The First US Visit
The Beatles First US Visit chronicles the remarkable two weeks in February 1964 that began America's still-enduring love affair with the group.
The film of the frantic fortnight records the hysterical reaction to The Beatles US debut in a documentary that was the real-life inspiration for the Beatles movie A Hard Day's Night.
Closely shot at the shoulders of John, Paul, George and Ringo by the pioneering Maysles Brothers, The First US Visit innovated intimate film-making that set a benchmark for rock and roll cinematography.
Albert and David Maysles were granted all-areas access the like of which is now unknown, filming The Beatles in the eye of their own hurricane as the band besotted America and lifted the nation from its gloom in the wake of President John Kennedy's assassination.
The Maysles film captures the manic moments from when thousands of fans greeted The Beatles as Pan Am Flt.101 touched down in New York on February 7th and sparked a two-week frenzy.
As The Beatles became the first British act to conquer America - with I Want To Hold Your Hand at No.1 in the US charts - the Maysles Brothers shadowed the band off-guard and off-duty in dressing rooms, hotels and night clubs, at photo-sessions and press conferences, travelling together in limos and on trains as the then-wide-eyed lads from Liverpool sped from New York to Washington and Miami revelling in the wild reception to their first US trip.
The film also features their first concert at The Washington Coliseum and their three historic performances on The Ed Sullivan Show - including the seminal night of February 9th when the band first exploded into the homes of a then-world record 73 million TV viewers.
Beatles performances on the film include All My Loving, Till There Was You, She Loves You, From Me To You, This Boy, Twist And Shout, Please Please Me, I Saw Her Standing There, I Wanna Be Your Man and the hit that began it all for America, I Want To Hold Your Hand.
Quotes
Facts
Comments
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IracheCorn on 6th Aug 10:
“THE BEST HUMANS THAT HAVE BEEN IN THIS PLANET!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! THEY WERE THE BEST EVER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I LOVE THEM!!!!!! THEY'RE MY REASON OF WHY EVERY MORNING I WAKE UP!!!! <3”
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r.s. rules on 31st Jul 10:
“I stood in the same and kissed the ground”
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LENNON LOVE on 28th Jul 10:
“I have this framed.”
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hanahan5 on 24th Jul 10:
“i love themmm and ringo wish he can teach me how to play the drums ='(”
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hanahan5 on 24th Jul 10:
“in the picture above i want to kno wut they r straeing at not the camra but i still <3 them @_@”
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ShootingStarr33 on 17th Jul 10:
“Gahh! I love this pic :) Ringo looks confused, George looks like a model, and John and Paul are just staring! A Hard Days Night was a really good Beatles movie. It showe their friendship! The Beatles are forever!<3”
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BEATLESfanforeverKikajs on 13th Jul 10:
“Paul and George are dreamy...they're were all awesome when they were young why only did John get that Yoko and make everything complicated???”
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9tailedpikachu on 4th Jul 10:
“i want to seee thissssss!”
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georgie-paulie-girl on 4th Jul 10:
“George and John buddies and pals!! that makes me laugh all the time!!!! i luv it when its paul, george and ringo and they are in hotel room!!!! they are just fooling around!! like when george starts singing and does a wee dance then ringo says
"hey i like it, do it again, just for me!! " toooo cute or the bit when paul has all these random paintings of ringo!! if youve seen the movie youll understand me!!! Lol :P” -
camibeatle on 28th Jun 10:
“the beatles”
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Related Images
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Neil Aspinall stands in for George during rehearsals for the Ed Sullivan Show -
Paul takes a break during rehearsals for the Ed Sullivan Show -
Boarding the plane for their first trip to the USA -
Paul & Ringo are filmed in their New York hotel suite -
George photographs Ringo on the train from Washington DC to New York





