On this day in 1970 The Beatles released their “Let It Be” film in the UK

Following the stressful sessions for The Beatles, also known as the White Album, Paul McCartney determined that the group needed to return to their roots for their next material. He came up with a plan to give a live performance of new songs to be broadcast as a television special and recorded to be released as an album. The other members approved of the idea and filming began. Head of Apple’s film division Denis O’Dell came up with the idea of recording the rehearsal sessions for use as a seperate TV documentary and eventually the projects merged to become Let It Be.

The film follows the band as they first rehearse at a sound stage at Twickenham Film Studios, before showing the recording and production new songs and finally ending with their famous performance on the Apple studios roof. The film included a tense conversation between McCartney and George Harrison and though it is not included in the film the disagreement caused Harrison to temporarily leave the band.

Many critics were initially unsatisfied with the film, but due to the bands recent breakup, the film was commonly examined as evidence of the fracturing relationships within the group. Lennon later commented on the film claiming, “the camera work was set up to show Paul and not to show anybody else” and said that it had alienated him and the other members.” Regardless, Let It Be performed well with the public and is now remembered as a significant moment in Beatles history. The film has been unavailable on home video since the 1980’s, though bootlegs circulate online, and now a plan to remaster and rerelease the film next year is in the works.