Product Details

• Actors: Paul McCartney
• Directors: Mark Haefeli
• Format: Color, Dolby, DTS Surround Sound, DVD, Live, NTSC
• Language: English (Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo), English (Dolby Digital 5.1), English (DTS 5.1)
• Subtitles: English
• Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only. Read more about DVD formats.)
  
• Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
• Number of discs: 1
• Rating: NR (Not Rated)
• Studio: A&E HOME VIDEO
• DVD Release Date: June 14, 2005
• Run Time: 160 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (88 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B0007QJ1ES
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #4,083 in Movies & TV (See Bestsellers in Movies & TV)

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Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com
The Beatles Anthology may be the motherlode for fans of the Fabs, but among other Beatle-related video offerings, only The Concert for George matches Paul McCartney - Live in Red Square for sheer emotional and musical impact. It's no coincidence that the latter two chronicle not just concerts but significant events--a memorial for Harrison (he had died a year earlier), and Sir Paul's first visit to the former Soviet Union.

For the Russian audience, McCartney's appearance in Moscow is little short of a miracle. The Beatles were banned for decades by the Soviet government, which regarded their music as the epitome of Western decadence and propaganda, and the fans' only access to the group was through the occasional photo or black market album. Their reaction to his 2003 visit is a mixture of frenzy and rapture; in interview after interview, what one fan calls the Beatles' "gentle intervention" is credited with helping to bring down the whole Soviet system, simply because they represented a creativity and freedom that had been almost totally silenced. And that's all before McCartney plays "Back in the U.S.S.R.," which inspires a response that simply must be seen and heard to be believed.

Elsewhere, Macca and his superb band perform a variety of Beatles tunes, along with some highlights from his solo career and stint with Wings. Considering the dozens of classics in the Lennon-McCartney catalogue, the majority of them never performed live by the group, he could hardly go wrong. Still, the choices are almost unerring; along with "Hey Jude," "Yesterday," and "Let it Be" are some unexpected treats (including "Getting Better" and "She's Leaving Home" from the Sgt. Pepper album, as well as "Fool on the Hill," "I've Just Seen a Face," and "Two of Us"). And that's not all: additional footage from a show in St. Petersburg features "Drive My Car," "Helter Skelter," and a powerful medley of "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Heart's Club Band" and "The End." The sound and visuals are good, and the extra features (including a brief parallel history of the Beatles and the U.S.S.R. in the '60s) are interesting. No, the Beatles will never reform. But Paul McCartney - Live in Red Square ain't a bad substitute. --Sam Graham

Product Description
A feature-length world premiere special that tells the story of the ex-Beatle's historic visit to Russia on May 24, 2003. Marking the first time that McCartney had set foot on Russian soil, this concert and documentary also reveals the secret love affair that existed between the Russian people and McCartney during the Communist era.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

84 of 87 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Two great concerts and an incredible message, June 20, 2005

By	o dubhthaigh (north rustico, pei, canada) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)

One of the great things about Macca is he's never forgotten where he came from, and inspite of the wealth and success, he knows what's important. That comes through in spades on this disc which is both a great concert film and a rather touching documentary on a number of social and political notions.
It isn't meant to be heavy going, and because of that, when you see the footage of the kids in the orphanage (the raison d'etre for the concert appearance), when you hear former Soviet military ministers saying they learned English from Beatles records, when you see even Putin crack the KGB veneer to acknowledge that something about the message of love that 4 guys from Liverpool stood for warmed even the iciest of hearts. McCartney seems to know that there was something in the Russian psyche that needed respect from his as well and he is also the consummate diplomat and a generous and genuine musical ambassador. After touring the Hermitage with Putin, he acknowledges how touched he is that the kids in the orphanage who perform for him are dressed in their Sunday best. That's a sensibility that only a working class kid would understand and recognize as important. He also gets quite a giggle out of the Russian police chasing him out of Red Square on his bicycle (it's a no-no), not caring who the heck he is. The laugh is on Mac and he enjoys it, sheepishly.
As for the Concert in Red Square and in St Petersburg, the shows are incredible. A number of talking heads relate their tales of securing Beatles records as they grew up, and it's rather touching. You get the picture that they got the message far more profoundly than those in the west. So as the band hits the stage, the rush in the crowd is exhilarating. Even Putin gets rockin during "Back in the USSR", and his KGB body guards are having a ball.
McCartney's observations during "Fool On A Hill" clearly indicate he knows and understands what this music means to people and he is determined to give them a great show and have fun. And he succeeds brilliantly. During "Let it Be" and "Hey Jude" the crowd is at times on the verge of tears, particularly one old fella. The robust singing along during "Jude" could only have happened in Russia where there is such enormous pride in polyphonic singing. Macca is stunned by how strongly the crowd joins in.
The experience was joyful and humbling. Having met Gorbachev, Putin and so many of the people of Russia, McCartney reflects on what it would be like to be able to tell his parents about this trip. It's the voice of a son who was raised to do the right thing and who wants his parents to know he upheld the family name. There is something about that that cuts across all nationalities and ethnicities. He's the genuine article, and this is a film with great music and a profound message.

26 of 27 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Painting the Town Red and Rockin'!, April 24, 2005

By	BeatleBangs1964 (United States) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)

If you want to be treated to some excellent music performed live and enjoy equally excellent footage, then this is for you. Paul McCartney is not only a class act, but a veteran entertainer who appears to be happy with himself and at home in his profession. Both speak to the good.

I like the way documenatary footage was added which for me made for a bonus part of the show. Although it was not a "true live experience," it was indeed a delightful performance and the contrast between documentary and concert footage helped strengthen the film. Viewers got an even deeper sense of the concert and what took place in making it possible.

I LOVED the inclusion of several of my favorite Beatle songs!

31 of 35 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Concert and Commentary blend well , October 5, 2005

By	G. Reid "Gary Reid" (Oshkosh, WI United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I was a bit surprised at first when I realized there would be commentary between each song. Having visited Russia (the U.S.S.R. then) in April, 1971 I understand how necessary the commentary is to impress upon the average viewer the importance this concert had for the Red Square audience, many who had grown up in the late 60's and early 70's and were looked upon at that time as the future of communism by the Soviet government. There were also many young people in the audience, their ages appearing to range from 40 to 10
The concert itself, the sound and picture quality are excellent. Seeing it performed in Red Square brought back many memories of my own visit. The prescence of the commentary between songs is extremely valid.
When we were preparing to visit in '71 we were told that if we could afford it we should take rock records with us, especially Beatles as their music was banned in the U.S.S.R., to give to Russian students. I presented the Beatles album I had taken to a student in Moscow. His eyes lit up immediately as he grasped it, turned and ran towards his friends, holding it high and shouting, "Beatles! Beatles!"
At a dinner with Russain students given for us in Moscow there was a Russian band performing. They played several Beatles tunes, including Can't Buy Me Love. When we were leaving St. Petersburg (called Leningrad then) we were fogged in for an hour, the majority of our group went to dinner but four of us stayed in the terminal playing chess and drinking Dark Eyes wine. Whoever was in charge of the airport speaker system took a great gamble and played the White Album for us, side 1, of course.
So the commentary is very essential and gives one a true sense of the impact of rock music, spearheaded by the Beatles, on the Soviet Union. I feel that if the commentary had been a separate added feature few people would have watched it and missed out on the true significance of this concert.
As a side note I also gave the Stones album Beggar's Banquet to a hotel maid in Czechoslovakia. Once again the bulging eyes syndrome as she ran down the hallway yelling Rolling Stones over and over again.
Paul's band is fabulous and all the songs are great. The commentary clips are brief between each song, a little dose of reality and history interspersed with the fun. I have to admit it choked me up at times too. It goes a little deeper than just presenting a concert for the entertainment value alone. This dvd shows how personal freedom can be communicated in a way that not even a strong, repressive government could suppress. It also demonstrates that the Russians can party as well as anyone on this planet!