A Hard Day’s Night (Richard Lester, 1964): UK

Reviewed by Byron Potau. Viewed on DVD.
When The Beatles first came on the scene it seemed that everything they touched turned to gold, but when their first movie, A Hard Day’s Night, came out…well, yes, it turned to gold also, cinematic gold.

A sort of day in the life of The Beatles, the film follows the fab four as they run from screaming fans, field ridiculous questions from the press, and find time to escape from their captive lives to have a little fun, all while singing some of the greatest pop songs of all time.

Paul’s grandfather (played by Wilfrid Brambell) is along for the ride to stir up mischief wherever he can, and The Beatles manager (played by Norm Rossington) and road manager Shake (played by John Junkin) have their hands full trying to keep track of the boys and get them into the studio on time.

Written by fellow Liverpudlian Alun Owen, the film has fresh dialogue and funny, off the cuff moments, mocking everything from the stuffy, older generation, fashion trends, the press, and The Beatles themselves. Directed in a verite style by Richard Lester, this adds a documentary like feel to it all, and he keeps the film moving at a frenetic pace.

Finally, the lads from Liverpool, John, Paul, George, and Ringo (in case you’ve been living under a rock) add their inimitable, easy charm playing themselves and making us laugh. All four shine, with Ringo having a particularly fine sequence as he wanders off alone for a while and tries to experience a little bit of life only to have it go wrong at every turn.

Of course, the music is phenomenal and is as much a part of why this film has remained so fresh and fun all these years. Among the classics are Can’t Buy Me Love, and the title song. You will probably want to buy the soundtrack, not only for the great songs in the film, but for the equally great songs on the soundtrack that didn’t make it into the film.

This is a charming, one of a kind musical that should not go unseen. If you haven’t watched it, go rent it, and if you have seen it already, go see it again. It’s that good.