ROTTEN TOMATOES: Scorsese to Direct George Harrison Documentary

Scorsese to Direct George Harrison Documentary

Quiet Beatle meets big screen.

by Jeff Giles | September 27, 2007

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Martin Scorsese has chosen George Harrison as the subject of his next musical documentary.

Variety reports that the life of the erstwhile Beatle, who succumbed to lung cancer in 2001, will be the focus of an as-yet untitled Scorsese film. From the article:

The docu is being constructed as a theatrical release, and the Harrison family will supply materials from its extensive archive. Interviews and early production will begin later this year, and the film will take several years to complete.

Pic will cover Harrison's Beatles career and later years that included a successful solo music career as well as a foray as a movie mogul when he backed Handmade Films and made pics such as "Monty Python's Life of Brian" and "Time Bandits." Scorsese, who explored themes of faith in "Kundun" and "The Last Temptation of Christ," will also focus closely on the Eastern spiritual pursuits that were central to Harrison's life.

The film, which has no target release date, is being made with the cooperation of Harrison's widow, Olivia, and the participation of surviving Beatles Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr is expected. Scorsese's latest musical documentary, the Rolling Stones film Shine a Light, is scheduled to reach theaters next April.

Source: Variety

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(1-16 of 16 posts) | Reply

Jesus McNasty writes:
on Sep 27 2007 06:33 AM

I'm the First to Comment. That's never happened to me. Tear. Not that this movie won't be great but, Okay why? I've been thinking about bio pics a bit lately (due to the Dylan one coming soon) and it occurred to me there are so many people who are worthy of a decent bio pic (decent meaning not made for TV). Where's the John Lennon biopic, Tupac, Kurt Cobain, Frank Sinatra. Now George Harrison is by far my favorite Beatle and he is interesting. However, why not do a film about...I don't know the man who stole his wife after making one of , if not the greatest love song ever about her, never met his father and was raised by his grandparents, battled heroine and alcohol addiction over two decades, beats them both, only to lose his young son in a tragic accident, get's inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame three times and will go down as one of the greatest musician of all time. Dang, What was his name? Something Clapton.

(Reply to this)

arendr writes:
on Sep 27 2007 07:35 AM

This idea I like.

(Reply to this)

Baccus83 writes:
on Sep 27 2007 08:08 AM

George Harrison is my favorite Beatle. I'm sure this doc will be magnificent.

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dracus writes:
on Sep 27 2007 08:10 AM

Of all the Beatles, I think Harrison would make for the most interesting biopic mainly because he was always overshadowed by Lennon and McCartney. Everyone knows Lennon and McCartney's story, not much is known about Harrison's amazing life beyond the headlines.

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dracus writes:
on Sep 27 2007 08:19 AM

Of all the Beatles, I think Harrison would make for the most interesting biopic mainly because he was always overshadowed by Lennon and McCartney. Everyone knows Lennon and McCartney's story, not much is known about Harrison's amazing life beyond the headlines.

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arendr writes:
on Sep 27 2007 09:05 AM

Anyone have casting ideas?

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KubrickIsG-d writes:
on Sep 27 2007 09:55 AM

This is NOT a biopic, it is a documentary, so stop calling it one. No one will be cast as Harrison, I believe a documentary shows prerecorded fottage of the subject, NOT an actor playing him.

And Mcnasty, to say the life of an interesting subject should not be told because there is someone else out there with a more complex life is ridiculous.

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dahluzz writes:
on Sep 27 2007 10:02 AM

yeah mcnasty, that's why you should never get to post first, cause you suck at it.

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arendr writes:
on Sep 27 2007 10:40 AM

Oh wow, you're right. They changed the headline to Documentary. Good catch KubrickIsG-d.

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Lazarus1209 writes:
on Sep 27 2007 10:52 AM

Okay mcnasty, first you have to make a big distinction to qualify your argument. You keep saying biopic. A biopic is a movie that dramatizes someone's like such as Ray, Walk the Line, The Doors, I'm not There, etc....

Scorsese is making a documentary more along the lines of his previous musical works including The Last Waltz, No Direction Home: Bob Dylan, and his Blues documentary. I agree that Lennon or Clapton would make a better biopic, but I think Harrison, especially with his interest in eastern religion, makes a much more interesting and unexplored documentary.

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Metafact writes:
on Sep 27 2007 11:05 AM

Scorsese? I'm there.

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FLYmeatwad writes:
on Sep 27 2007 11:45 AM

Why would anyone waste their time with a doc about Crapton?

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rt_hire_me writes:
on Sep 27 2007 11:49 AM

Why did he have to record 'Something' by himself? Didn't the other beatles want to play with him? I think they should call it 'Rudolph: the G.H. Story'

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arendr writes:
on Sep 27 2007 12:46 PM

In reply to this comment (#1152455)
I'm pretty sure the other Beatle's played on "Something". I'll have to check, but I have a book about all the Beatles recordings.

The others weren't interested in "While My Guitar Gently Weeps" until George invited Clapton in to play on it. And that's one of their best.

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TheGreatOne13 writes:
on Sep 27 2007 02:11 PM

i know its a doc but i would want a biopic just to see who would be cast as who

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Pongo writes:
on Sep 28 2007 06:57 AM

That's definitely Paul's bassline in Something.. George I believe even told him it was too complex. Not a great fan of Harrison, my least favorite Beatle by far. But he's still a Beatle so I'll probably see this in the end.

(Reply to this)