In December 1968 Michael Lindsay-Hogg, who next month filmed The Beatles for the Let It Be/Get Back sessions, shot this circus-themed showcase for the post-psychedelic rock movement, starring John Lennon and Yoko Ono fronting supergroup The Dirty Mac, which also featured Keith Richards, Eric Clapton and Mitch Mitchell. Between performances the Rolling Stones introduced acts like The Who and Taj Mahal, and there were pieces to camera from John and Yoko with Mick Jagger.We ask: Beatles or Stones: is it a stupid question? Why was the film, like so much of the Get Back footage, shelved for so long, only seeing a release in 1996? Why didn't The Beatles perform here as a group? And was Yoko Ono subverting the gendered norms of the rock 'n' roll vocal performance by wailing a lot?You can pick up the DVD cheaply to watch the whole film, or watch most of the Rock and Roll Circus on YouTube, on a Stones official playlist: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLA26O6DcPwiaMAzvHCrOqZmnE46UyQQjUWatch Britpop Now, the programme we mention from 1995 presented by Damon Albarn: https://youtu.be/skb6lVS35JkThe documentary Matt mentions is Catching Fire: The Story of Anita Pallenberg, available to rent online: https://www.flicks.co.uk/movie/catching-fire-the-story-of-anita-pallenbergPerformance is available to rent online too: https://www.justwatch.com/uk/movie/performanceThe Netflix documentary about his 1968 comeback special is Return of the King: The Fall and Rise of Elvis Presley: https://www.netflix.com/title/81462290Meet the Beatles Films PodcastThe Beatles Films Podcast is hosted by Matt Looker and Ed Williamson. We're both film writers and Beatles fans. Between us we've written for TheShiznit.co.uk, Total Film, Den of Geek and Virgin Media.But tomorrow may rain, so you'll follow us on:Instagram https://instagram.com/beatlesfilmspodBluesky https://bsky.app/profile/beatlesfilmspod.bsky.socialYouTube https://www.youtube.com/@BeatlesFilmsPodcastThreads https://www.threads.net/@beatlesfilmspodX https://x.com/beatlesfilmpodFacebook https://www.facebook.com/groups/304654901827622 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.