Film legend Martin Scorsese‘s documentary on The Beatles‘ George Harrison, Living In The Material World, will be released on DVD on October 10.
The project has been co-produced with the guitarist’s widow Olivia and will feature home movies and interviews with the surviving band members. The film traces Harrison‘s life from his musical beginnings in Liverpool, through his time as a filmmaker and philanthropist.
The programme includes interviews with Eric Clapton, Terry Gilliam, Eric Idle, Paul McCartney, Yoko Ono, Phil Spector, Ringo Starr and Jackie Stewart. Oscar-winning director Scorsese has revealed that he is a huge fan of Harrison’s work. He said: “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.”
The two-part film will be shown first on US cable channel HBO in the autumn and then distributed on DVD by Lionsgate on October 10. An accompanying book, written by his late wife, will feature photographs, letters and diary extracts from his life.
Harrison died of lung cancer in 2001.