'George Harrison: Living In The Material World' Trailer Released; Martin Scorsese HBO Documentary On George Harrison

Before Britney, before Bieber, Beatles reigned supreme. For many, they still do.

In the upcoming documentary, Martin Scorsese explores the band's quietest member in "George Harrison: Living In The Material World."

With an impressive slew of interviews from Eric Clapton, Terry Gilliam, Eric Idle, George Martin, Paul McCartney, Yoko Ono, Tom Petty, Phil Spector, Ringo Starr and Jackie Stewart, the three-and-a-half hour documentary will examine Harrison's life and career.

For US readers: The film will air on HBO a two-part presentation on October 5th and 6th.

For UK readers: 'Living In The Material World' be released on DVD, Blu-ray and Limited Deluxe Edition on October 10th, available for pre-order now.

Comments

[AlPal3]

12:53 PM on 08/28/2011

Ah, always gives me a thrill going back to those days. Ah George, Ah Beatles, Ah Life.

[doglove]

03:38 PM on 08/27/2011

Why no Patti Boyd?

[M Rosin]

11:51 PM on 08/27/2011

Because this movie is about turning George into Saint George, rather than providing an honest, warts-and-all portrait. And George's treatment of Pattie Boyd is pretty unpleasant (not as bad as Eric Clapton but then that's not saying much).

[TheIpsoFactory]

06:08 PM on 08/24/2011

"Living in the material world"
Yes. Well. Hmmm....
A very few diehard fans will recognize that title from a little known album George recorded and gave out in 1973. It's very good, and has stood the test of time, in my view - but didn't do too well commercially back then. And didn't yield any unforgettable hit-song - like the unforgettable triple-album "All Things Must Pass", which came just before this LP.
But - I suspect this title would have a familiar ring with US audiences, since Madonna had a hit song with a similar line. Hence my initial reservation.
If it helps bring out the genious of George to a larger audience, the end justifies the means, I guess.

[networktulsa]

10:56 PM on 09/29/2011

Really? I suppose us stupid Americans don't know "rubbish" about the Beatles and only Keep up with "Lady Madonna" ? I think it should be a splendid documentary that we should all look forward to. There hasn't been too many video documentary about George, so "Cheers to Martin for doing it!!!!!" Even you " Cheeky Fellows" might like it.

[MahatmaCoat]

04:06 PM on 08/24/2011

There's no tears to be shed
I'm gonna love you instead
I want you around, cheer down.

[aseyeseeit]

03:48 PM on 08/24/2011

"He wrote two of my favorite Beatles' songs. "While My Guitar Gently Weeps'" and " Something".
Just finished two books about John. Looking forward to learning more about George. But darn it- now I may have to sign up for HBO and drop Showtime. Dexter or George?

[Joseph Scott]

03:48 PM on 08/24/2011

I don't care if "My Sweet Lord," was a little bit too similar to "He's so Fine," he was still a genius. Geniuses borrow, as Ezra Pound said, hacks 'steal.'

His double album was a revelation . . .and at the time the hippie world had taken a train to the West Coast to join the "Jesus Movement," which was flourishing then, everyone was going "spiritual," to some degree.

So, as the Homer of their time declared, "It's bye bye Miss American Pie....Jesus took the first train to the coast, the day, the music died." But it wasn't dead, not after Buddy Holly, not after the big hit-back by the drugs taken. No. We had George.
We had Simon and Garfunkel and the Bridge over Troubled Water.
We had "one toke over the line, sweet Jesus," we had a million of 'em,
including "Let it Be," invoking the virgin for us at the time, for us still disappointingly real virgins, and Catholic boys.

May we all live in interesting times. And survive.

[Stephen Thorpe]

03:23 PM on 08/24/2011

I think it may be hard for people today to appreciate how this group influenceed music, culture and style, now that the influence is done and forgotten. There were lots of young eager and willing students of rock and style happy to jump on the bandwagon and they did, creating lots of other great music. It's just that they were the innovators,...they did it first.
As far as some saying they were average musicians; I think they were the first to admitt that. Yet looking over time,...how many multi instrumentalists have you got out there? They each swapped out duties on guitars, piano, bass and even drums at times, not to mention recording machines and other interesting instruments, writing, singing and funny characters. They brought humility to their recordings by not taking themselves too seriously.

[Joseph Scott]

03:53 PM on 08/24/2011

They seem to bring everything they had to a song, and I read where they were quite successful in putting away egos while writing the song...."the song is the thing," once they started, Paul was known to say, as was John.
They did whatever they could for the song, whoever could sing it best, and together, they pushed each other....John to get more of the brilliant McCartney melody in his music (think of "Yesterday,"), and McCartney to get more of the Lennon edge in lyrics. I'd say it worked out quite well.

[networktulsa]

10:57 PM on 09/29/2011

Influence is far from over.
Just recently I heard some music from Jet that sounded so familiar.

[Stephen Thorpe]

01:39 AM on 09/30/2011

Very cool!

[April Morgan Johnson]

02:08 PM on 08/24/2011

This is going to be awesome!

[saami]

04:23 PM on 08/25/2011

"Here Comes the Sun".

[Twrexx]

01:01 PM on 08/24/2011

I can't wait for this documentary. George was easily as talented as Paul and John in terms of songwriting, but they would only allow him one or two songs per record. Paul tended to be quite controlling and it drove George nuts. Even years later, when you watch the Anthology, you can see George blanch when Paul tries to get him to play something while they're sitting on the grass. He basically ignores him and plays what he wants.

If you're a Beatles fan and you haven't read "The Beatles" biography by Bob Spitz, I urge you to do so. It's an amazing book with a level of detail that makes you feel like you were there.

[TheIpsoFactory]

02:05 PM on 08/24/2011

It's pretty easy to knock that dynamic in retrospect - and if you forgive me, in disrespect, too.
I take it from your comment you must be American - no Brit would consider alternatives: It was what is was, and it was great.
To imply things could have been better, or that someone was held back from unfolding a potential, is plain ridiculous.
You wouldn't by any chance be one of those chaps worrying about pictures of shadows on Moon-rocks, or the fashion in which the WTC 7 building collapsed, would you...?

[Twrexx]

12:18 AM on 08/26/2011

It's well documented that George felt under Paul's thumb much of the time (see the famous example of George losing his cool at Paul in the studio) and that he was dissatisfied with the fact that John's and Paul's songs dominated the records. Implying that you know better because you're British is simply ridiculous.

As for your bizarre non sequiturs, I'll ignore those since they have no bearing on the conversation.

[M Rosin]

09:08 PM on 08/27/2011

George wrote a handful of good to great songs with the Beatles. John and Paul wrote DOZENS. Can't we appreciate George's talent without inflating it? And I'm sick to death of armchair psychiatrists thinking they understand the Paul-George relationship based on ONE scene from the Let it Be movie. I mean, seriously? Why do George's fans act like Paul was the only one with faults? George was not a saint.

[Twrexx]

04:52 PM on 08/30/2011

I don't base it on one scene. I base it on that AND the well-documented relationship that's in print. I would refer you to the definitive biography by Bob Spitz as just one source.

Paul certainly wasn't the only one with faults. Both he and John could be real a$$es, especially in the way they took digs at each other in their solo work (see "Too Many People" and "How Do You Sleep?"). George played on the latter so there indeed was animosity toward Paul.

As for songwriting, keep in mind that Paul and John had been writing as a team for years until they started drifting apart. Even when they were writing separately they would occasionally ask the other to polish a song. I do feel that George hasn't gotten enough respect as a songwriter, however.

Even after all this, however, they were still mates. John even says in "Imagine" he envisioned a time when he and Paul would possibly work together again. And Paul referred to George as his "baby brother" when George died. It was also great to see Paul come out and play "Birthday" for Ringo during the concert to celebrate Ringo's 70th. That's the closest we'll ever get to a Beatles reunion.

[Max Shaw]

12:59 PM on 08/24/2011

I wrote a song about an Octopus once...

[networktulsa]

11:04 PM on 09/29/2011

NICE..

[Mi4Peace]

12:26 PM on 08/24/2011

I for one will be watching this documentary, after all each of the Beatles spoke about peace and love so often and taught me how to treat my fellow citizens of the world, I am forever grateful for the greatest music and message of peace through all the years.

[doglove]

03:32 PM on 08/27/2011

They were messengers of peace, weren't they?

f & f

[RSR68]

11:57 AM on 08/24/2011

"Beatles? Who are Beatles?"

Love,
Yoko

[boilinabag]

10:55 AM on 08/24/2011

upon finishing their last tour in the Philippines when marcos troops tried to prevent the beatles from leaving, on the plane home, george stated, 'well thats it, i am no longer a beatle." that was 66, but since they stayed in london and studio recorded only, he stuck around. but you can tell during the let it be sessions, he didnt want to be there...... and if you hear his interviews about paul and john you can tell he was not digging the scene with them....

[calloy]

09:11 AM on 08/24/2011

finally, a study of the quiet beatle. john and paul got the majority of ink over the years and i'm glad to see george and ringo get some of their due.

[TheIpsoFactory]

02:31 PM on 08/24/2011

yes, well - it takes an American film-director to work from that conclusion: Let's float a fluffy conspiracy angle, and manipulate the facts slightly, then we have a winner.
If you get Macca confessing to the fact that they somehow held poor George back, I'll eat my words.

[calloy]

06:04 PM on 08/24/2011

i'm pretty sure i read or heard interviews where paul & john both acknowledged george's talent, and pointed to his song "something" as a favorite. the whole concept of a great band dictates nobody holds anybody back, and as far as i'm concerned, that was the case with the beatles. all four flowed with wonderful music after the breakup. is see no conspiracy.

[Beth Schindler]

06:17 PM on 08/24/2011

@ThelpsoFactory: Enough...lighten up already.

George was, is and always will be my favorite. I am thrilled to learn about this documentary!

[zekolama]

09:06 AM on 08/24/2011

George WAS an average guitarist as was John. But his true talent was in his inventiveness and creativity of his playing and solos. His solos were always unique and different on each Beatles recording. If you listen to his "picking" on The One After 909 from the Let It Be Album and Rooftop Concert there is a lot of great "skat" playing, rhythms and guitar fills.

Some of my favorites solos are the one on Hey Bulldog, Ringo's "It Don't Come Easy" and John's "Gimme Some Truth"

NOTE: The Solo on Taxman is played by Paul McCartney.