October 3, 2011– The whole Beatles family honored their brother with their attendance at the UK premier of George Harrison: Living InThe Material World, by Martin Scorsese, yesterday, at BFI Southbank in London. In attendance, among others, were Olivia Harrison, Yoko Ono, John Lennon’s widow, Paul McCartney and fiancé Nancy Shevell, Ringo Starr and wife Barbara Bach, the Beatles' former producer Sir George Martin, Noel Gallagher (Oasis), Sir Ben Kingsley, Billy Connolly, Terry Gilliam, Ronnie Wood and Harrison's former wife, Pattie Boyd.
The first major documentary about “the quiet one” will have a limited airing in the UK and US before being released on DVD on October 10. It will be aired in the U.S. on HBO Oct 5 and 6 in two parts. (Watch the official trailer here)
The documentary is based on wife Olivia Harrison’s book of the same name, the title being taken from Harrison's 1973 album Living in the Material World. It draws on Harrison’s extensive personal archive of photos, letters, diaries and memorabilia. Olivia delves into areas that most are not that familiar with—his love of women, his conversion to Hinduism, his interest in film production, race cars, and becoming an avid gardener, something that his home in Friar Park gave him plenty of practice with. Never before seen home movies of group vacations are included as well as early footage from “before they was fab”, and even a home video from Ringo of the “Threetles” meeting up to work on the Beatles Anthology book. Dhani Harrison, George and Olvia’s son, narrates during the film, recalling his childhood shock at discovering that his dad was a Beatle.
Olivia boldly admits that despite being dubbed the “quiet” and spiritual one, George was fond of women. She said: "He was really a free person and did not like to be bound by rules. But he did like women and women did like him.” She recounts how she had to fend off females vying for George’s attention, while McCartney acknowledges that he definitely was “a red-blooded man.” Harrison once slept with Ringo’s first wife Maureen. Around the same time, Eric Clapton approached him and admitted his affection for Patti Boyd, George’s wife at the time. Harrison realized it was time to let go of his marriage, and gave Clapton his blessing.
The toughest part of the film to watch for son Dhani Harrison was about the stabbing attack against his dad December 30,1999 at his home in Friar Park southwest of London. That he survived the attack at all was incredible, aided by his wife, who smashed a lamp over the deranged attacker's head, imobilizing him while she got George to safety. The incident caused a great deal of stress and did nothing for George's longevity, who was already suffering with cancer at the time.
Part 1: Begins with the Beatles’ rise to fame beginning with gigs in Germany, and includes his discovery of women, drugs, religion, and Indian Music.
Part 2: Covers the break-up of the Beatles, his solo career, Bangladesh, his love and support of Monty Python humor, the Travelling Wilburys, and his death.
Many of his best pals are interviewed in the film including Eric Clapton, Terry Gilliam, Eric Idle, Paul McCartney, and Ringo Starr. The film has been five years in the making and is over three hours long.
The closest that the reclusive and private George ever got to producing an autobiography was I, Me, Mine written in the 70s. It was light, and much more brief than most people had hoped for. He did discuss at length his love of race cars in it. Most notably, the book created a Beatles feud when John Lennon felt he'd been left out of it entirely--which wasn't actually the case---but John felt snubbed and said so publically.
George Harrison: Living In The Materal World will be a fantastic tribute to Harrison's short life and will provide a much deeper understanding of the reclusive Beatle whose musical achievements are many. The tenth anniversary of his death will be November 29, 2011. He died of lung cancer in 2001.
His musical legacy with the Beatles includes Something, While My Guitar Gently Weeps, Here Comes The Sun, Within You Without You. During his solo years, many favorites include Bangladesh, Crackerbox Palace, I Got My Mind Set On You, Dark Horse, Wah Wah, All Things Must Pass, and When We Was Fab, among many many others.
His last album, Brainwashed, was recorded just before he passed away, and released post-humously in 2002 to critical acclaim.
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