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'Let It Be' - has anyone done done a quality preservation? (Released)

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 (Edited)

Hey everybody, first time poster here but I have been reading posts here for a while.

What my post here is about is the Beatles film “Let It Be”. It is not commercialy available, but there is numerous bootlegs on Ebay. I downloaded a dvd version from Demonoid, and I was greatly let down by the quality of it. I think the person who posted it on Demonoid got it off ebay. If anyone here has done a transfer of any kind could you please let me know? I would love to get my hands on a good quality version of this.

Also, another Beatles film “Magical Mystery Tour” has been out on dvd for quite a while, but sadly the tranfer here is quite washed out and has numerous problems. It was remastered around the same time as the beatles anthology but wasnt released. Again, if anyone has a good quality version of this or would be willing to do a transfer, please let me know.

Thanks for your time.

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The original release of 'Let It Be' in 1970 was originally shot on 16mm with the idea that it would be a TV special.

The film ran over 200 minutes, but was edited down to 81 without John Lennon's knowledge - with much of Lennon's footage cut.

The decision was made to blow it up to 35mm and exhibit it theatrically. As a result, a horribly awkward cropping resulted, which only got worse when it arrived on a VHS pan-and-scan version in the early 80's.

Around the time of the Beatles' Anthology series, Let It Be was re-mastered from the 16mm negative with the intention of re-releasing it, but plans were scrapped for unknown reasons. This re-mastered footage was glimpsed in the series, making the "available" film almost unwatchable by the standard that was set. Reportedly, the series also showed some of the cut footage.

Basically, the film was released in 1981 on a Magnetic Video LD, which was sourced from the 16mm original, but again, was cropped, panned-and-scanned. This was in addition to the VHS and Betamax versions, but a CED format was attempted, and failed due to low quality and bad performance of CED players.

As of 1997, a British company called VCI had the rights to release 'Let It Be' and they claimed they had the 1992 re-mastered footage. This is not to be confused with MPI who released Help and Magical Mystery Tour. MMT has been issued on Laserdisc a couple of times since 1992, and finally on DVD which is rare but still available. As it stands, this version is unfortunately the best available. Yes, it's washed out and could stand an overhaul, but it is what it is...

As to your original question, the version of 'Let It Be' that you have is about as good as you're going to find, since all copies of the film are bootlegs likely sourced off of one of the Laserdisc iterations. The version that I have was also from Demonoid, and I'm afraid it is the best quality version of the 2 or 3 I have seen. There was one I got a few years ago that was sourced from the VHS version, and was enough to make you rip out your eyes.

So, I know this is difficult to watch, but it's as good as it gets right now until Apple releases the re-mastered version. Hopefully they will include all of the deleted footage and someone can restore 'Let It Be' to its' original 200+ minute version - and finally solve the mystery as to why the Beatles really broke up. I have my suspicions that it had nothing to do with Yoko Ono!

If you're interested, I made a cover for Let It Be, specifically for the Demonoid version which I downloaded. Here it is, if you want the high-res version, let me know. I have also designed replacement covers for the other Beatles films, to match. Cheers.

http://img71.imageshack.us/img71/7484/lib3d9rb.jpg
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deleted.... the reply above is better.
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I've had 2 sets of this both featuring some deleted scenes, someone on here made a 2 disk with the B&W deleted scenes but it was missing my favorite deleted scene, that of Yoko screaching over the Beatles feedbacking their instruments. I'm sure there was a lot of substance abuse used prior to filming that scene!

Don't Make Me Destroy You!
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Seriously, jabberdoo? Where is the thread on it? I can't seem to find it.

What was the quality like? Was it sourced from the 16mm original negative somehow, or the same LD capture that's floating around? Was the sound mono or stereo?

Thanks.
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I have a 2-disc set with the scene Jabberdoo is talking about - this one is P&S, and definitely not from the 16mm neg.
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Really, THX? What is the backstory on it, and hypothetically speaking, how would one go about acquiring said set, if one were so inclined?
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One would read one's PMs.
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Someone post some disc art for this at least?
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It up on PB right now Divix sourced from The Japanese Laserdisc
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So we all know that Let It Be is floating around. Personally, I didn't find the lack of quality too terribly distracting. There are two versions of deleted scenes reels around: one runs about an hour, the other runs about two. And then there's a Beatleg DVD set that was recently released called "Get Back: Stereo Video Album / The Winter of Discontent", which is pretty amazing. You can check out more information on that here and here.

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Hi everybody. You’re all awesome. Keep up the good work.

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I have the Laserdisc, the DVD of the Laserdisc, A 2nd Gen VHS copy of the un-modified 16 MM print, and a DVD boot of the un-mod 16 mm print.
I also have all the known out-takes from let it be that are in the hands of the collectors. I've been collecting Beatles for over 32 years..

FF

“First feel fear, then get angry. Then go with your life into the fight.” - Bill Mollison

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The CED disc version of Let It Be wasn't attemped, it was released. I have the disc. It was from a grainy 16mm source (16mm > 35mm blow up > 16mm reduction), but the quality wasn't bad at all.
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Originally posted by: ReverendBeastly
So we all know that Let It Be is floating around. Personally, I didn't find the lack of quality too terribly distracting. There are two versions of deleted scenes reels around: one runs about an hour, the other runs about two. And then there's a Beatleg DVD set that was recently released called "Get Back: Stereo Video Album / The Winter of Discontent", which is pretty amazing. You can check out more information on that here and here.



I downloaded both of these a while ago. I'm not a massive Beatles fan, but these 2 are an amazing piece of work. If you even have a passing interest in these go here and download them.

http://www.thetradersden.org/index.php
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Originally posted by: TheCassidy


If you're interested, I made a cover for Let It Be, specifically for the Demonoid version which I downloaded. Here it is, if you want the high-res version, let me know. I have also designed replacement covers for the other Beatles films, to match. Cheers.



Could yould post a link to this or at least upload a flat version. I can't get the image you posted to come out right for my cover.
Thanks
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Thanks for the link !!! The previous version i had was at 300kb and it looked bad . Thanks again ! BTW if anyone wants the dvd of Magical Mystery Tour that was stated in an eariler post as "rare" let me know . Im looking to trade/sell it .Mostly a trade though...
The Diamond State Drive in theater located in Felton Delaware just 8 miles south of Dover. Vist our website at www.dsdit.com Delawares only Drive in .
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Originally posted by: dork74
Thanks for the link !!! The previous version i had was at 300kb and it looked bad . Thanks again ! BTW if anyone wants the dvd of Magical Mystery Tour that was stated in an eariler post as "rare" let me know . Im looking to trade/sell it .Mostly a trade though...


Turn on your PM
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smc999, thanks for the heads up on the Get Back/Winter DVDs. I'd been looking for these since I first heard about them. If anyone is going to do a restoration or an extended version of "LET IT BE", these DVDs are essential. Whereas the actual released film showed nothing but great preformances and sad and depressing studio banter, this set showed the Beatles having a pretty good time in spite of it all. It even shows the Beatles backing Yoko on one of her sceam therapy pieces, as Jabberdoo satated. I think the best one, though, is John imitating Yoko while she's sitting right there next to him! An excellent anthology.
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Apparently there has been a dvd of the 16mm with complete image floating around for years now

http://www.bootlegzone.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=12258

http://www.bootlegzone.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=11553

Check out those links - interesting read, especially for people trying to track down copies of this

Hope this helps!
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I recall hearing someone was going to try and clean this up after they were done with some other projects, I'm not sure who though. I hope they get to it eventually.

A Goon in a Gaggle of 'em

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ReverendBeastly said:There are two versions of deleted scenes reels around: one runs about an hour, the other runs about two.

Where can those be gotten? Is all that footage in the Winter of Discontent/Stereo Video release?

Currently looking for the following preservations: V8 A Final Attempt by Arnie.D, Pre-ANH Bootleg Telecine, Starkiller '77 bootleg, LD OT by Cowclops, LD OT by Dr. Gonzo, LD OT by Farsight, LD OT by ISOMIX, LD OT by Dark/Sega Take 1, TPM Theatrical by Adywan, OT - Deliberate Creative, OCPMovie's Classic Editions, Pan & Scan O-OT Project, LD OT by EditDroid, Lucasfilm Pwnage Editions, Negative1 CED Preservations, Starkiller CED Preservation, Rowman bonus discs, BLAK0004, BLAK0009, BLAK0010, BLAK0016, BLAK0017, BLAK0029, BLAK0040, BLAK0046, BLAK0047-0050. Also a good preservation of the 97 SEs.

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I'd assume it is, but honestly, I haven't watched anything past the film proper. I really can't imagine that there's anything not included in the Winter of Discontent release. Between that and the ridiculous A/B Road 70-CD collection, you'd probably have all there is to be had.

I used to be very active on this forum. I’m not really anymore. Sometimes, people still want to get in touch with me about something, and that is great! If that describes you, please email me at [my username]ATgmailDOTcom.

Hi everybody. You’re all awesome. Keep up the good work.

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UPDATE: There is some hope for us looking for this, full image...

For one, easily obtainable, is a german VHS transfer. If you're a pirate who loves michael bay, you'll know where to find it... It has the fullest available image of any commercially available copy, HOWEVER it has some German subtitles, but only occasionally (for some reason)

The other option is something that recently hit the trading scene called "Let It Be: The Big Picture" - WogBlog (a Beatles blog) talked about it a few months back >> http://wogew.blogspot.com/2009/03/let-it-be-full-picture.html

Personally, I think we'll go insane trying to track down every scrap of footage, but I would like to see this Big Picture deal.

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Hiya:

 

I found Let It Be:  THe Big Picture over at a Pink Floyd Torrent site.

http://yeeshkul. com/forum/showthread.php?t=16888

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