The Beatles’ Own Story

In the “Beatles Anthology” review by Robert Hilburn (Calendar, Nov. 18), he states that the series could have used the help of someone like Richard Lester, who captured so well the Beatles’ energy in “A Hard Day’s Night.”

What Hilburn does not seem to understand is that “A Hard Day’s Night” was an acted movie with a script, which the Beatles [et al.] pulled off very well under Lester’s direction. The “Beatles Anthology,” on the other hand, is a documentary, not a piece of fiction. It follows the real Beatles’ story, as told by the surviving members themselves. This is a very refreshing perspective, as opposed to hearing their story told by outsiders as we have for more than 30 years. Hilburn’s longing for an outside voice to direct the series totally misses this point. It is not surprising to me, however, that he does not understand this. He is, after all, a critic, not an artist.

STEVEN SCHREINER

Los Angeles