George Harrison: Living In The Material World

[Adam Blake]

A three and a half hour whitewash. Beautifully put together, some very moving interviews, fabulous footage, photos even hardcore Beatle anoraks have never seen before, but a whitewash just the same. Maybe that's OK. Maybe we don't need any more dirt. But I felt patronised that there was no mention of the "He's So Fine" court case, the terrible falling off in quality of his work, the dissolution of HandMade films into financial wrangling, the true motive behind the release of the Anthologies (George needed money). His drugging and whoring are barely alluded to - which is understandable considering his widow is the executive producer.

Perversely however, the film has faults in the other direction too. I mean, I don't think it's too far of a stretch to say that George Harrison invented World Music, or to make a grander claim, that he was responsible for re-introducing the West to the East. Not bad for a bus conductor's son from Liverpool. But the film makes very little of this. His humble origins are only sketched in too, although there is a delightfully down to earth interview with his two older brothers it is far too short and sketchy. I would have liked to have had more of them and less of, say, Eric Clapton who is unintentionally funny at times but onscreen far too much. Paul McCartney is his usual enigmatic self - says everything and reveals nothing (he is so adroit at that!), Ringo is the Loveable Nose to the nth degree and makes you want to hug him - especially when he cries and says through his tears, in broad scouse: "It's like fucking Barbara Walters up here!" Klaus Voorman is a very good interviewee, hinting at George's darker side without spilling any beans. Yoko talks Yoko, again. Patti is still the 60s dollybird who doesn't quite get it. Phil Spector - presumably filmed before his incarceration - is utterly terrifying. Son Dhani is wonderful, Widow Olivia is very dignified and intelligent. And on and on (and on and on). The music sounds fantastic. Even songs that you had long dismissed from memory sound OK and the good ones like "What Is Life" just sound completely winning.

The real story is of a shy and intensely private man who dealt with accidentally becoming one of the world's most famous people by immersing himself in Hinduism and Indian culture. His spiritual journey is genuine and touching but of only limited interest to the majority. Therefore, for fans only.

[NormanD]

Nice review, thanks Adam. But I think I'll wait 'til BBC4, or the 2Xdvd set.

Has Marty DiBergi become the rock chronicler of our times?

[Adam Blake]

Has Marty DiBergi become the rock chronicler of our times?

Yes, perhaps I should mention that this film isn't as good as "Casino", "Goodfellas" or "Mean Streets".

[AndyM]

I dare say I'll watch it on TV, but your review confirms many of my fears as to what it'll be like, Adam. And I bet it doesn't even have Shirley Bassey's version of "Something".

Well done for singling out "What Is Life", though - my pick for the best thing he ever wrote.

[Adam Blake]

And I bet it doesn't even have Shirley Bassey's version of "Something".

Nope. No Shirley. I could have done with Victor Spinetti and Jimmy Tarbuck amongst the interviewees as well. Allen Williams could have re-told the wonderful rubies anecdote, and they could have made some attempt to find the fella who blacked George's eye at the Cavern in 1962. All in all, far too many opportunities missed.

[AndyM]

Well, it is an American's take.

[Hugh Weldon]

I always thought the saddest George story was of the crazed burglar who broke in and nearly killed him and Olivia. A mercy he survived that, a second Beatles murder would have been just too much.

[garth cartwright]

I believe Marty S lends his brand to these A-list music docs more than actually makes them. Oh, he is involved but I don't think he actually shot a lot of the interviews - for the Dylan one the entire Dylan intv was conducted and shot by Bob's manager, Marty had naught to do with it - but his name helps them get made and distributed. And it looks good on his CV considering how dull the films he now makes.

Will i watch it on TV? Doubtful. What I've heard of George's solo work strikes me that, like John and Ringo, his best days were behind him by the time the band split. Paul made some remarkable stuff in the 70s and even Waterfalls from the 80s is quietly lovely. I mean, if The Travelling Willburys was something of a career highlight then nothing else need be said. And the Anthology was not good TV beyond a few lovely clips.

Having recently read You Never Give Me Your Money - a very good book on the post-Beatles financial situation and squabbling - I think it's fair to say George was a dark, selfish character, predatory towards friends' wives, and not exactly what I would call "spiritual". A seeker perhaps but certainly not enlightened. And not very bright either. And he went from being so good looking and witty in the early Beatles to being this sulky, sour ugly hippie. Yuk.

Adam, does it contain footage from what might have been his last interview - the South Bank Show special on Ravi Shankar? I recall watching and seeing with amazement a very scruffy George - looked like they had found him under the hedge - chatting rather vacantly. And yes mate it is a claim too far to say he invented World Music. Probably put more people off listening to non-Western music than turned on with that awful Sgt Pepper sitar track.

[Adam Blake]

Probably put more people off listening to non-Western music than turned on with that awful Sgt Pepper sitar track.

I beg to differ.

[gary booth]

I always thought the saddest George story was of the crazed burglar who broke in and nearly killed him and Olivia. A mercy he survived that, a second Beatles murder would have been just too much.

That's true Hugh - to lighten matters - fingers on buzzers - Which ex sitcom star's pussy was nearly killed by Olivia's garden fence?

[Hugh Weldon]

I think the use of the word 'pussy' is a dead giveaway that it must have been Mollie Sugden.

[Adam Blake]

I was just going to say that the 'killer intruder' incident is covered in detail in the film and, no, Garth, they don't include any footage from the interview you mention.

[gary booth]

I think the use of the word 'pussy' is a dead giveaway that it must have been Mollie Sugden.

Not Mollie. Sorry Hugh, I was using 'pussy' as in a Sun cheap/double entrende type headline - rather than a red herring.

[john poole]

perhaps I should mention that this film isn't as good as "Casino", "Goodfellas" or "Mean Streets".

No, but it's better than "The Aviator"; "The Departed" and (especially) "Shutter Island".

I really liked it, but then I'm a Beatles fan. I wouldn't exactly call it a "whitewash" although it certainly concentrated on the positive, whilst content to briefly refer to the negative. It's due to be shown on BBC2 in November - over two nights I would imagine.

I've read "You Never Give Me Your Money" which I thought OK, but mainly a rehash of familiar stories - over-rated for me. And although George never came anywhere near matching it again I'd certainly take "All Things Must Pass" over everything that Paul has done since the break-up.

[Adam Blake]

The song or the album, John? The song is exquisite, the album a bit patchy but wonderful at it's best. The over-production, though, makes it hard to listen to for me and is the most dated thing about it. I guess we could argue the toss over solo Beatles but it's a depressing conversation.

I wouldn't want to give the impression that I didn't enjoy the George film because I did, but as I say I did feel patronised for the reasons I stated above.

"You Never Give Me Your Money" is OK, but the best book on the Beatles finances is "Apple To The Core" by Peter McCabe and Robert Schonfeld.