Long-lost film footage of The Beatles performing on the BBC’s Top of the Pops has been found and will be restored. The 35mm negative captures the band’s first appearance on the show.
The footage shows performances of ‘Can’t Buy Me Love’ and ‘You Can’t Do That’ recorded on 19 March 1964 at the BBC’s Television Theatre in London. Film Is Fabulous received the negative from the family of a deceased industry professional at a recent collectors’ convention in Surrey.
The group plans to restore the material and return it to the BBC archives. They stated that discussions will also be held to make the content available to a wide audience.
Recorded during four takes of the first song and two of the second, the inserts include moments of the band joking and dancing between takes, as well as John Lennon pulling a face during a close-up.
