Let It Be (1970)

82% of critics liked it
(11 reviews)
82% of users liked it
(5,869 ratings)

The dissolution of the Fab Four is captured on camera in Michael Lindsay-Hogg's documentary, a filmed record of the sessions for what would become the Beatles' final release, Let It Be. (Abbey Road, cut shortly after these sessions, was in fact the group's final recording, but it was released a year… More The dissolution of the Fab Four is captured on camera in Michael Lindsay-Hogg's documentary, a filmed record of the sessions for what would become the Beatles' final release, Let It Be. (Abbey Road, cut shortly after these sessions, was in fact the group's final recording, but it was released a year before these often-delayed songs.) Included is footage shot at the famous rooftop concert that was the Fabs' final live appearance. The Beatles are shown rehearsing, performing, arguing, and recording and allow the cameras to record their every word and note in the recording studio. The film opens with Paul showing Ringo a piano composition, while the group is surrounded in silence, seemingly light years removed from the screaming hordes of fans that necessitated their withdrawal from performing live. Billy Preston later drops by to jam on keyboards. For this film, the Beatles collectively won an Oscar for "Best Original Film Score," their only Academy Award. ~ Dan Pavlides, Rovi

Rating, Runtime: G, 1 hr. 20 min.
Directed By: Michael Lindsay-Hogg
Genres: Documentary, Drama, Musical & Performing Arts

In Theaters: Jan 1, 2001 Wide

Critic Reviews

Variety Staff, Variety
Let It Be is a relatively innocuous, unimaginative piece of film.
Dave Kehr, Chicago Reader
Sanitized it may well be, but agonizing nonetheless -- it's a domestic squabble that somehow touches history.
, TV Guide's Movie Guide
The scenes included in the film show the four simply trying to make music, and often as not having fun doing it.
, Time Out
The sycophancy of the direction notwithstanding, this survives as a fascinating record of both the Beatles' collapse and their unending power over their audience (us).
Phil Hall, Film Threat
In many ways, it is the best Beatles film.
, Film4
Like the album it shares a name with, the film is not all it should have been.
Ken Hanke, Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC)
Phoney documentary with great music. Notable for the bits of truth that get through
Shane Burridge, rec.arts.movies.reviews
The only glimpse we will have of the world's most successful and influential musical group at work

Read all 8 critic reviews

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Featured Audience Ratings

Eric A

The Beatles doing that they do best, making music. Never a bad thing.
Stephen M

I wouldn't be surprised if the reason why "Let It Be" is so difficult to obtain legally has something to do with Paul McCartney's awareness that he comes across as a bit of a twat in it. When he's not bullying George Harrison about his playing, he's… More
I wouldn't be surprised if the reason why "Let It Be" is so difficult to obtain legally has something to do with Paul McCartney's awareness that he comes across as a bit of a twat in it. When he's not bullying George Harrison about his playing, he's bitching to John Lennon about Harrison's reluctance to perform in front of a live audience. There's also something cringe-making about the way in which McCartney earnestly pitches his songs ("Let It Be" and "The Long and Winding Road") straight down the barrel of the camera, while the other band members generally try to ignore the film crew. In the short-term, giving up touring in 1966 immeasurably improved the quality of both The Beatles' song-writing and their record production, but it also gave them too much free time to devote themselves to dubious religious enlightenment and naïve business ventures; in the era of Peace and Love they were a soft touch for parasitic spongers. If the formation of Apple Corps was a significant nail in the coffin of The Beatles, so too was the fact that, by stopping touring, they had effectively cut themselves off from their raison d'être: their audience. The famous rooftop concert that ends "Let It Be" is the perfect metaphor for the demise of The Beatles themselves. There they are on the roof of the Apple Building, working-class heroes turned businessmen, playing their hearts out for the public one last time - to a crowd of curious but largely unappreciative white-collar conservatives. It's a spectacle as tragic as it is uplifting.
Stella D

i'm not sure i can objectively rate this but it was a joy to watch. it's alot of raw footage interspersed with amazing performances from the legends of my childhood. seeing them jam in the studio on shake rattle and roll and lawdy miss clawdy and witnessing the creation of… More
i'm not sure i can objectively rate this but it was a joy to watch. it's alot of raw footage interspersed with amazing performances from the legends of my childhood. seeing them jam in the studio on shake rattle and roll and lawdy miss clawdy and witnessing the creation of the songs that became their last album was an emotional experience for me. it all culminates in 20 mins of the famous rooftop concert, seriously disrupting business in the street below, as some complained! i thought the touching relationship between john and paul was still quite evident here despite attempts to demonize yoko ono. this film was not easy to come by but if u get the opportunity, check it out. it's an awesome piece of rock n roll history
Leo L

Fantastic!