If These Walls Could Sing

If These Walls Could Sing is a 2022 British documentary film directed by Mary McCartney, in her feature documentary debut, about the history of Abbey Road Studios in London and the experiences and memories of the musicians who have played there. Produced by John Battsek, the documentary formed a centrepiece of Abbey Road Studios’ 90th anniversary celebrations in November 2022.[1]

If These Walls Could Sing
Directed byMary McCartney
Produced by
Starring
Music byToby Pitman
Production
companies
  • Disney Original Documentary
  • Ventureland
  • Mercury Studios
Distributed byDisney+
Release dates
September 2022 (Telluride)
December 16, 2022 (United States)
January 6, 2023 (United Kingdom)
Running time
89 minutes
CountryUnited Kingdom
LanguageEnglish

Cast

Production

It was announced in January 2021 that Mary McCartney was to direct a documentary about Abbey Road Studios.[4] McCartney said, "some of my earliest memories as a young child come from time spent at Abbey Road, I’ve long wanted to tell the story of this historic place."[5] As well as her father Paul McCartney, contributions are reported to be from Jimmy Page, Kate Bush, Noel Gallagher, Liam Gallagher, Pink Floyd, John Williams, Celeste, Elton John, Giles Martin, and Shirley Bassey.[6] Production is by Mercury Studios and Ventureland. McCartney said what she "wanted from the interviews was to drill down into those musicians really feel about Abbey Road. 'Do you really care about Abbey Road? It's a building and you recorded here, but whatever. Do you really care?' And I think from the interviews, you can really see they are thinking fondly about it."[7]

Release

The film had its world premiere at the 49th Telluride Film Festival in September 2022. It was made available to stream on Disney+ in the United States on December 16, 2022 and on Hulu on December 23, 2022. It was released on Disney+ in the UK on January 6, 2023.[8]

Reception

Critical response

On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, 95% of 19 critics' reviews are positive, with an average rating of 6.70/10.[9]

Peter Bradshaw of The Guardian gave If These Walls Could Sing a grade of 4 out of 5 stars, and described it as an "enjoyable" documentary and a "diverting private tour," emphasizing the studio use not only for pop and rock music but for Elgar, the cellist Jacqueline du Pre, the London Symphony Orchestra and film projects from John Williams, George Lucas and Steven Spielberg.[10] Chris Harvey in The Daily Telegraph called the film "an astonishing line-up of interviewees" which provide an account "rich with details" and "a heart-stopping moment when George Martin's son Giles plays the original tapes of John Lennon's vocals for A Day in the Life."[11] Peter Aspden of Financial Times stated that the movie is "charming" but not "hugely revealing… put together with visual flair, in a shamelessly nostalgic tone."[12]

References
  1. "Mercury Studios Announce 'If These Walls Could Sing' - The First Feature Length Documentary on Abbey Road Studios Directed by Mary McCartney". Abbeyroad.com.
  2. "If These Walls Could Sing". Radio Times.
  3. "'If These Walls Could Sing' Trailer Takes Music Lovers Inside the Legendary Abbey Road Studios". Collider. November 14, 2022.
  4. "Mary McCartney to direct a documentary about Abbey Road Studios". the-paulmccartney-project.com.
  5. "Mary McCartney to direct Abbey Road Studios documentary If These Walls Could Sing". Hotpress.com.
  6. "Mary McCartney's If These Walls Could Sing coming soon to Disney Plus". Beatlesinlondon.com.
  7. "When Paul McCartney Crossed Abbey Road With a Pony". Vanity Fair. September 2, 2022.
  8. ""If These Walls Could Sing" coming soon to Disney+". Whatsondisneyplus.
  9. "If These Walls Could Sing". Rotten Tomatoes.
  10. Bradshaw, Peter (January 3, 2023). "If These Walls Could Sing review – mystery tour of Abbey Road Studios". The Guardian.
  11. Harvey, Chris (January 4, 2023). "The 'soul' of Abbey Road and growing up with The Beatles – as told by Mary McCartney". The Daily Telegraph.
  12. Aspden, Peter (January 4, 2023). "If These Walls Could Sing review — charming history of Abbey Road Studios". The Financial Times.
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