Parents' Guide to Beatles '64

A generation who came of age in the 1960s is going to love this personal take and behind-the-scenes view of the Fab Four's first visit to the USA. For younger viewers, Beatles '64 might not have the same impact. That's because the film relies on testimonies from people who were actually there: now elderly female fans explaining their teen crushes and male fans describing their overwhelming emotions at hearing the Beatles' new sound. One man snuck off with a friend to Liverpool, changing the course of his life. They're fascinating memories, but even the music (and film) industry insiders interviewed—including remaining Beatles themselves—could prove unknowns to younger audiences.

It's an interesting twist because the film emphasizes that it was the youth who responded to the Beatles' music so exuberantly in the band's early days. Stodgy parents disapproved. The documentary captures the band's sheer energy and joy in 1964. They are extremely young, and almost giddy at their sudden fame. The Maysles' footage shows them off stage, in hotel rooms and on trains, reacting to what's happening outside their windows. The film also puts their tour into historical context, suggesting their vivaciousness and youth may have helped a generation process violent events in America in the 1960s. It's a unique insider view that captures a moment in time and reveals the power of music. And that's something even the kids can understand.