George Harrison: Living in the Material World

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George Harrison: Living in the Material World
Livinginthematerialworldposter.jpg
Theatrical release poster by F. Ron Miller [1]
Directed by Martin Scorsese
Produced by
Cinematography
Edited byDavid Tedeschi
Production
companies
Distributed by HBO
Release date
  • 5 October 2011 (2011-10-05)
Running time
208 minutes [2] [3]
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Box office$367,734 [4]

George Harrison: Living in the Material World is a 2011 documentary film co-produced and directed by Martin Scorsese, based on the life of musician George Harrison, former member of the Beatles. The film's release was coordinated with both a companion book and an album of Harrison's demo recordings. The film earned Emmy Awards for Outstanding Directing for Nonfiction Programming and Outstanding Nonfiction Special.

Contents

Premise

The film offers a biographical perspective on the life of musician George Harrison, from his early life in Liverpool, the Beatlemania phenomenon, his travels to India, the influence of Krishna Consciousness movement in his music, and his relevance and importance as a member of the Beatles. It consists of previously unseen footage alongside a wide range of interviews, including Olivia and Dhani Harrison.

Appearances

Production

After Harrison's death in 2001, various production companies approached his widow Olivia about producing a film about her late husband's life. She declined because he had wanted to tell his own life story through his video archive. Upon meeting Scorsese, she gave her blessings and signed on to the film project as a producer.

According to Scorsese, he was attracted to the project because "That subject matter has never left me...The more you're in the material world, the more there is a tendency for a search for serenity and a need to not be distracted by physical elements that are around you. His music is very important to me, so I was interested in the journey that he took as an artist. The film is an exploration. We don't know. We're just feeling our way through." [5]

Throughout 2008 and 2009, Scorsese alternated working between Shutter Island and the documentary. Scorsese, his editor David Tedeschi, and a small army of researchers spent five years assembling interviews, music, film clips, photos, and memorabilia. [6]

Release

The documentary premièred at the Foundation for Art and Creative Technology in Liverpool on 2 October 2011. [7] It was shown on HBO in two parts on 5 and 6 October 2011 in the United States and Canada [8] [9] and as a two-part Arena special on BBC Two on 12 and 13 November 2011 in the United Kingdom. [10] It was first theatrically released in Australia on 20 October 2011. [2]

Deluxe edition CD

All songs written by George Harrison, except where noted. [11]

  1. "My Sweet Lord" (Demo) – 3:33
  2. "Run of the Mill" (Demo) – 1:56
  3. "I'd Have You Anytime" (Early Take) (George Harrison, Bob Dylan) – 3:06
  4. "Mama, You've Been on My Mind" (Demo) (Bob Dylan) – 3:04
  5. "Let It Be Me" (Demo) (Gilbert Bécaud, Mann Curtis, Pierre Delanoë) – 2:56
  6. "Woman Don't You Cry for Me" (Early Take) – 2:44
  7. "Awaiting on You All" (Early Take) – 2:40
  8. "Behind That Locked Door" (Demo) – 3:29
  9. "All Things Must Pass" (Demo) – 4:38
  10. "The Light That Has Lighted the World" (Demo) – 2:23

Book

Olivia Harrison authored the book George Harrison: Living in the Material World published by Abrams in 2011. [12] [13] The book was edited by Mark Holborn and contains a foreword by Scorsese and an introduction by author and literary critic Paul Theroux. [14]

Response

Box office

George Harrison: Living in the Material World was released on Television in the United States and Canada so no box office taking was recorded. It had a limited theatrical release in some countries with worldwide total takings of $367,734. [2] [4]

Critical reception

The film holds an 86% approval rating at Rotten Tomatoes, based on 37 professional reviews, with an average rating of 7.5/10. The website's critics consensus reads, "Clocking in at nearly three and a half hours, George Harrison: Living in the Material World is a moving portrait of the so-called Quiet Beatle's spirituality and troubled existence that highlights the best of Scorsese's sensibilities." [3] On Metacritic, the film holds a score of 74 out of 100, based on 13 critics, indicating "generally favorable reviews". [15]

Accolades

The film earned six nominations at the 64th Primetime Emmy Awards, winning two: Outstanding Directing for Nonfiction Programming and Outstanding Nonfiction Special. Other nominations included Outstanding Cinematography, Picture Editing, Sound Editing, and Sound Mixing. [16]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">George Harrison</span> English musician and member of the Beatles (1943–2001)

George Harrison was an English musician, singer and songwriter who achieved international fame as the lead guitarist of the Beatles. Sometimes called "the quiet Beatle", Harrison embraced Indian culture and helped broaden the scope of popular music through his incorporation of Indian instrumentation and Hindu-aligned spirituality in the Beatles' work.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dhani Harrison</span> British musician (born 1978)

Dhani Harrison is a British-American musician, composer and singer-songwriter. He is the only child of George, lead guitarist of The Beatles, and Olivia Harrison. Dhani debuted as a professional musician assisting in recording his father's final album, Brainwashed, and completing it with the assistance of Jeff Lynne after his father's death in November 2001.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Olivia Harrison</span> American author and film producer

Olivia Trinidad Harrison is an American author and film producer, and the widow of English musician George Harrison of the Beatles. She first worked in the music industry in Los Angeles, for A&M Records, where she met Harrison and then helped run his Dark Horse record label. In 1990, she launched the Romanian Angel Appeal to raise funds for the thousands of orphans left abandoned in Romania after the fall of Communism.

<i>Living in the Material World</i> 1973 studio album by George Harrison

Living in the Material World is the fourth studio album by the English musician George Harrison, released in 1973 on Apple Records. As the follow-up to 1970's critically acclaimed All Things Must Pass and his pioneering charity project, the Concert for Bangladesh, it was among the most highly anticipated releases of that year. The album was certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America two days after release, on its way to becoming Harrison's second number 1 album in the United States, and produced the international hit "Give Me Love ". It also topped albums charts in Canada and Australia, and reached number 2 in Britain.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">All Things Must Pass (song)</span> 1970 song by George Harrison

"All Things Must Pass" is a song by English rock musician George Harrison, issued in November 1970 as the title track to his triple album of the same name. Billy Preston released the song originally – as "All Things (Must) Pass" – on his Apple Records album Encouraging Words (1970) after the Beatles had rehearsed the song in January 1969 but did not include it on their Let It Be album. The composition reflects the influence of the Band's sound and communal music-making on Harrison, after he had spent time with the group in Woodstock, New York, in late 1968. In his lyrics, Harrison drew inspiration from Timothy Leary's poem "All Things Pass", a psychedelic adaptation of the Tao Te Ching.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">What Is Life</span> 1970 song by George Harrison

"What Is Life" is a song by the English rock musician George Harrison from his 1970 triple album All Things Must Pass. In many countries, it was issued as the second single from the album, in February 1971, becoming a top-ten hit in the United States, Canada and elsewhere, and topping singles charts in Australia and Switzerland. In the United Kingdom, "What Is Life" appeared as the B-side to "My Sweet Lord", which was the best-selling single there of 1971. Harrison's backing musicians on the song include Eric Clapton and the entire Delaney & Bonnie and Friends band, with whom he had toured during the final months of the Beatles. Harrison co-produced the recording with Phil Spector, whose Wall of Sound production also employed a prominent string arrangement by John Barham and multiple acoustic rhythm guitars, played by Harrison's fellow Apple Records signings Badfinger.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Give Me Love (Give Me Peace on Earth)</span> 1973 single by George Harrison

"Give Me Love (Give Me Peace on Earth)" is a song by English musician George Harrison, released as the opening track of his 1973 album Living in the Material World. It was also issued as the album's lead single, in May that year, and became Harrison's second US number 1, after "My Sweet Lord". In doing so, the song pushed Paul McCartney and Wings' "My Love" from the top of the Billboard Hot 100, marking the only occasion that two former Beatles have held the top two chart positions in America. The single also reached the top ten in Britain, Canada, Australia, and Holland.

"The Day the World Gets 'Round" is a song by English musician George Harrison, released on his 1973 album Living in the Material World. Harrison was inspired to write the song following the successful Concert for Bangladesh shows, which were held in New York on 1 August 1971 as a benefit for refugees from the country formerly known as East Pakistan. The lyrics reflect his disappointment that such a humanitarian aid project was necessary, given the abundance of resources available across the planet, and his belief that if all individuals were more spiritually aware, there would be no suffering in the world. Adding to Harrison's frustration while writing the song, the aid project became embroiled in financial problems, as commercial concerns delayed the release of the Concert for Bangladesh album, and government tax departments failed to embrace the goodwill inherent in the venture.

"The Light That Has Lighted the World" is a song by English musician George Harrison released on his 1973 album Living in the Material World. It is viewed as a statement on Harrison's discomfort with the attention afforded him as an ex-Beatle and features a prominent contribution from English session pianist Nicky Hopkins, along with a highly regarded slide guitar solo from Harrison. Around the time it was recorded, in late 1972, "The Light That Has Lighted the World" was rumoured to be the title track of the forthcoming album. Harrison originally intended it as a song for English singer Cilla Black, whose version of his 1970 composition "When Every Song Is Sung" he produced before starting work on Living in the Material World.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Art of Dying (song)</span> 1970 song by George Harrison

"Art of Dying" is a song by English rock musician George Harrison from his 1970 triple album All Things Must Pass. Harrison began writing the song in 1966 while still a member of the Beatles and during a period when he had first become enamoured with Hindu-aligned spirituality and other aspects of Indian culture. The subject matter is reincarnation and the need to avoid rebirth, by limiting actions and thoughts that lead to one's soul returning in another, earthbound life form.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Living in the Material World (song)</span> 1973 song by George Harrison

"Living in the Material World" is a song by English rock musician George Harrison that was released as the title track of his 1973 album. In the song's lyrics, Harrison contrasts the world of material concerns with his commitment to a spiritual path, and the conflict is further represented in the musical arrangement as the rock accompaniment alternates with sections of Indian sounds. Inspired by Gaudiya Vaishnava teacher A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, the song promotes the need to recognise the illusory nature of human existence and escape the constant cycle of reincarnation, and thereby attain moksha in the Hindu faith. The contrasts presented in "Living in the Material World" inspired the Last Supper-style photograph by Ken Marcus that appeared inside the album's gatefold cover, and also designer Tom Wilkes's incorporation of Krishna-related symbolism elsewhere in the packaging.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Miss O'Dell</span> 1973 single by George Harrison

"Miss O'Dell" is a song by English musician George Harrison, released as the B-side of his 1973 hit single "Give Me Love ". Like Leon Russell's "Pisces Apple Lady", it was inspired by Chris O'Dell, a former Apple employee, and variously assistant and facilitator to musical acts such as the Beatles, Derek & the Dominos, the Rolling Stones, Bob Dylan and Santana. Harrison wrote the song in Los Angeles in April 1971 while waiting for O'Dell to pay him a visit at his rented home. As well as reflecting her failure to keep the appointment, the lyrics provide a light-hearted insight into the Los Angeles music scene and comment on the growing crisis in East Pakistan that led Harrison to stage the Concert for Bangladesh in August that year.

<i>Early Takes: Volume 1</i> 2012 compilation album by George Harrison

Early Takes: Volume 1 is a compilation album of outtakes and demo recordings by the English rock musician George Harrison, released posthumously on 1 May 2012. The recordings appeared in Martin Scorsese's 2011 documentary film George Harrison: Living in the Material World and were originally issued as part of the deluxe version of the DVD release. Producer Giles Martin compiled the album, working with engineer Paul Hicks. The majority of the tracks date from the sessions for Harrison's 1970 triple album All Things Must Pass.

Paul Hicks is a British musician, audio engineer and mixer, who got his start working at Abbey Road Studios in London. Hicks has worked with several notable artists, including Coldplay, Elliott Smith, Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr, in addition to his own band thenewno2. Hicks has also been heavily involved in preserving the recordings of the Beatles, working with Giles Martin in remixing and remastering their entire catalogue. He has won three Grammy Awards for his work on Beatles projects. His father is Hollies guitarist Tony Hicks. He is a member of Dhani Harrison's band thenewno2. Hicks has also worked on former Beatle George Harrison's posthumous releases, including the music for Martin Scorsese's 2011 documentary film George Harrison: Living in the Material World.

The Material World Charitable Foundation, also known as the Material World Foundation (MWF), is a charitable organisation founded by English musician George Harrison in April 1973. Its launch coincided with the release of Harrison's album Living in the Material World and came about in reaction to the taxation issues that had hindered his 1971–72 aid project for refugees of the Bangladesh Liberation War. Harrison assigned his publishing royalties from nine of the eleven songs on Living in the Material World, including the hit single "Give Me Love ", to the foundation, in perpetuity.

Emma Tillinger Koskoff is an American film producer. She is best known for her collaborations with Martin Scorsese, including acting as a producer on his films The Wolf of Wall Street (2013), Silence (2016) and The Irishman (2019).

References

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  6. Hale, Mike (4 October 2011). "A Life of Guitars, Girls and Gentle Weeping". The New York Times . Archived from the original on 12 September 2015. Retrieved 27 December 2021.
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  10. "George Harrison: Living in the Material World". BBC . Retrieved 13 November 2011.
  11. George Harrison – George Harrison: Living In The Material World at Discogs (list of releases).
  12. Rabey, Steve (9 October 2011). "George Harrison, 'Living in the Material World'". Huffington Post . Retrieved 12 August 2018.
  13. "George Harrison: Living in the Material World – in pictures". The Guardian . 4 October 2011. Retrieved 12 August 2018.
  14. Harrison, Olivia (2011). George Harrison: Living in the Material World. New York, NY: Abrams. p. iii. ISBN   978-1-4197-0220-4.
  15. "George Harrison: Living in the Material World Reviews". Metacritic. Red Ventures . Retrieved 27 December 2021.
  16. "George Harrison: Living in the Material World Awards & Nominations". emmys.com. 16 September 2012. Retrieved 16 September 2012.