Video footage of John Lennon smoking pot, writing songs and discussing putting the hallucinogenic drug LSD in President Richard Nixon's tea will be at the centre of a dramatic court case to start next week reports reuters.

In a bid to keep the tape private Yoko is set to go against Lawrence, Massachusetts-based World Wide Video, which claims ownership of nine hours of raw footage of the former Beatle and Ono filmed only weeks before the legendry band parted in 1970.

World Wide, a consortium of Beatles collectors, are looking to release the historical footage as a 2 hour film "3 days in the life" detailing the break-up and mind set of Lennon at this crucial time.

Rolling Stone magazine dubs it "the most awesome John Lennon footage you might never see."

Having paid $1 million for the tapes after legal costs and other expenses, it was almost premiered last year but the showing was pulled after Yoko's lawyers asserted her copyright ownership of the videotapes.

The story looks to be a film in itself with legal parties get ready to fight.

The tapes in question were filmed between 8 to 11 February 1970, and show Lennon composing two hits, "Remember" and "Mind Games," whilst openly discussing his drug use in scenes that World Wide describe as "intimate and no-holds-barred."