The Beatles' 'mini movies' digitally restored for new DVD release

50 of the band's groundbreaking films will be included in the '1+' package

Many of the films have not previously been commercially released (Hulton Archive/Getty Images)

The Beatles’ “mini movies” - the precursors of today’s pop videos – have been compiled for a new DVD release which includes rare footage of the band at work and play.

Pioneers of the promotional video, a vital tool allowing the band to reach a global television audience, The Beatles have approved the commercial release of 50 of their groundbreaking films.

The Beatles 1+ CD and DVD package includes footage of the Fab Four playing Paperback Writer in Chiswick Park, west London, and Hey Jude, recorded at Twickenham Film Studios for broadcast on David Frost’s television show, Frost on Sunday.

The Beatles were pioneers of the promotional video (Hulton Archive) (Hulton Archive/Getty Images)

The release follows extensive research and restoration of the original promo films and classic television appearances by Apple Corp, guardian of the Beatles’ legacy.

An 18-person team of film and video technicians and restoration artists undertook painstaking frame-by-frame cleaning, colour-grading, digital enhancement and new edits of the films, chosen for their rarity, historical significance and the quality of the band’s performance.

Many of the films and videos have not previously been commercially released. The footage was scanned in high-def 4K and the audio restored from the original analogue tapes at Abbey Road Studios by Giles Martin, son of legendary producer, Sir George.

“These videos and films are spectacular reminders of the era we lived in. They also rock!”, said Sir Paul McCartney, who provides an audio commentary on the DVD.

Ringo Starr added: “I think it’s really interesting to see the videos we made, some of them incredible and some of them really incredible. How else would we have got to sit on a horse?”

The updated version of the Beatles’ 1 compilation, originally released in 2000 and which features the band’s 27 No.1 UK and US singles, is released on November 6.