I first saw this film in my early teens, and later saw bits and pieces as parts of other Beatles documentaries such as Anthology. I own all the other legitimate Beatles films "Hard Days Night, Help, Yellow Submarine, Anthology" and have the blu ray of "Magical Mystery Tour" on order, but really wanted "Let it Be" as part of my Beatles collection and also to watch it for the first time in years. I found a DVD online and purchased it. Although the film quality may not be the best, it is one of the best documentaries I've seen and a very good Beatles film. It almost seems like a home movie.Watching the Beatles create "Let it Be" and "Abbey Road" songs is really something and the concert on the roof .... Wow.If you haven't seen this film and get a chance, don't pass it up.

Let It Be started out as a documentary about The Beatles recording material for what was to be their next album. What director Michael Lindsay Hogg got instead was a documentary about a band who's best days were (unfortunately)behind them & were obviously tired of it all and each other. Hogg shot something like 100 hours,or so,of footage of the Beatles in an glum,dour & sometimes depressed state of mind,and the look on their faces (especially Ringo's)expresses this. The film is broken up in four parts. The first,filmed at Twickenham Studios finds them rehearsing songs,getting in some heated debates,all the time with Paul McCartney trying to be boss of the band (at least in front of the camera). The second part takes place in the basement studios at their Apple Records building,as they jam on some of the oldies that they loved in their youth. In this sequence,they at least seem to be in a somewhat better state of mind (but you could tell that things were far from ginger peachy among them). The third sequence finds them performing what looks like a pre cursor to the MTV style of music video,with the band (with Billy Preston,on organ)playing 'Two Of Us','Let It Be',and a far superior version of 'The Long & Winding Road',without the cloying strings of Phil Spector in the background. The last,and best sequence of the film finds them playing what would be the final public performance of the Beatles,live on the roof of Apple Records for the famous (infamous)free,lunch time concert,which would eventually be shut down by the local Police (also featuring Billy Preston on electric piano). This is a sad,but worthy film for old & new Beatle fans. Although this film earned a 'G' rating by the MPAA in 1970, it does contain a bit of off colour language that'll probably go over the heads of most folk

Let It Be (1970) ** (out of 4) This "document" of The Beatles making their final album and leading up to the "Rooftop Concert" is a rather dull and tedious film that I'm sure will only appeal to die-hard fans. As a document, there's really not too much to see here except for the rehearsals, which again, are only for die-hards. It appears the cameramen on the film were either monkeys are cows because the entire thing is uneven, ugly and just downright lazy. Those interested in an hour worth of rehearsals might get a kick out of this but there aren't too many great songs being played. The biggest plus is the concert at the end. I've read that certain members of the group didn't want this released and I can see why. Scorsese's The Last Waltz captured the ugliness of The Band's breakup on a professional level. This film is just very, very lazy and I'm sure a better film could be made of this period.

Yes the film is poorly edited--the sound sometimes doesn't exactly sync...but hey its the Beatles. Finally playing themselves in a film designed to show off their musical roots and working toward an album stripped of the "hee, hee, hee" and "blowing bubbles through straws". I saw the film when it was released 37 years ago. I have a VHS copy. I watch it at least two times a year. I still to this day do not see a film about a group breaking up. Albeit--there were some tense moments...but what "family" doesn't have tense moments. I remember the scene between Harrison and McCartney over George's guitar playing for "I've Got A Feeling"/I remember the scene between Lennon and McCartney discussing George's reluctance to "going out on the road". Tense/Uptight--sure--but what shines the most is the music. The rooftop concert shows just how hot a band the Beatles actually were. I actually find the album to be a joy...they actually get a chance to rock out just like they did in the early days. And with a nod to Lennon, they actually had a bite to these new songs. To dismiss this film is a big mistake. If anything--it should be looked upon as a historical document. I am all in favor of the film coming out on DVD. It would be a blast to see the unused footage and more.