the day the Beatles broke up. For all but the most obsessed, Anthology served as the canonical version of the group's history for the next three decades.
Having only been available on physical media for over 20 years, Anthology finally debuts on streaming, restored and remastered, with an additional ninth episode to complement the release of the fourth collection, Anthology 4.
Today, self-mythologizing exercises are commonplace. Documentaries, concert tours and biopics have become big business for singers, record labels and studios. Anthologythey are usually controlled by the artists themselves. The material in these works usually turns out to be meager, there are few ideas, and the results are empty.
Anthology was significant at the time of its initial release, not so much for the revelations it revealed but for the thorough and coherent narrative of the band it presented, although it shied away from giving viewers a detailed insight into the band's somewhat messy breakup. It's also striking how well documented the band is, even from their days playing in a bar in Hamburg, Germany, or photos of the Quarrymen, Lennon's pre-Beatles band, on the day he met McCartney.
What remains noticeable then, as now, is how humble the foursome seemed during the band's heyday. Just as they captivated the American media, ready to kill them upon their arrival at John F. Kennedy International Airport in 1964, they captivate viewers looking back on their achievements. If they have an ego, they relate to the work rather than the experience and material benefits it has given them. Everyone seems to understand that luck and timing played as much a role as talent in the group becoming a cultural force. Where disagreements or, in some amusing cases, memory lapses arise, they tend to leave each other's point of view unchanged.
Even while maintaining a tight circle, the documentary series also features contemporary interviews with producer George Martin, press officer Derek Taylor and road manager Neil Aspinall. None of the women in their lives from this period, especially Yoko Ono, who was present at many of their final sessions, appear on camera.
Rather than touching on solo careers, the band's post-breakup resurgence or recent activities, much of the vaunted ninth episode consists of remnants of interviews with McCartney, Harrison and Starr in the early '90s. The most significant parts have already been available as DVD extras since 2003. While the docuseries is interesting, it fails to create a clear narrative that can tie it all together.
Likewise, added material includes the band's recording of “Free as a Bird” and “Real Love”, using Lennon's vocal track from a demo tape given to him by Ono. These new Beatles songs and their accompanying music videos were a major draw for fans back in the 1990s. Although the songs were worthy, none of them have retained a significant cultural imprint since then. The third track also deserves a mention; this eventually became Now and Then, released in 2023 to promote Peter Jackson's more revealing, albeit much looser and meandering work. Return.
Back in 1995, ABC cut the series down to an hour-long program on network television, commercials and all. For the 1996 and 2003 physical releases, the length of each episode was increased to 75 or 80 minutes. Oddly enough, the version currently available on Disney+ the clock is closer to the original broadcast time, about 20 minutes shorter than the extended versions. This curious editing robs viewers of details that, while not essential, certainly deepen the viewing experience that anyone attending an eight-hour deep dive with one group will likely be looking for.
Success Anthology The '90s seemed to awaken the group to a marketing juggernaut. The fact that business relationships between the (at that point) three remaining members were largely settled (McCartney described the former friends as “at war” in the 1970s when the concept of a career-spanning documentary was first floated) probably didn't hurt either.
The quality of most releases since then Anthology remains impressively high, even if their necessity remains in question (e.g. Lovethe Beatles' inconsequential collaboration with Cirque du Soleil). The trend continues with four separate biopicsone for each Beatle, scheduled for release in 2028.
Anthology broke through the hype in 1995 and continues to do so to this day. The docuseries boils down to the idea that the Beatles are four exceptionally talented friends who, despite everything that happens, love each other.
