Wednesday, May 20, 1970
UK premiere of the “Let It Be” film
Last updated on June 25, 2025
Wednesday, May 20, 1970
Last updated on June 25, 2025
Article May 18, 1970 • First public screening of the "Let It Be" Film
Album May 18, 1970 • "Let It Be (US version)" by The Beatles released in the US
Article May 20, 1970 • UK premiere of the “Let It Be” film
Article May 23, 1970 • US launch of the "Let It Be" film
Interview May 23, 1970 • The Beatles interview for BBC Radio 1
1970 • For The Beatles • Directed by Michael Lindsay-Hogg
On this day, the film “Let It Be” premiered simultaneously in London and Liverpool — but none of the Beatles were in attendance.
In London, the gala screening was held at the London Pavilion. Among those spotted on the red carpet were comedian Spike Milligan, folk singers Mary Hopkin and Julie Felix, film director Richard Lester (of “A Hard Day’s Night” fame), broadcaster Simon Dee, EMI chairman Sir Joseph Lockwood, and pop stars Julie Edge and Lulu. Adding to the spectacle were fifty exuberant members of the Hare Krishna movement, and a smattering of rock royalty, including members of The Rolling Stones and Fleetwood Mac.
Also present were some familiar faces from the Beatles’ past — Cynthia Lennon, John’s first wife, and Jane Asher, the actress and former fiancée of Paul McCartney.
Meanwhile, in Liverpool, the northern premiere took place as a private, invitation-only screening at the Gaumont Cinema on Camden Street. Among attendees were Mike McGear, Paul McCartney’s brother, and Roger McGough, two members of the Scaffold, Bob Wooler, and some Beatles’ family members.
Both screenings began at 8:45 p.m.
The following day, “Let It Be” was released to the general public.
The four Beatles skipped the 1970 premiere of “Let It Be.” Was that in protest?
As we now know, the Beatles were in the process of breaking up when the film was getting ready to go. People were feeling perhaps rancorous toward each other; they weren’t getting on. They announced their breakup in April 1970, and “Let It Be” was released in May. “Let It Be” was collateral damage. People didn’t see it for what it was, and went looking for what it wasn’t.
Michael Lindsay-Hogg – Interview with New York Times, April 16, 2024
The Beatles’ gala swan-song
A wave of nostalgia engulfed Liverpool’s Gaumont Cinema last night as what could prove to be the Beatles’ film swan-song was given a gala premiere. Ghosts from the dim days of the Cavern and the Downbeat were resurrected to see the elder statesmen of the Mersey Scene plaintively ask “Let It Be.”
Girls and boys who had stomped in the Matthew Street cellar where it all began had their heart-strings plucked by the memories which the boys brought to the screen.
Paul McCartney’s brother, Mike McGear, and fellow Scaffold member Roger McGough presented prizes for the trendiest gear in the audience.
Bob Wooler, who was in at the birth of the Beatles when he was disc-jockey at the Cavern, looked on at the film dissection of what it’s like to watch the Beatles make an LP, and said that they had definitely not changed.
And with a special place in a cinema packed with 1,200 specially-invited guests were Ringo’s parents and relatives of the other members of the group.
At the end of the 80-minute “bioscopic” experience Let It Be earned some hearty cheers from the youngsters and rousing applause from the older generation.
From Liverpool Echo – May 21, 1970
NO BEATLES, but compensation for the fans as actress Julie Ege arrives at the London Pavilion for the premiere of Let It Be. She wears a skimpy black bra above a black midi-skirt, with an ostrich-trimmed cape to keep out the evening cold. The 7000 fans who turned up to see the Beatles attend their new film were out of luck. None of the famous four was there.
From Evening Standard – May 21, 1970
The McCartney Legacy: Volume 1: 1969 – 73
In this first of a groundbreaking multivolume set, THE MCCARTNEY LEGACY, VOL 1: 1969-73 captures the life of Paul McCartney in the years immediately following the dissolution of the Beatles, a period in which McCartney recreated himself as both a man and a musician. Informed by hundreds of interviews, extensive ground up research, and thousands of never-before-seen documents THE MCCARTNEY LEGACY, VOL 1 is an in depth, revealing exploration of McCartney’s creative and personal lives beyond the Beatles.
The Beatles Diary Volume 1: The Beatles Years
With greatly expanded text, this is the most revealing and frank personal 30-year chronicle of the group ever written. Insider Barry Miles covers the Beatles story from childhood to the break-up of the group.
The Beatles Diary Volume 2: After The Break-Up 1970-2001
An updated edition of the best-seller. The story of what happened to the band members, their families and friends after the 1970 break-up is brought right up to date. A fascinating and meticulous piece of Beatles scholarship.
Maccazine - Volume 40, Issue 3 - RAM Part 1 - Timeline
This very special RAM special is the first in a series. This is a Timeline for 1970 – 1971 when McCartney started writing and planning RAM in the summer of 1970 and ending with the release of the first Wings album WILD LIFE in December 1971. [...] One thing I noted when exploring the material inside the deluxe RAM remaster is that the book contains many mistakes. A couple of dates are completely inaccurate and the story is far from complete. For this reason, I started to compile a Timeline for the 1970/1971 period filling the gaps and correcting the mistakes. The result is this Maccazine special. As the Timeline was way too long for one special, we decided to do a double issue (issue 3, 2012 and issue 1, 2013).
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