Martin Scorsese has lauded the “unforgettable songs” of the former Beatle ahead of the release of “George Harrison: Living in the Material World”.
The film traces the story of Harrison’s life from humble musical beginnings in Liverpool to superstardom with the Beatles, and also covers his later work as a filmmaker and philanthropist. US cable channel HBO will show the documentary in two parts this Autumn, before DVD and Blu-ray version are released on 10 October.
“Living in the Material World” will feature never before seen footage of Harrison, in addition to interviews with Eric Clapton, Paul McCartney, Yoko Ono and Phil Spector, among others. Scorsese, who directed the Rolling Stones documentary “Shine A Light” in 2008, said Harrison’s music had been an important part of his life.
“I first came to know George through the music, which was the soundtrack of our world – those beautifully lyrical guitar breaks and solos, those unforgettable songs of George’s like ‘I Me Mine’ or ‘If I Needed Someone’,” he said. The 68-year-old added that his love for Harrison’s music made the decision to take on the film an easy one. “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 and listening to all of that magnificent music – it was a joy.”
Harrison’s widow Olivia, who helped produce the film, praised Scorsese’s treatment of her late husband. “He sensed what George was about: his music, his strong beliefs, his art, his place in the Beatles’ story and his extraordinary life afterwards,” she said. The release of the George Harrison documentary marks the start of a busy end to the year for Scorsese. His forthcoming feature film “Hugo”, a 3D adaptation of Brian Selznick’s children’s book, starring Sacha Baron Cohen, is due for release this December.
