5th November 2024

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If These Walls Could Sing: The New Abbey Road Documentary

If These Walls Could Sing: The New Abbey Road Documentary TheatreArtLife

If These Walls Could Sing is the star-studded documentary celebrating the 90th anniversary of the iconic Abbey Road Studios. Created by Mary McCartney, the film will feature Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr along with a host of other legendary musicians who have worked at the London recording studio.

If These Walls Could Sing

Director Mary McCartney wanted to delve into what the musicians really felt about Abbey Road, pressing whether they really cared about the studios. Speaking to Vanity Fair about remembering her parents outside the studios in 1977 with their pony named Jet, Mary explained:

“One of the reasons I wanted to do this documentary was because I remember seeing a picture of mum leading Jet across the zebra crossing.

Jet was our pony for a very long time. He was named after the 1973 song. He was a feisty little pony who we rode and loved. But it all comes back. I mean, that’s a very unusual photo. And I loved the idea that by doing this documentary, I have been able to show the world one of my favorite photographs, which is my mother taking our pony across the zebra crossing to the studio. I just think it shows her character to a T and what a rule-breaker she was.

I am passionate about Abbey Road as a place because I do think a lot of people don’t have the opportunity to go there. When you do get to walk into Abbey Road, I do believe people get this feeling. It is sort of a spiritual experience, and the studios still have the atmosphere that they had from when they opened 90 years ago. I want to make it an emotional experience as a documentary, rather than doing all the historical points. I didn’t want it to feel like a lesson. I really, really hope the viewer falls in love with it.”

Mary McCartney expressed her excitement to Rolling Stone about the upcoming debut on Disney+ saying:

“Hearing it was the anniversary of Abbey Road Studios brought back so many memories to me. I have grown up visiting Abbey Road, it feels like family to me. In directing this feature-length documentary, it felt natural to explore the wealth of stories, and unearth so many unheard gems that I had not known about. It has been such an exciting journey bringing these stories and many more to life.”

Featuring in the documentary are Kate Bush, Roger Waters, David Gilmour, Liam and Noel Gallagher, Dame Shirley Bassey John Williams, Celeste, Sheku Kanneh-Mason, Jimmy Page, Elton John, Fela Kuti and renowned producer Giles Martin. Additionally, George Lucas appears reminiscing about recording the epic Star Wars music, particularly poignant as it helped the studio out of a slump at the time.

Produced by John Battsek with Mercury Studios and Ventureland, the film is set to premiere on 16th December via Disney+.

Also by Michelle Sciarrotta:

Accessibility At The Smith Center Series: Part One

James “Fitz” FitzSimmons Interview: The Boys In The Band On Netflix

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