Peter Jackson Reveals How He Convinced Beatles Paul and Ringo To Let Him Make 'Get Back'

Peter Jackson joins Variety’s Doc Dreams, presented by National Geographic, to talk about The Beatles’ rumored breakup being more joyous than he anticipated, how it is the longest he has ever spent in the editing room and why George Harrison would be the best Beatle on a film set.

[thegrouse]

My opinion of Ringo really went up by watching this. Between all the drama, he just showed up every day to get the job done.

[pabloopazomedina]

Ringo doesn't say much in this doc, but when he said "I want to play in the roof" that was a decisive moment for rock and roll history, because neither George or Paul was confident for that concert.

[christinanunn]

This documentary is the closest I will ever get to seeing the Beatles live and I am so grateful it was released. I had some major goosebumps moments throughout!

[jambogb]

I am 16 years old. My Grandad was a Beatles fan. My Dad is a Beatles fan.
I couldn't understand why for them this band was so special.
I've watched the Documentary and the Family tradition can go on because I am now the Beatles number ONE fan!

[geoffm]

I was shocked at how Paul (and the rest of the band) was so welcoming to Yoko. It's incredible how the media can twist a story to present a certain narrative. Many of us pretend like this is a new thing, but film footage from 52 years ago proves that the media has always spun any story in a way that they believe will get the most attention. That said, it was absolutely heartwarming to see how welcoming they all were of Yoko Ono, and how they were cognizant of the media narrative. This is reflected in that bit where Paul spoke about people in 50 years time will talk about how The Beatles broke up because Yoko sat on an amp.

[stephendsullivan]

Billy Preston, the unsung hero of this story. Shows up in the studio by chance, and his presence and talent help focus the group on this impossible task set before them. His contribution and Ringo's cool head were invaluable. Great film(s).

[DonHornsby]

I would like to thank Peter Jackson for his magnificent work on this project.

[Qwazin]

This documentary certainly disproved to me the theory that Paul was a control freak towards the later years of the group. On the contrary, watching this he comes off as that one kid in a group project who keeps trying to push everyone to actually get shit done while the others oversleep and show up cranky. The man's a hero.

[ACOUSTICDI]

This is the most remarkable piece of cinema I have ever seen. I have been profoundly affected by this film thank you Peter Jackson and The Beatles for this window through time.

[PedroAmA]

The moment after Harrison has left and Lennon is a no-show McCartney sits back in his chair and says “and then there were two” as his eyes fill up with tears… That is too much #TheBeatlesGetBack #paulmccartney

[lorkable]

I love how this series reveals how, instead of any of the overly simplified stories that have been told about it over the years, the breaking up of the band was ultimately down to just a bunch of creatively passionate people growing up and apart. They had the best run that anyone could hope for, but ultimately all things must pass.

[aliceblack]

I've never seen such gratitude expressed for a director's efforts. Thank you Peter Jackson for giving us Beatle fans this priceless gem.

[gantz]

One of my fav parts is when Paul's daughter shows up and John jokes with her about eating kittens and also when she plays with Ringo like when he acts scared when she hits a snare. So cute

[markzappasodi]

I love the fact that Peter Jackson REALLY knows his Beatles stuff! It's like talking to another fan of the group when he's speaking and not some world famous movie director. He totally respects the group which means a lot.

[michaelfowler]

I was struck by George’s demeanor when he returned after a few days. It was as if nothing happened and there were no more scraps, as it were, and the project moved on with great positivity. They all seemed pretty tight with each other, very unlike the dreadful “Let It Be” that was so depressing. I also noticed how Lennon, after being really goofy, got immediately serious when Preston showed up. It was as if a serious musician (other than his band mates) needed to see him also as a professional. What a monumental project - thank you Peter Jackson!

[pkgannon]

the birth of the song Get Back was captivating.. Quite remarkable!

[robfrost_nz]

Paul: "It's going to be such a comical thing in 50 years' time: 'They broke up because Yoko sat on an amp.'"

[thomaskwiatkowskiesq.]

I have seen Let It Be a while ago, and can't believe that two such different films can be made out of the same footage. Let It Be is dreary, a documentary of a band's break-up, whereas Get Back is a celebration of the creative process with all of its good and bad sides. I really appreciate the work that Peter Jackson did on this film, it literally changes a lot of the narrative about the Beatles last year.

[baroquejen]

The most amazing thing for me is how distant they felt before I saw the doc, and how normal and familiar they feel now. Just four guys playing in a band. Wonderful.

[ritch]

I was/am a Beatles fan but wasn't sure if this documentary would be my kind of thing. I watched the first episode last night, and the 2+ hours flew by. It felt like I was actually in the studio watching them creating these masterpieces we hear today. Thank you to Peter and his incredible team.