HBO has acquired the North American TV rights to the highly anticipated "George Harrison: Living in the Material World," the documentary on the former Beatle produced by famed director Martin Scorsese, it said Wednesday.
The documentary will premiere over over two nights, Oct. 5 and 6, the network said.
The film takes viewers on the musical and spiritual voyage that was George Harrison’s life, much of it told in his own words, HBO said in describing the film. "The result is deeply moving and touches each viewer in unique and individual ways."
Scorsese's film traces Harrison’s life from his musical beginnings in Liverpool through his life as a musician, a seeker, a philanthropist and a filmmaker, weaving together interviews with Harrison and his closest friends, performances, home movies and photographs. Much of the material in the film has never been seen or heard before, HBO said, and "the result is a rare glimpse into the mind and soul of one of the most talented artists of his generation and a profoundly intimate and affecting work of cinema."
It includes interviews with Eric Clapton, Terry Gilliam, Eric Idle, George Martin, Paul McCartney, Yoko Ono, Tom Petty, Phil Spector, Ringo Starr and Jackie Stewart, who are said to speak honestly and frankly about Harrison’s many talents and contradictions.
“Like so many millions of people, I first came to know George through the music, which was the soundtrack of our world. The Beatles’ music, those beautifully lyrical guitar breaks and solos, those unforgettable songs of George’s like ‘I Me Mine’ or ‘If I Needed Someone,’ and the images, in magazines, on album covers, the TV appearances, the newsreel footage, the Richard Lester movies; and then there was the world after the Beatles, when George and his music seemed to open up and flower," Scorsese said in a statement.
"I will never forget the first time I heard ‘All Things Must Pass,’ the overwhelming feeling of taking in that all glorious music for the first time. It was like walking into a cathedral. George was making spiritually awake music – we all heard and felt it – and I think that was the reason that he came to occupy a very special place in our lives. So when I was offered the chance to make this picture, I jumped at it. Spending time with Olivia, interviewing so many of George’s closest friends, reviewing all that footage, some of it never seen before, and listening to all of that magnificent music – it was a joy, and an experience I’ll always treasure."
Noted Olivia Harrison, “Martin Scorsese’s intuition towards George was evident the first time we met to discuss this project. He sensed what George was about: his music, his strong beliefs, his art, his place in the Beatles’ story and his extraordinary life afterwards. Marty’s wonderful film has found all of that and more. I always hoped HBO would be our North American partners because of their respect for artistry. I am doubly happy to be working with their excellent team.”
"George Harrison: Living in the Material World" was produced by Scorsese through his Sikelia Productions banner, Olivia Harrison through her Grove Street Pictures banner and Nigel Sinclair through Exclusive’s documentary label, Spitfire Pictures. Margaret Bodde served as executive producer on the film, which was edited by David Tedeschi, who previously worked with Scorsese, Bodde and Sinclair on “No Direction Home: Bob Dylan,” and with Scorsese and Bodde on “Public Speaking.” Tedeschi also edited Scorsese’s Rolling Stones concert film “Shine a Light.”
Exclusive Films International, the international sales and marketing arm of Exclusive, has the movie rights for the rest of the world outside of the U.S. Scott Pascucci serves as executive producer for Grove Street and is coordinating all aspects of the film’s distribution for Grove Street.
In late September, Abrams Books will publish a companion book, Olivia Harrison’s “George Harrison: Living in the Material World,” a personal archive of photographs, letters, diaries and memorabilia from George’s life that reveals the arc of his life, from his guitar-obsessed boyhood in Liverpool, to the astonishment of the Beatles years, to his days as an independent musician and bohemian squire. The book release is intended to coincide with the release of Scorsese’s film.
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