User Reviews

Any documentary on The Beatles which is only 2 hours long is obviously not going to really be "compleat". You could make an 8 hour documentary on their amazing career & it still wouldn't seem like too much.

With that said, this documentary is extremely well done. One of the things I really like about this documentary is that it spends its 2 hours very well. It uses those 2 hours to show the aspects of The Beatles which had long-term effects upon music and culture, such as depicting the evolution of their music from simple pop to more complex album-oriented music to even more experimental music. It also does a great job in painting a picture of how and why the four of them were growing apart - and why their breakup was all but inevitable by the time they reached the end of 1969/beginning of 1970.

The documentary is not perfect. More detail could have been spent on such aspects such as the making of their albums - especially The White Album & Abbey Road. Having seen this documentary several times, it now seems like they only sketch out the details of those albums, especially Abbey Road. But ultimately, this documentary does an extremely good job of showing the important details of The Beatles career in just 2 hours. It also does a good job in showing George Martin's importance in their career.

Final word : Show this documentary to anybody who has medium or even above average knowledge of The Beatles & they will learn a great deal about The Beatles in just 2 hours.

Until the Beatles Anthology was released, this was probably the best Beatles documentary that was out on the market. The materials were good with interview with their first booking agent, their interviews on TV (which is more lengthy and complete than shown on Anthology) and their music which is in stereo like the original Captitol recordings. It goes more into details about their Hamburg days, and how they started out as professional musicians which doesn't disagree with what was said in the Anthology, but is put in a different light because third party sources who knew the Beatles back then are commenting on it. This is a valuable piece of Beatles history, and should not be abandoned just because newer Anthology is available on DVD.

I don't see this video sold any more for some reason, but I wished they'd release it on DVD.

Anyone who has an even passing interest of one of the greatest rock bands ever MUST get a hold of a copy of this video.

Everything you could ever want to know about John, Paul, George and Ringo is included, with even a little information about their formative years. All the music is chronicled and plenty of behind-the-scenes glimpses of the Beatles' collective genius give the most discriminating fan plenty to nod their moptops about.

Even if you think you have all stuff on the Beatles, this should "Compleat" your collection.

10 stars. And you know that can't be bad.

For any fan of the Beatles, this movie answers many questions, gives deeper insight, and entertains with lighthearted and yet sometimes depressing details. From the authoritative narration of Mr. McDowell to the unintended comical interviews with other musicians of that era and locale, this movie is pure entertainment in a delightful and educational process that leaves you feeling as if all of your previous fanaticism for these "4 mop-tops" was truly justified if not understated. My only wish it that it be made into a high quality DVD. This is a must-see for any fan of popular music and for anyone that never quite understood the whole Beatlemania thing. A definite 10!

The Compleat Beatles is absolutely one of the best documentaries I have ever seen on any subject. Everything is done perfectly from the content and pace to the combination of music and visuals, and the writing and narration are outstanding. I can think of only two complaints: One, the quality of some of the post-Beatles interview footage looks exceptionally dated, and two, it's not (yet?) available in DVD. Unlike the Beatles Anthology this work lacks interviews with the Beatles themselves, other than newsreel footage and the like, but rather than a negative this adds to the impact of the film and to the mystique of the Beatles. While Anthology may be more filling with its abundance of information and first-hand stories, this is a much sweeter treat.

I give this film a 10 because it was (and is) the Beatles story in a 2 hour nutshell. The rights to the film were brought by McCartney prior to the release of the Anthology documentary, presumably to cancel out the obvious rivalry that would occur on the high street! So i'm afraid, unless you have got a copyalready the chances of getting a new DVD of it are extremely remote! The fact that the Beatles didn't have any input into this documentary is a good thing, mainly because 'Anthology' is the Beatles story, according to the Beatles, so heavily censored, this constraint is not present on 'Compleat'. Love the music and when I first watched the film i was knocked out by it!

The Beatles Anthology is without doubt the most comprehensive and accomplished of all the Beatle documentaries. Within the 6 hours plus of footage and music you will find everything you really need to journey through the greatest musical story ever told. If however, you want a condensed version that will help to pass a couple of hours with your cocoa and your slippers, then "The Compleat Beatles" is without doubt the film for you. Some may argue that to condense the rise and fall of the fab four into 115 minutes could never do the story justice, but this film just about manages to capture every key element and event in the Fab's history, though admittedly rather fleetingly. Originally released to celebrate the 20th anniversary of "Love me do", 19 years later this film is still fascinating and the best introduction to the Beatles story on the market.

Some time in the 80s this aired on TV and I happened upon it. I have always been a fan of the Beatles, but after seeing this documentary I had a whole new appreciation for their remarkable history. What struck me the most was the extent that George Martin influenced the band. He truly was "the fifth Beatle". McDowell's narration is superbly executed, and the writing/directing is such that it flows smoothly, keeping the viewed interested--like reading chapters from a good book. I was able to find a used VHS copy of this documentary on EBay but am really hoping they come out with a DVD since I find myself watching it over and over again. I love sharing this video with friends who have even a passing interest in the Beatles.

Terrific rare footage (film and sound recordings from The Cavern; studio recording sessions), lots of George Martin, all-remastered music that sounds better than you've ever heard the Beatles, and a big emphasis on the early pre-1964 years make this a must-have for any Beatles fan.

The 1982 release date is just distant enough from 1970 to give a smart perspective on the Beatles in history, and close enough so that the interviews with George Martin and many much earlier Beatles affectors sound fresh and intelligent.

As of 2006, this film is not on DVD, and difficult to find on VHS.

1st watched 4/15/2001 - 6 out of 10 (Dir-Patrick Montgomery): Good documentary about the Beatles that pretty much just tells the story of their beginnings in Liverpool til their breakup. Not extremely well-done and seemed somewhat rushed in the last half hour to just finish the story, but the music and the performers almost sell themselves. It would have been nice to have more information from the Beatles themselves which later happened in a TV miniseries a few more years after Lennon's death. "Complete" it definetly is not, but how could it be with the volumes of work that they produced. Good enough for fans and for those who are just interested in the phenomenom known as the Beatles.

No other film on the Beatles has moved me as this has. The "Anthology" was very good, more in depth, and featured the three remaining Beatles. This film does not have any new interviews, done for the purpose of the production. However, it packs twice the punch of "The Anthology." The last five minutes will bring a tear to any fan's eyes, and the film as a whole has the power not only to entertain those who are not fans, but even sway them into becoming fans. "The Anthology" was much too large a project to do anything of the sort. The fanfare surrounding it perhaps accounted for some new fans, but in time, the film itself will fade. Too bad this film already has faded, although it is simple, to the point, and from the heart.

A definite '10.'

This is a must see for all Beatles fans. For this reason alone, this is a great documentary / musical. Although the movie ends with the break up of one of the greatest rock bands of all time, the movie's final note is the assassination of John Lennon. What many Beatles fans want but have never gotten is a real compleat movie on the Beatles that includes the 80's, 90's and the current story of the remaining two members of the FAB 4. For the late 70's parody, The Rutles, this is where Eric Idle got his inspiration. All in all, this story of how the Beatles came to be. It is an interesting look on how the Beatles made history.

This was the film that introduced me to the Beatles. I was 14 at the time, and my girlfriend showed it to me, and at the time I thought the Beatles were just some mop top 60's cheese act. I had never heard Abbey Road, Rubber Soul, Sgt. Pepper, or the White Album. I never knew they had strayed from the no collar suits and love songs. So when I first saw this film it really changed my perspective of the band. Within a year I went from not owning a single album to owning all of them.

This film is a rushed short version of the Beatles History. It captures all of their history in 2 hours. The hardcore Beatles fan would be more interested in the Anthology films, as well as the brilliant Anthology albums. This film takes on the difficult task of cramming the Beatles into 2 hours, and doesn't do too bad. It is wonderfully edited, in fact I think one of the greatest visuals of the Beatles I have is the end credits of this film. It is a montage of various Beatles performances and footage set to the beautiful Paul McCartney song Blackbird.

In closing, just as you are shown "The Young Persons Guide To The Symphony" in your first college music appreciation course, so should every prospective Beatles fan be shown "The Compleat Beatles". It is a brilliant band with a brilliant career shoved into a quick survey.

when i was just becoming a beatle fan, i watched this and learned a lot about the fab four. great footage and information. i'm glad paul asked malcolm mcdowell to narrate this film. he is after all, my humble narrator.

10/10

This is a fantastic documentary that introduced me as a teenager to the Beatles in the mid-80's. It isn't dry, there is drama to it and I think that is why it sticks as a favorite in so many peoples minds.

I originally watched this documentary a few times on television almost 20 years ago. I recently purchased the video tape and was a little disappointed, it didn't seem as "great" as I remember it. Still good, but not great.

Watching it the other day I realized that I think the video release is different than the one I watched on television. I remember specifically the narrator saying "Hey Jude" was originally titled "Hey Jules" and discussing why the song was written. I didn't see this on the video. I think I can also remember more information on Linda and Yoko, but they are barely touched in the video.

Can anyone else confirm that there is an original version of this film that contains more footage than the video release?

Regardless of the others out there & there are many. This movie made me a fan of music documentaries and more importantly, introduced my younger self to The Beatles. The tone of Malcoum McDowell is perfect for this & the music is mind blowing, especially at the age of 8. Can't find this anywhere but I'd love to have it.

The original Rutles documentary came out in 1978. The Complete Beatles came out in 1982 and tells almost exactly the same story in a very similar way. Malcolm McDowell replaces Eric Idle as Narrator but it's the same rise to fame and disillusionment with a very similar looking (and sounding) band.

I agree that this is the best of the Beatles documentaries that came before "Anthology." The story is told in an even-handed manner with every detail, including myths and legends, explained fully.

My only problem with this film is the fact that key footage, e.g., the Beatles on the Ed Sullivan show, is missing. One can only assume there was a rights issue here.

An interesting note is that this is a perfect companion to The Rutles' "All You Need Is Cash" which follows an identical format. And the Rutles film was done four years prior to "Compleat."

Imagine, your a hotel proprietor. You wake up, without a clue as to what is transpiring, to the sounds of a sea of screaming fans. Nobody knew the Beatles, unless you heard them via very little air time and smuggled in records. Scenario when they first arrived in the U.S. Hilirious, can even push your front door open. This is one of my favorite parts of this documentary. It made me realize for the first time ever how this new sound was going to revolutionize music. Imagine, the size of the sea of screaming fans when they eventually have full air time and all their recordings available. I can't get past that. This Documentary is "The Complete Beatles" because it actually takes you there.

If you haven't got enough dough to afford the gigantic Anthology box set ,this is the DVD to buy .This documentary is so absorbing it can even grab people who are not particularly interested in the group.It covers the whole story till the split and includes much footage of the time ,live performances or studio work .Particularly of great appeal are George Martin's numerous interventions which shed light on the recordings more than Lewisohn's or McDonald's books will ever do ,in spite of their brilliancy."The compleat Beatles " really lives up to its name .It was the first documentary about my favorite group I had seen and I still rank it among the best in a topflight competition.

This documentary, along with "The Beatles Anthology," both offer a history of the band. Both come to their subjects in different ways, and where "Anthology" is somewhat insular, being concerned only with the Beatles and their inner circle's thoughts and experiences, "Compleat" is told from a more detached and disinterested point of view. There are little details here and there that add a bit of a different perspective, such as Allan Williams, the Beatles' first manager, recalling them being described as "that bum group The Beatles" before their first trip to Hamburg, Bill Harry's recollection of John, far from rebelling against Brian Epstein's makeover of the Beatles from leather jackets to suits, going around asking for all the old pictures of them back, "because Brian wouldn't allow that sort of image with his boys," George Martin mentioning that Pete Best was the best-looking of the Beatles, footage of police trying to calm down a frenzied concert crowd that goes a long way toward showing the dark side of all the fan adoration, a detractor from Minneapolis deploring their conduct in that town, notably the "parties" in their hotel rooms (a subject passed over without mention in Anthology), and so on. There are a few sequences that aren't in the Anthology, notably a performance of "If I Needed Someone" in Japan, as well as interviews of George Martin (different from the ones in Anthology) and Billy Preston discussing their work with them. It's a good supplement to Anthology, but it stands up quite well on its own, despite a few factual inaccuracies. And the ending credits sequence, cut to "Blackbird," is bittersweet.

1995's "The Beatles Anthology" surpassed all previous Beatle documentaries, including this one. But of those past ones, this is the best. The only drawback is that the Beatles don't appear in interviews much. But the music is great, and the information will satiate any beginning Beatle fan.

For anyone too young to really know the Beatles and their work, but are wondering what all the fuss was about, this is a very interesting introduction. It could have been so much longer, but the producers wisely condensed it to this size.

Watching this, you realise that Madonna, Eminem, REM, Robbie Williams and anyone else around today is only mildly popular by comparison.

However, if young people want to see an old band who REALLY lived the rock and roll lifestyle, see the Who's film 'The Kids Are Alright'.

....to know. Having watched the 3 volumes of "Anthology," I have to say that The Compleat Beatles really tells you everything you need to know. As I am not a musician by trade, the "making of" their great songs, that is explored in Anthology (the CD set and the videos), does not do much for me. I'd rather hear the final, glorious product. This is one of the best documentaries I've seen, with classy narration by Alex from A Clockwork Orange. I've worn the video down and last week the tape snapped on me......I hope they release this on DVD soon!