But contrary to popular belief, they were in a much better (and better lit) place, while recording the Let It Be album.
The Beatles: Get Back is Peter Jackson's reshaping of the 1970 documentary Let It Be, using 56 hours of newly-found footage of the Let It Be album recording sessions at London's Twickenham Studios.
Just by way of comparison...
...the original 1970 trailer for the Let It Be film.
Yes they may have been "rapping".
But I'm not that sure about relaxing.
Even the nominally cheerful Ringo looks pretty pissed off in some of those still shots.
And speaking of Mr. Starr, here he is after seeing Get Back way back in pre-pandemic 2019, enthusiastically singing (so to speak) its praises:
Get Back is now expected on August 27, 2021.
Since that date falls smack dab in the middle of a milestone birthday week for me, I think I can safely say that this film will be my return to a theatre, should one be open.
And it's fitting that Peter Jackson should be shepherding this endeavor.
After all, aren't The Beatles a sort of fellowship, as in the director's Lord Of The Rings trilogy?
Call me eccentric if you wish. But I think so.
He can even cast himself as the Gandalf figure if he likes.
Because he has shown surviving Beatles Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr that not all was as moody and dark as it first appeared.
And let's face it...it's been a while since a Peter Jackson film has been a zeitgeisty cause for celebration!
In closing, here is Sir Paul's take on the Get Back film, from a chat with the one and only Howard Stern:
