During the Thanksgiving weekend of 2021, Beatles fans were captivated by Peter Jackson’s “Get Back,” a remarkable eight-hour epic that transported them back to the weeks preceding the band’s famous rooftop concert in January 1969. This docuseries, though more lighthearted than its troubled reputation suggested, was marked by the irrefutable fact that it concluded with the Beatles’ last live performance. Even the happy moments held a bittersweet tinge, as they neared the end despite appearances.

Perfect Cinematic Companion Piece

This Thanksgiving, fans received an exceptional cinematic companion. “Beatles ‘64,” now streaming on Disney+, provides an insider’s look at the birth of Beatlemania in the United States. Executive produced by Martin Scorsese and directed by his longtime editor David Tedeschi, it’s a crucial addition to his string of essential rock docs. “I think one of the reasons they chose us to make this is because we’re from New York,” Tedeschi told PEOPLE. “And it’s a very New York story.”

The Fab Four’s Arrival

The Fab Four first made landfall in New York on February 7, 1964, receiving a hero’s welcome at Kennedy International Airport. This welcome echoed throughout the city, country, and the world. The November 24 premiere of “Beatles ‘64” was held in the heart of the Big Apple, with A-listers like Emma Stone, Chris Rock, James Taylor, and Elvis Costello in attendance. Ethan Hawke moderated a post-screening Q&A with the director and Scorsese, who recalled how hearing “I Want to Hold Your Hand” for the first time left him mesmerized and late to class.

Embedded with the Band

For the next two weeks, filmmakers Albert and David Maysles were embedded with the Beatles. They captured the band’s every move through besieged limos, sweaty nightclub dance floors, cramped train cars, backstage dressing rooms, and even their suite at Manhattan’s Plaza Hotel. The level of access was unthinkable in today’s PR-savvy world, and the brothers documented the chaos and the quiet in their trademark “direct cinema” style. Highlights from the 11 hours of 16mm they shot ended up in the seldom-seen 1964 TV special “What’s Happening! The Beatles in the USA.”

Newly Unearthed Footage

In the 1980s, Albert sent the Beatles’ Apple Corps organization hundreds of cans of film, including work prints and outtakes. When the production of “Get Back” was in its final stages, Peter Jackson volunteered to restore the Maysles material using the same technology. After three years of work, the footage was ready. Olivia Harrison, who had worked with Marty and David before, suggested using it, and Paul, Sean, and Ringo agreed.

Unique Moments

The heart of “Beatles ‘64” is the Maysles footage, which presents moments before and after iconic scenes. We’ve seen the Beatles’ Ed Sullivan debut countless times, but few have witnessed the raucous afterparty. Their first American press conference was unforgettable for their witty one-liners. And seeing the band watching themselves on TV and laughing at their jokes is just as charming.

The Fans’ Story

The fans in “Beatles ‘64” are truly co-stars. They match the Beatles in charisma and magnetism. They are hilarious, brilliant, enterprising, and fearless. The Maysles recognized the raw emotion of these young women and set them apart. Tedeschi tracked down some of these pioneering Beatlemaniacs, who struggled to articulate their emotions even after 60 years.

Breaking Tradition

Techeshi bucked tradition by interviewing figures impacted by the Beatles in less obvious ways. Writer and critic Joe Queenan spoke of how the Beatles’ music helped dull the pain of his adolescence. By depicting this, the film accentuates their power as a cultural force.

The Ed Sullivan Show

On February 9, 1964, the Beatles made their debut on “The Ed Sullivan Show,” drawing upwards of 73 million viewers. The Maysles’ cameras were barred from the CBS studios, but they captured a family witnessing this cultural turning point. It was a moment of inspiration born of desperation.

Race and the Beatles

The Beatles’ arrival disrupted the early 1960s status quo. To parents, they represented an infiltration of Black culture. The Maysles footage shows the Beatles requesting Black music on radio stations. Smokey Robinson recalls getting shot at while navigating segregated bathrooms. The recognition left him elated.

The First Concert

The Beatles’ first full concert in the United States, at Washington DC’s Coliseum on February 12, 1964, was a significant moment. With restored visuals and remixed sound, it’s the closest we’ll get to seeing them as a bar band. McCartney’s version of Little Richard’s “Long Tall Sally” received a spontaneous ovation.

Altering the Country

Ultimately, “Beatles ‘64” is an exploration of how the country was changed by the Beatles’ arrival. Tedeschi links their fates with John F. Kennedy, suggesting that America needed something like the Beatles to lift them out of mourning.

The Enduring Phenomenon

As Billy Joel said, it’s best not to dissect something still alive. The Beatles phenomenon continues to endure. Tedeschi was surprised by how much fans from 1964 still love the music. A reporter asked a girl outside the Plaza what she liked about the Beatles, and her answer was simple: “EVERYTHING!”