The Beatles‘ A Hard Day’s Night came out the same year as an iconic Elvis Presley movie. Elvis’ vehicle was the bigger hit. Subsequently, Paul McCartney revealed what he thought about A Hard Day’s Night.
The Beatles’ ‘A Hard Day’s Night’ didn’t end Elvis Presley’s time in the limelight
The 1964 film A Hard Day’s Night has a lot to offer: decent comedy, interesting locations, and some of the best pop songs ever written. Elvis’ Viva Las Vegas has a lot of the same things. Apparently, the latter connected more with audiences at the time.
The 2019 book The Mighty Elvis: A Graphic Biography reports Viva Las Vegas outranked A Hard Day’s Night at the box office. The usual narrative surrounding Elvis’ career is that it went downhill once The Beatles broke through in the United States. Viva Las Vegas proves he was still relevant after the Fab Four made...
The Beatles’ ‘A Hard Day’s Night’ didn’t end Elvis Presley’s time in the limelight
The 1964 film A Hard Day’s Night has a lot to offer: decent comedy, interesting locations, and some of the best pop songs ever written. Elvis’ Viva Las Vegas has a lot of the same things. Apparently, the latter connected more with audiences at the time.
The 2019 book The Mighty Elvis: A Graphic Biography reports Viva Las Vegas outranked A Hard Day’s Night at the box office. The usual narrative surrounding Elvis’ career is that it went downhill once The Beatles broke through in the United States. Viva Las Vegas proves he was still relevant after the Fab Four made...
- 8/12/2023
- by Matthew Trzcinski
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
John Lennon cultivated a rebel image in The Beatles. He freely spoke his mind — about music, art, culture, and celebrities — without worrying about who he offended. That included his bandmates and himself. Lennon said the hit song he gave to The Rolling Stones was just a throwaway; it was their first hit. He may have thought of himself as a rebel, but John’s face turned red when he met royal authority figure Princess Margaret, according to Cynthia Lennon.
Cynthia Lennon said John Lennon ‘stood red-faced’ when he met Princess Margaret
They became household names thanks to the music, but The Beatles became movie stars when A Hard Day’s Night hit theaters in 1964. The Fab Four brought out the biggest stars in England for the film’s premiere on July 6, 1964, including British royalty. Princess Margaret, the younger sister of Queen Elizabeth, attended the movie’s debut and the meet-and-greet party afterward.
Cynthia Lennon said John Lennon ‘stood red-faced’ when he met Princess Margaret
They became household names thanks to the music, but The Beatles became movie stars when A Hard Day’s Night hit theaters in 1964. The Fab Four brought out the biggest stars in England for the film’s premiere on July 6, 1964, including British royalty. Princess Margaret, the younger sister of Queen Elizabeth, attended the movie’s debut and the meet-and-greet party afterward.
- 6/25/2023
- by Jason Rossi
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
Tl;Dr:
The Beatles’ “Help!” was written specifically for the film of the same name. John Lennon was the primary writer of “Help!” but Paul McCartney said he made changes to it. The tune became a hit twice in the United Kingdom. The Beatles | Michael Ochs Archives / Stringer
Many notable people worked together to come up with the title of The Beatles‘ Help!, the Fab Four’s second feature film. Subsequently, Paul McCartney and John Lennon wrote a title song for the movie. Paul revealed his contribution to the song.
The Beatles’ ‘Help!’ was inspired by the title of the film, not the other way around
In the 1997 book Paul McCartney: Many Years From Now, Paul discussed how the title of The Beatles’ film Help! came about. “I seem to remember [director] Dick Lester, [the band’s manager] Brian Epstein, [producer] Walter Shenson, and ourselves sitting around, maybe [actor] Victor Spinetti was there, and thinking, ‘What are...
The Beatles’ “Help!” was written specifically for the film of the same name. John Lennon was the primary writer of “Help!” but Paul McCartney said he made changes to it. The tune became a hit twice in the United Kingdom. The Beatles | Michael Ochs Archives / Stringer
Many notable people worked together to come up with the title of The Beatles‘ Help!, the Fab Four’s second feature film. Subsequently, Paul McCartney and John Lennon wrote a title song for the movie. Paul revealed his contribution to the song.
The Beatles’ ‘Help!’ was inspired by the title of the film, not the other way around
In the 1997 book Paul McCartney: Many Years From Now, Paul discussed how the title of The Beatles’ film Help! came about. “I seem to remember [director] Dick Lester, [the band’s manager] Brian Epstein, [producer] Walter Shenson, and ourselves sitting around, maybe [actor] Victor Spinetti was there, and thinking, ‘What are...
- 5/28/2023
- by Matthew Trzcinski
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
The Beatles were professional songwriters and, sometimes, amateur actors. In 1964, the Fab Four starred in the music film A Hard Day’s Night, creating the movie in England instead of Hollywood. Here’s what Paul McCartney said about their choice to stay in the UK for this project.
The Beatles released their music film ‘A Hard Day’s Night’ Rock band The Beatles in ‘A Hard Day’s Night’ released in 1964 | Lmpc via Getty Images
The Beatles are the chart-topping artists behind A Hard Day’s Night — the 1964 full-length album featuring “Can’t Buy Me Love,” “And I Love Her,” and “If I Fell.” McCartney, John Lennon, George Harrison, and Ringo Starr also acted in a movie of the same title.
The 1964 music film, according to its IMDb description, followed the Beatles over two ‘typical’ days. The performers acted as themselves, with McCartney’s grandfather causing trouble with their upcoming live performance.
The Beach Boys...
The Beatles released their music film ‘A Hard Day’s Night’ Rock band The Beatles in ‘A Hard Day’s Night’ released in 1964 | Lmpc via Getty Images
The Beatles are the chart-topping artists behind A Hard Day’s Night — the 1964 full-length album featuring “Can’t Buy Me Love,” “And I Love Her,” and “If I Fell.” McCartney, John Lennon, George Harrison, and Ringo Starr also acted in a movie of the same title.
The 1964 music film, according to its IMDb description, followed the Beatles over two ‘typical’ days. The performers acted as themselves, with McCartney’s grandfather causing trouble with their upcoming live performance.
The Beach Boys...
- 2/6/2023
- by Julia Dzurillay
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
The Beatles performed to screaming fans in concert. You can see those fans in the audience of their Ed Sullivan Show performance too. Their first film, A Hard Day’s Night, showcased the fanfare that followed The Beatles even in their daily life. It also chronicled some of their bad habits, like smoking.
L-r: George Harrison, Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr, and John Lennon | Mirrorpix/Mirrorpix via Getty Images
The Criterion Collection edition of A Hard Day’s Night includes several documentaries about the making of the film. In one, producer Walter Shenson speaks about his efforts to stop The Beatles from smoking on film. He wasn’t entirely successful.
‘A Hard Day’s Night’ producer didn’t want The Beatles fans to see them smoke
A Hard Day’s Night came out in 1964. By this time, The Beatles’ following had crossed the pond, as it were, since they’d performed on Ed Sullivan at the beginning of the year.
L-r: George Harrison, Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr, and John Lennon | Mirrorpix/Mirrorpix via Getty Images
The Criterion Collection edition of A Hard Day’s Night includes several documentaries about the making of the film. In one, producer Walter Shenson speaks about his efforts to stop The Beatles from smoking on film. He wasn’t entirely successful.
‘A Hard Day’s Night’ producer didn’t want The Beatles fans to see them smoke
A Hard Day’s Night came out in 1964. By this time, The Beatles’ following had crossed the pond, as it were, since they’d performed on Ed Sullivan at the beginning of the year.
- 1/27/2023
- by Fred Topel
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
The Fab Four’s first and biggest movie hit comes to 4K Ultra HD! The Beatles brought something new and exciting to 1964 and the world embraced it. This United Artists release was a major event in the first wave of Beatlemania, setting the standard for Swinging London cool; thanks to Richard Lester’s flip approach and the Beatles’ positive energy little in the movie has dated. George Martin’s input for the musical end of things didn’t hurt either. The movie itself never gets old: new generations still respond with enthusiasm. It always looked super on home video, so what does the format boost add to the mix?
A Hard Day’s Night 4K
4K Ultra-hd + Blu-ray
The Criterion Collection 711
1964 / B&w / 1:75 widescreen / 87 min. / available through The Criterion Collection / Street Date January 18, 2022 / 39.95
Starring: John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, Ringo Starr,
Wilfrid Brambell, Norman Rossington, John Junkin, Victor Spinetti,...
A Hard Day’s Night 4K
4K Ultra-hd + Blu-ray
The Criterion Collection 711
1964 / B&w / 1:75 widescreen / 87 min. / available through The Criterion Collection / Street Date January 18, 2022 / 39.95
Starring: John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, Ringo Starr,
Wilfrid Brambell, Norman Rossington, John Junkin, Victor Spinetti,...
- 1/18/2022
- by Glenn Erickson
- Trailers from Hell
Hello! It’s been a little while since we’ve had a new Catalog From The Beyond, hasn’t it? To be honest, in a year when it felt like my brain cells were squeezing out of my head like a tube of toothpaste, I had to take a break from some of the workload. But with the dawning of the New Year, I’m ready to hit the reset button and dive back into the Catalog.
I think it only fair to ease into things, however, so the following take won’t be the spiciest one I’ve ever put forth: Ken Foree seems like a pretty cool dude. After winning our hearts as the stoic Peter in George A. Romero’s classic Dawn of the Dead, he’s stayed there pretty much ever since in movies like From Beyond, Leatherface: Texas Chainsaw Massacre III, Lords of Salem, and...
I think it only fair to ease into things, however, so the following take won’t be the spiciest one I’ve ever put forth: Ken Foree seems like a pretty cool dude. After winning our hearts as the stoic Peter in George A. Romero’s classic Dawn of the Dead, he’s stayed there pretty much ever since in movies like From Beyond, Leatherface: Texas Chainsaw Massacre III, Lords of Salem, and...
- 1/28/2021
- by Bryan Christopher
- DailyDead
Once upon a time…or maybe twice…and on a personal note…I’ve been a Beatles fan as long as I can remember. Similarly, I’ve been a movie fanatic for almost as long (though not quite). So, at some point, I naturally started thinking about my favorite Beatle movie moments. Then, I started to ponder the moments that never actually happened. Now, I’m not suggesting that I was lost in some sort of drug-induced Sixties flashback, but rather I was thinking about the several unrealized film projects that the band never actually made.
Sure, A Hard Day’s Night (1964) is fantastic; Help! (1965) has its own unique charm by spoofing the then “new” James Bond style spy film; Yellow Submarine (1968) is sublime in its ground-breaking animated whimsy; and, finally, Magical Mystery Tour (1967) and Let It Be (1970) are pretty darn good celluloid time capsules. But, wouldn’t it have...
Sure, A Hard Day’s Night (1964) is fantastic; Help! (1965) has its own unique charm by spoofing the then “new” James Bond style spy film; Yellow Submarine (1968) is sublime in its ground-breaking animated whimsy; and, finally, Magical Mystery Tour (1967) and Let It Be (1970) are pretty darn good celluloid time capsules. But, wouldn’t it have...
- 6/25/2019
- by Mike Tyrkus
- CinemaNerdz
When Paul McCartney shocked the world in April 1970 with his announcement of the Beatles' break-up, drummer Ringo Starr added a surprise of his own by becoming (initially, at least) the most musically active member of the former Fab Four.
As he would later recount in the lyrics of "Early 1970," the deceptively jaunty b-side of his 1971 hit "It Don't Come Easy," Starr was the only Beatle who didn't have any serious beef with any other member of the band at the time. Feeling lost without the family dynamic of the musical...
As he would later recount in the lyrics of "Early 1970," the deceptively jaunty b-side of his 1971 hit "It Don't Come Easy," Starr was the only Beatle who didn't have any serious beef with any other member of the band at the time. Feeling lost without the family dynamic of the musical...
- 11/2/2016
- Rollingstone.com
Cinema Retro has received the following press release:
The year is 1964 and Beatlemania is in full swing. The biggest band on the planet are about to make their big screen debut. The film is A Hard Day’s Night, a seminal piece of filmmaking that shows The Beatles as they’ve never been seen before.
To celebrate its 50th Anniversary the film will be presented in a new 4k digital restoration approved by director Richard Lester, with three audio options - a monoaural soundtrack in addition to newly created stereo and 5.1 surround mixes supervised by sound producer Giles Martin and engineer Sam Okell at Abbey Road Studios. The film will be in cinemas, on-demand and available to download from 4 July, followed by a special edition Blu-ray and two-disc DVD release on 21 July 2014, courtesy of Second Sight Films.
A Hard Day’s Night will have an Extended Run at BFI Southbank...
The year is 1964 and Beatlemania is in full swing. The biggest band on the planet are about to make their big screen debut. The film is A Hard Day’s Night, a seminal piece of filmmaking that shows The Beatles as they’ve never been seen before.
To celebrate its 50th Anniversary the film will be presented in a new 4k digital restoration approved by director Richard Lester, with three audio options - a monoaural soundtrack in addition to newly created stereo and 5.1 surround mixes supervised by sound producer Giles Martin and engineer Sam Okell at Abbey Road Studios. The film will be in cinemas, on-demand and available to download from 4 July, followed by a special edition Blu-ray and two-disc DVD release on 21 July 2014, courtesy of Second Sight Films.
A Hard Day’s Night will have an Extended Run at BFI Southbank...
- 7/2/2014
- by nospam@example.com (Cinema Retro)
- Cinemaretro.com
50th Anniversary Release of “The Beatles: A Hard Day’s Night”
Dir. Richard Lester • U.K. 1964 • Black & White • 1.75:1 • 87 minutes
New 4K Restoration from the Original Camera Negative
New 5.1 Surround Mix Produced by Giles Martin
Opening in theaters on July 4, 2014 in almost 100 cities
(Scroll to the end of the article for the locations and theaters).
Courtesy of Janus Films
This is a Cheeky, Raucous, Irreverent film that will make most warm-blooded mammals laugh from the first scene, until the last! It is brilliant for a summer night out!
If you are a film or music fan, you most likely have already seen “A Hard Day’s Night” before, however, make a summertime date with the famous Fab Four, and see it again on the big screen, with the new restoration, at an art house cinema, and you really can’t go wrong.
It is necessary to give accolades to the King of Rock and Roll, Elvis Presley, because, “if it weren’t for Elvis, there would never have been any Beatles.” John Lennon had admitted, that from the moment he first learned about Elvis and saw all the attention that he was receiving, he wanted to be just like him.
So although, there is no denying that the Beatles changed music forever, it was really Elvis who was the King of their inspiration.
For those who have not seen “A Hard Day’s Night” before, the Beatles had already been a popular recording act, with several Top 20 hits in the U.K., when they arrived in NYC to perform on the Ed Sullivan show on February 7, 1964. A record breaking 73 million viewers tuned in, and the British invasion began.
One month later, across the pond, the film was in the works. The music lover and film producer, Walter Shenson, was brought on by United Artists. Shenson, who had previously worked with Director, Richard Lester, on “The Mouse on the Moon,” mentioned the gist of the project, and Richard jumped at the opportunity.
However, to receive the final green light, the film had to be true to the way the Beatles actually lived, and scriptwriter, Alun Owen, who wrote the television play, “No Trams to Lime Street,” which depicted Liverpool, was chosen.
The film begins with the song “A Hard Day’s Night” playing while the Fab Four are running through town trying to make it to the train station on time before their train departs. Once on board, they start a conversation with an older gentleman, who Paul comments, is his grandfather. John is cheekily trying to snort a Coke (Coca-Cola) bottle up his nose in the background, and a business man wants the train car his way demanding that the windows be closed shut. The laughs just continue from there on out, when the boys are flirting with girls, and the grandfather cunningly tells the young women that the boys are really prisoners. An acoustic version of “I Should Have Known Better” is being played on the train.
Film director, Richard Lester, “relied on improvisation rather than rehearsal, creating a freshness that was clear on-screen.” “Before we started, we knew that it would be unlikely that they could (a) learn, (b) remember, or (c) deliver with any accuracy a long speech. So the structure of the script had to be a series of one-liners,” Lester later stated, “This enabled me, in many of the scenes, to turn a camera on them and say a line to them, and they would say it back to me.”
The result, the bandmates play brilliant, clever, crafty, and smart-alicky versions of themselves.
Lester’s visual style mixed techniques from narrative films, documentary, the French New Wave, and live television to create something that felt, and was, spontaneous. “I have seen directors who write down a list of scenes for the day, and then sit back in a chair while everything is filmed according to plan. I can’t do that. I know that good films can be made this way, but it’s not for me. I have to react on the spot. There was very little structure that was planned except that we knew that we had to punctuate the film with a certain number of songs.”
Recorded at Emi Studios in Abbey Road, London, they cut “Can’t Buy Me Love,” “And I Love Her,” “I Should Have Known Better,” “Tell Me Why,” “If I Fell,” and “I’m Happy Just to Dance with You,” in only three days.
Must See!
Summer Screenings
Alabama
Montgomery – Capri Theatre
Alaska
Anchorage – Bear Tooth Cinema
Arizona
Tucson – The Loft Cinema
Arkansas
Little Rock – Colonel Glenn 18
British Columbia
Vancouver – Pacific Cinematheque
California
Bakersfield – Valley Plaza
Berkeley – Rialto Elmwood
Eureka – Eureka Theater
La Mesa – Grossmont Center
Los Angeles – Cinefamily
Malibu – The Malibu Film Society
Modesto – State Theater
Monterey – Osio Cinemas
Mountain View – Century Cinemas 16
Murrieta – Reading Cinemas Cal Oaks
Oxnard – Century RiverPark
Palm Springs – Camelot Theatres
Pasadena – Laemmle Playhouse 7
Sacramento – Tower Theater
San Diego – Gaslamp
San Francisco – Castro Theatre
San Luis Obispo – Palm Theatre
San Rafael – Smith Rafael Film Center
Santa Cruz – Del Mar Theatre
Colorado
Fort Collins – Lyric Cinema Cafe
Littleton – Alamo Drafthouse
Connecticut
Hartford – Cinestudio
Milford – Connecticut Post 14
Delaware
Wilmington – Theatre N
Florida
Coral Gables – Coral Gables Art Cinema
Jacksonville – Sun-Ray Cinema
Key West – Tropic Cinema
Maitland – Enzian Theatre
Tallahassee – Tallahassee Film Festival
Georgia
Athens – Ciné
Atlanta – Plaza Theater
Sandy Springs – LeFont Theaters
Hawaii
Honolulu – Kahala 8
Maui – Kaahumanu 6
Illinois
Champaign – The Art Theater
Chicago – Music Box Theater
Downer’s Grove – Tivoli at Downer’s Grove
Normal – Normal Theater
Peoria – Landmark Cinemas
Indiana
Fort Wayne – Cinema Center
Iowa
Des Moines – Fleur Cinema
Iowa City – FilmScene
Kansas
Lawrence – Liberty Hall
Kentucky
Lexington – Kentucky Theater
Louisville – Baxter 8
Louisiana
Baton Rouge – Cinemark Perkins Rowe
New Orleans – The Prytania Theatre
Maine
Waterville – Maine Film Festival
Maryland
Baltimore – The Senator
Hanover – Cinemark Egyptian 24
Massachusetts
Amherst – Amherst Cinema
Brookline – Coolidge Corner Theatre
Cape Cod – Cape Cinema
Danvers – Hollywood Hits
Gloucester – Cape Ann Community Cinema
Martha’s Vineyard – Martha’s Vineyard Film Center
Williamstown – Images Cinema
Michigan
Ann Arbor – Michigan Theater
City of Detroit Outdoor Screenings
Detroit – Cinema Detroit
Kalamazoo – Alamo Drafthouse
Manistee – The Vogue Theatre
Traverse City – State Theatre
Minnesota
Duluth – Zinema 2
Minneapolis – St. Anthony Main Theatre
Missouri
Columbia – Ragtag Cinema
Kansas City – Tivoli Cinemas
Springfield – Moxie Cinema
St. Louis – Chase Park Plaza
Montana
Missoula – The Roxy Theater
Nebraska
Kearney – The World Theatre
Lincoln – Mary Riepma Ross Media Arts Center
Omaha – Film Streams
Wayne – The Majestic
Nevada
Sparks – Century Sparks
New Hampshire
Concord – Red River Theatre
Wilton – Town Hall Theatre
New Jersey
Asbury Park – The ShowRoom
Manville – Reading Cinemas Manville
New Mexico
Albuquerque – The Guild Cinema
New York
Amherst – Screening Room Cinemas
Binghamton – The Art Mission & Theater
New York City – Film Forum
Pelham – The Picture House
Pleasantville – Jacob Burns Film Center
Rochester – George Eastman House
Rosendale – Rosendale Theatre
West Hampton – Performing Arts Center
North Carolina
Asheville – Carolina Cinemas
Cornelius – Studio C Cinema
Raleigh – Raleigh Grande
Winston-Salem – A/perture Cinema
Ohio
Akron – The Nightlight Cinema
Cleveland – Cleveland Museum of Art
Columbus – Wexner Center for the Arts
Dayton – The Neon
Toledo – Franklin Park 16
Oklahoma
Oklahoma City – Museum of Art
Tulsa – Circle Cinema
Ontario
Kingston – The Screening Room
Toronto – Cineplex Cinemas Yonge & Dundas
Waterloo – Princess Cinemas
Oregon
Portland – Hollywood Theater
Pennsylvania
Bethlehem – ArtsQuest
Bryn Mawr – Bryn Mawr Film Institute
Erie – Film at the Erie Art Museum
Lewisburg – Campus Theatre
Milford – Black Bear Film Festival
Philadelphia – International House
Phoenixville – The Colonial Theatre
Pittsburgh – Pittsburgh Filmmakers
Quebec
Montreal – Cinema Cineplex Forum
Rhode Island
Newport – Jane Pickens
Providence – Cable Car Cinema
South Carolina
Charleston – Terrace Theater
South Dakota
Sioux Falls – Century East at Dawley Farm
Tennessee
Memphis – indieMemphis
Nashville – Belcourt Theatre
Texas
Austin – Alamo Drafthouse
Dallas – Angelika Film Center
El Paso – Plaza Classic Film Festival
Fort Worth – Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth
Houston – Museum of Fine Arts, Houston
New Braunfels – Alamo Marketplace
Plano – Angelika Plano
San Antonio – Alamo Westlake
Utah
Salt Lake City – Tower Cinema
Virginia
Ashburn – Alamo One Loudoun
Fairfax – Angelika Mosaic
Norfolk – Naro Cinema
Williamsburg – Kimball Theatre
Winchester – Alamo Drafthouse
Washington
Bellevue – Lincoln Square Cinemas
Bellingham – Pickford Film Center
Camas – Liberty Theater
Langley – The Clyde Theatre
Olympia – Capitol Theater
Port Townsend – Rose Theatre
Seattle – Siff Cinema
Tacoma – Grand Cinema
Spokane – Bing Crosby Cinema>
Vancouver – Kiggins Theatre
Washington, D.C.
West End Cinema...
Dir. Richard Lester • U.K. 1964 • Black & White • 1.75:1 • 87 minutes
New 4K Restoration from the Original Camera Negative
New 5.1 Surround Mix Produced by Giles Martin
Opening in theaters on July 4, 2014 in almost 100 cities
(Scroll to the end of the article for the locations and theaters).
Courtesy of Janus Films
This is a Cheeky, Raucous, Irreverent film that will make most warm-blooded mammals laugh from the first scene, until the last! It is brilliant for a summer night out!
If you are a film or music fan, you most likely have already seen “A Hard Day’s Night” before, however, make a summertime date with the famous Fab Four, and see it again on the big screen, with the new restoration, at an art house cinema, and you really can’t go wrong.
It is necessary to give accolades to the King of Rock and Roll, Elvis Presley, because, “if it weren’t for Elvis, there would never have been any Beatles.” John Lennon had admitted, that from the moment he first learned about Elvis and saw all the attention that he was receiving, he wanted to be just like him.
So although, there is no denying that the Beatles changed music forever, it was really Elvis who was the King of their inspiration.
For those who have not seen “A Hard Day’s Night” before, the Beatles had already been a popular recording act, with several Top 20 hits in the U.K., when they arrived in NYC to perform on the Ed Sullivan show on February 7, 1964. A record breaking 73 million viewers tuned in, and the British invasion began.
One month later, across the pond, the film was in the works. The music lover and film producer, Walter Shenson, was brought on by United Artists. Shenson, who had previously worked with Director, Richard Lester, on “The Mouse on the Moon,” mentioned the gist of the project, and Richard jumped at the opportunity.
However, to receive the final green light, the film had to be true to the way the Beatles actually lived, and scriptwriter, Alun Owen, who wrote the television play, “No Trams to Lime Street,” which depicted Liverpool, was chosen.
The film begins with the song “A Hard Day’s Night” playing while the Fab Four are running through town trying to make it to the train station on time before their train departs. Once on board, they start a conversation with an older gentleman, who Paul comments, is his grandfather. John is cheekily trying to snort a Coke (Coca-Cola) bottle up his nose in the background, and a business man wants the train car his way demanding that the windows be closed shut. The laughs just continue from there on out, when the boys are flirting with girls, and the grandfather cunningly tells the young women that the boys are really prisoners. An acoustic version of “I Should Have Known Better” is being played on the train.
Film director, Richard Lester, “relied on improvisation rather than rehearsal, creating a freshness that was clear on-screen.” “Before we started, we knew that it would be unlikely that they could (a) learn, (b) remember, or (c) deliver with any accuracy a long speech. So the structure of the script had to be a series of one-liners,” Lester later stated, “This enabled me, in many of the scenes, to turn a camera on them and say a line to them, and they would say it back to me.”
The result, the bandmates play brilliant, clever, crafty, and smart-alicky versions of themselves.
Lester’s visual style mixed techniques from narrative films, documentary, the French New Wave, and live television to create something that felt, and was, spontaneous. “I have seen directors who write down a list of scenes for the day, and then sit back in a chair while everything is filmed according to plan. I can’t do that. I know that good films can be made this way, but it’s not for me. I have to react on the spot. There was very little structure that was planned except that we knew that we had to punctuate the film with a certain number of songs.”
Recorded at Emi Studios in Abbey Road, London, they cut “Can’t Buy Me Love,” “And I Love Her,” “I Should Have Known Better,” “Tell Me Why,” “If I Fell,” and “I’m Happy Just to Dance with You,” in only three days.
Must See!
Summer Screenings
Alabama
Montgomery – Capri Theatre
Alaska
Anchorage – Bear Tooth Cinema
Arizona
Tucson – The Loft Cinema
Arkansas
Little Rock – Colonel Glenn 18
British Columbia
Vancouver – Pacific Cinematheque
California
Bakersfield – Valley Plaza
Berkeley – Rialto Elmwood
Eureka – Eureka Theater
La Mesa – Grossmont Center
Los Angeles – Cinefamily
Malibu – The Malibu Film Society
Modesto – State Theater
Monterey – Osio Cinemas
Mountain View – Century Cinemas 16
Murrieta – Reading Cinemas Cal Oaks
Oxnard – Century RiverPark
Palm Springs – Camelot Theatres
Pasadena – Laemmle Playhouse 7
Sacramento – Tower Theater
San Diego – Gaslamp
San Francisco – Castro Theatre
San Luis Obispo – Palm Theatre
San Rafael – Smith Rafael Film Center
Santa Cruz – Del Mar Theatre
Colorado
Fort Collins – Lyric Cinema Cafe
Littleton – Alamo Drafthouse
Connecticut
Hartford – Cinestudio
Milford – Connecticut Post 14
Delaware
Wilmington – Theatre N
Florida
Coral Gables – Coral Gables Art Cinema
Jacksonville – Sun-Ray Cinema
Key West – Tropic Cinema
Maitland – Enzian Theatre
Tallahassee – Tallahassee Film Festival
Georgia
Athens – Ciné
Atlanta – Plaza Theater
Sandy Springs – LeFont Theaters
Hawaii
Honolulu – Kahala 8
Maui – Kaahumanu 6
Illinois
Champaign – The Art Theater
Chicago – Music Box Theater
Downer’s Grove – Tivoli at Downer’s Grove
Normal – Normal Theater
Peoria – Landmark Cinemas
Indiana
Fort Wayne – Cinema Center
Iowa
Des Moines – Fleur Cinema
Iowa City – FilmScene
Kansas
Lawrence – Liberty Hall
Kentucky
Lexington – Kentucky Theater
Louisville – Baxter 8
Louisiana
Baton Rouge – Cinemark Perkins Rowe
New Orleans – The Prytania Theatre
Maine
Waterville – Maine Film Festival
Maryland
Baltimore – The Senator
Hanover – Cinemark Egyptian 24
Massachusetts
Amherst – Amherst Cinema
Brookline – Coolidge Corner Theatre
Cape Cod – Cape Cinema
Danvers – Hollywood Hits
Gloucester – Cape Ann Community Cinema
Martha’s Vineyard – Martha’s Vineyard Film Center
Williamstown – Images Cinema
Michigan
Ann Arbor – Michigan Theater
City of Detroit Outdoor Screenings
Detroit – Cinema Detroit
Kalamazoo – Alamo Drafthouse
Manistee – The Vogue Theatre
Traverse City – State Theatre
Minnesota
Duluth – Zinema 2
Minneapolis – St. Anthony Main Theatre
Missouri
Columbia – Ragtag Cinema
Kansas City – Tivoli Cinemas
Springfield – Moxie Cinema
St. Louis – Chase Park Plaza
Montana
Missoula – The Roxy Theater
Nebraska
Kearney – The World Theatre
Lincoln – Mary Riepma Ross Media Arts Center
Omaha – Film Streams
Wayne – The Majestic
Nevada
Sparks – Century Sparks
New Hampshire
Concord – Red River Theatre
Wilton – Town Hall Theatre
New Jersey
Asbury Park – The ShowRoom
Manville – Reading Cinemas Manville
New Mexico
Albuquerque – The Guild Cinema
New York
Amherst – Screening Room Cinemas
Binghamton – The Art Mission & Theater
New York City – Film Forum
Pelham – The Picture House
Pleasantville – Jacob Burns Film Center
Rochester – George Eastman House
Rosendale – Rosendale Theatre
West Hampton – Performing Arts Center
North Carolina
Asheville – Carolina Cinemas
Cornelius – Studio C Cinema
Raleigh – Raleigh Grande
Winston-Salem – A/perture Cinema
Ohio
Akron – The Nightlight Cinema
Cleveland – Cleveland Museum of Art
Columbus – Wexner Center for the Arts
Dayton – The Neon
Toledo – Franklin Park 16
Oklahoma
Oklahoma City – Museum of Art
Tulsa – Circle Cinema
Ontario
Kingston – The Screening Room
Toronto – Cineplex Cinemas Yonge & Dundas
Waterloo – Princess Cinemas
Oregon
Portland – Hollywood Theater
Pennsylvania
Bethlehem – ArtsQuest
Bryn Mawr – Bryn Mawr Film Institute
Erie – Film at the Erie Art Museum
Lewisburg – Campus Theatre
Milford – Black Bear Film Festival
Philadelphia – International House
Phoenixville – The Colonial Theatre
Pittsburgh – Pittsburgh Filmmakers
Quebec
Montreal – Cinema Cineplex Forum
Rhode Island
Newport – Jane Pickens
Providence – Cable Car Cinema
South Carolina
Charleston – Terrace Theater
South Dakota
Sioux Falls – Century East at Dawley Farm
Tennessee
Memphis – indieMemphis
Nashville – Belcourt Theatre
Texas
Austin – Alamo Drafthouse
Dallas – Angelika Film Center
El Paso – Plaza Classic Film Festival
Fort Worth – Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth
Houston – Museum of Fine Arts, Houston
New Braunfels – Alamo Marketplace
Plano – Angelika Plano
San Antonio – Alamo Westlake
Utah
Salt Lake City – Tower Cinema
Virginia
Ashburn – Alamo One Loudoun
Fairfax – Angelika Mosaic
Norfolk – Naro Cinema
Williamsburg – Kimball Theatre
Winchester – Alamo Drafthouse
Washington
Bellevue – Lincoln Square Cinemas
Bellingham – Pickford Film Center
Camas – Liberty Theater
Langley – The Clyde Theatre
Olympia – Capitol Theater
Port Townsend – Rose Theatre
Seattle – Siff Cinema
Tacoma – Grand Cinema
Spokane – Bing Crosby Cinema>
Vancouver – Kiggins Theatre
Washington, D.C.
West End Cinema...
- 7/1/2014
- by Sharon Abella
- Sydney's Buzz
Enemy What would make this a more interesting release would be an audio commentary, but there isn't one. As interesting as this film is and as likely as I am to watch it again, in this day and age, if you aren't going to give me any added incentive to buy a DVD/Blu-ray that I'm only likely to watch once or twice ever again... why would I buy itc
Blood Ties I did not enjoy this movie when I saw it in Cannes last year, but it has been edited down since, by about 15 minutes or so I believe, which could make it a more interesting watch as it was a film that either needed to be about 15 minutes shorter or two hours longer. You can read my original review right here, though do know the movie I reviewed is not the one on this disc.
Winter's Tale This...
Blood Ties I did not enjoy this movie when I saw it in Cannes last year, but it has been edited down since, by about 15 minutes or so I believe, which could make it a more interesting watch as it was a film that either needed to be about 15 minutes shorter or two hours longer. You can read my original review right here, though do know the movie I reviewed is not the one on this disc.
Winter's Tale This...
- 6/24/2014
- by Brad Brevet
- Rope of Silicon
They Bought Us Love
By Raymond Benson
Released in the summer of 1964, A Hard Day’s Night, starring The Beatles and directed by Richard Lester, is arguably the second most influential British film of that decade (the first being Goldfinger, coincidentally released the same year.). Why? For one thing, it brought The Beatles to a worldwide audience that was just getting to know them through their music. Secondly, it spawned imitations and knock-offs (The Monkees, anyone?) and is arguably the genesis of music videos—where would MTV have been without it? Thirdly, the film itself was innovative, fresh, and surprisingly funny (those long-haired boys from Liverpool could actually act!).
One of the best things about the Criterion Collection’s new deluxe box set of the film (dual Blu-ray and DVD, three discs) is the short extra, On the Road to “A Hard Day’s Night,” an interview with author Mark Lewisohn,...
By Raymond Benson
Released in the summer of 1964, A Hard Day’s Night, starring The Beatles and directed by Richard Lester, is arguably the second most influential British film of that decade (the first being Goldfinger, coincidentally released the same year.). Why? For one thing, it brought The Beatles to a worldwide audience that was just getting to know them through their music. Secondly, it spawned imitations and knock-offs (The Monkees, anyone?) and is arguably the genesis of music videos—where would MTV have been without it? Thirdly, the film itself was innovative, fresh, and surprisingly funny (those long-haired boys from Liverpool could actually act!).
One of the best things about the Criterion Collection’s new deluxe box set of the film (dual Blu-ray and DVD, three discs) is the short extra, On the Road to “A Hard Day’s Night,” an interview with author Mark Lewisohn,...
- 6/16/2014
- by nospam@example.com (Cinema Retro)
- Cinemaretro.com
Blu-ray & DVD Release Date: June 24, 2014
Price: DVD $19.95, Blu-ray/DVD Combo $39.95
Studio: Criterion
Just one month after they exploded onto the U.S. scene with their Ed Sullivan Show appearance, The Beatles began working on a project that would bring their revolutionary talent to the big screen – the 1964 comedy musical classic A Hard Day’s Night.
The movie, in which John, Paul, George and Ringo play slapstick versions of themselves, captured the astonishing moment when they officially became the singular, irreverent idols of their generation and changed music forever.
Directed with raucous, anything-goes verve by Richard Lester (How I Won the War) and featuring a slew of iconic pop anthems, including the title track, “Can’t Buy Me Love,” “I Should Have Known Better,” and “If I Fell,” A Hard Day’s Night, which re-conceived the movie musical and exerted an incalculable influence on the music video, is one of...
Price: DVD $19.95, Blu-ray/DVD Combo $39.95
Studio: Criterion
Just one month after they exploded onto the U.S. scene with their Ed Sullivan Show appearance, The Beatles began working on a project that would bring their revolutionary talent to the big screen – the 1964 comedy musical classic A Hard Day’s Night.
The movie, in which John, Paul, George and Ringo play slapstick versions of themselves, captured the astonishing moment when they officially became the singular, irreverent idols of their generation and changed music forever.
Directed with raucous, anything-goes verve by Richard Lester (How I Won the War) and featuring a slew of iconic pop anthems, including the title track, “Can’t Buy Me Love,” “I Should Have Known Better,” and “If I Fell,” A Hard Day’s Night, which re-conceived the movie musical and exerted an incalculable influence on the music video, is one of...
- 3/18/2014
- by Laurence
- Disc Dish
Calling all Beatles fans… the group’s second feature film, 1965’s Help!, will be released on Blu-ray on Tuesday, June 25 and Wamg is giving away copies to 2 lucky readers.
Directed by Richard Lester, who also directed the band’s debut feature film, 1964’s A Hard Day’s Night, Help! follows The Beatles as they become passive recipients of an outside plot that revolves around Ringo’s possession of a sacrificial ring, which he cannot remove from his finger. As a result, he and his bandmates John, Paul and George are chased from London to the Austrian Alps and the Bahamas by religious cult members, a mad scientist and the London police.
In addition to starring The Beatles, Help! boasts a witty script, a great cast of British character actors, and classic Beatles songs “Help!,” “You’re Going To Lose That Girl,” “You’ve Got To Hide Your Love Away,” “Ticket To Ride,...
Directed by Richard Lester, who also directed the band’s debut feature film, 1964’s A Hard Day’s Night, Help! follows The Beatles as they become passive recipients of an outside plot that revolves around Ringo’s possession of a sacrificial ring, which he cannot remove from his finger. As a result, he and his bandmates John, Paul and George are chased from London to the Austrian Alps and the Bahamas by religious cult members, a mad scientist and the London police.
In addition to starring The Beatles, Help! boasts a witty script, a great cast of British character actors, and classic Beatles songs “Help!,” “You’re Going To Lose That Girl,” “You’ve Got To Hide Your Love Away,” “Ticket To Ride,...
- 6/24/2013
- by Movie Geeks
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
The Beatles’ second feature film, 1965’s Help!, is on the way on Blu-ray. On June 24 (June 25 in North America), Help! makes its eagerly awaited Blu-ray debut in a single-disc package pairing the digitally restored film and 5.1 soundtrack with an hour of extra features, including a 30-minute documentary about the making of the film, memories of the cast and crew, an in-depth look at the restoration process, an outtake scene, and original theatrical trailers and radio spots. An introduction by the film’s director, Richard Lester, and an appreciation by Martin Scorsese are included in the Blu-ray’s booklet.
Help!’s Blu-ray edition follows the 2012 release of The Beatles’ digitally restored Yellow Submarine and Magical Mystery Tour feature films on Blu-ray, DVD and iTunes with extensive extras. Help!’s restoration for its 2007 DVD debut wowed viewers, earning five-times platinum sales in the U.S. and praise from a broad range of...
Help!’s Blu-ray edition follows the 2012 release of The Beatles’ digitally restored Yellow Submarine and Magical Mystery Tour feature films on Blu-ray, DVD and iTunes with extensive extras. Help!’s restoration for its 2007 DVD debut wowed viewers, earning five-times platinum sales in the U.S. and praise from a broad range of...
- 6/12/2013
- by Michelle McCue
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
Comic actor Victor Spinetti, best known for his appearances in three Beatles movies, died on Tuesday morning. He was 82. The Welsh performer had been fighting pancreatic cancer in recent years, according to his agent, Barry Burnett. Born in the village of Cwm in south Wales, Spinetti studied at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama before launching his acting career in England. His big break came after John Lennon and George Harrison, with "A Hard Day's Night" director Walter Shenson and screenwriter Alun Owen, caught his performance in 1968, in the...
- 6/19/2012
- by Kasia Anderson
- The Wrap
Veteran actor Victor Spinetti, whose notable roles included appearances in three Beatles films, has died at the age of 82.
The Welsh star, who appeared in a string of acclaimed movies as well as taking roles in the West End and on Broadway, died in a Monmouth hospice following a fight with pancreatic cancer, his agent said.
The versatile actor was able to easily turn his hand from serious classical roles to comedy performances and roles in sitcoms. He has also been a successful stage director, wrote poetry and became known for his appearances in a Jaffa Cake ad campaign.
Cwm-born Spinetti - who studied at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama in Cardiff - had worked as a waiter before finding his feet as an actor.
Victor Spinetti (left) with John Lennon and Yoko Ono
He landed his role in the first of the Beatles' films following the...
The Welsh star, who appeared in a string of acclaimed movies as well as taking roles in the West End and on Broadway, died in a Monmouth hospice following a fight with pancreatic cancer, his agent said.
The versatile actor was able to easily turn his hand from serious classical roles to comedy performances and roles in sitcoms. He has also been a successful stage director, wrote poetry and became known for his appearances in a Jaffa Cake ad campaign.
Cwm-born Spinetti - who studied at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama in Cardiff - had worked as a waiter before finding his feet as an actor.
Victor Spinetti (left) with John Lennon and Yoko Ono
He landed his role in the first of the Beatles' films following the...
- 6/19/2012
- by PA
- Huffington Post
It was 70 years ago - today that Ringo Starr was born. After fighting a series of childhood illnesses, the young Richard Starkey became an in-demand drummer in his native Liverpool and he replaced Pete Best in the group that was to become the most famous band in the world, The Beatles.
Now, as Starr turns 70, we thought we'd take a look back over his life and dig up some of the facts you might not know about the old rocker. Happy Birthday Ringo!
Ringo will celebrate his 70th with a private party at New York's Hard Rock Cafe and then perform with his All Starr Band at Radio City Music Hall in the evening.
Ringo has been asking fans to hold up V signs and chant 'peace and love' at noon on his birthday every year since 2008.
Ringo wasn't a fan of India when The Beatles went there to study...
Now, as Starr turns 70, we thought we'd take a look back over his life and dig up some of the facts you might not know about the old rocker. Happy Birthday Ringo!
Ringo will celebrate his 70th with a private party at New York's Hard Rock Cafe and then perform with his All Starr Band at Radio City Music Hall in the evening.
Ringo has been asking fans to hold up V signs and chant 'peace and love' at noon on his birthday every year since 2008.
Ringo wasn't a fan of India when The Beatles went there to study...
- 7/7/2010
- by AceShowbiz.com
- Aceshowbiz
Miramax rereleases "A Hard Day's Night" -- with a restored picture and soundtrack -- in New York and Los Angeles today. This review originally appeared in The Hollywood Reporter on July 21, 1964.
In their first feature, "A Hard Day's Night", the Beatles display a flair for knockabout comedy and slapstick when they're not beating out some dozen of their tunes, including six new ones. The film is mad, mad and crazy, shrewdly designed for the teenage and calculated also to attract the curious and the oldsters who enjoy this sort of thing.
The shrieking, screaming teenage reaction was evident at a packed invitational afternoon screening at an upper Broadway theater. The mere appearance of a Beatle set off a chain reaction of screeching. When this mingled with the screams of pursuing teenagers on the screen, the result was pandemonium.
The Liverpool string quartet collectively achieves stardom in their maiden cinematic effort, and the film may be expected to be the first in a series.
Produced by Walter Shenson, directed by Richard Lester and written by Alun Owen, the team that delivered "The Mouse on the Moon", the film purports to chronicle 36 hours in the life of the moptops, hours that are normal because they're hectic. The riot starts as they take off for their next engagement, continues with their arrival in the provincial city and rehearsal and staging of a TV show. Always there are mobs of young girls in hot pursuit.
The script cleverly makes use of the Beatles' individual personalities, and while Norman Rossington as the harassed manager, Wilfrid Brambell (of TV's "Steptoe & Son") as a fictional grandfather and Victor Spinetti as a neurotic director have their moments in counter-plot, it's the Beatles' show all the way. Ringo Starr in a solo sequence displays potential as a mime.
While imaginative and often offbeat, the photography is lacking by top standards in on-the-spot location shooting, and editing is not as fluent as it might be in integrating the fast-moving scenes. The sound at times doesn't help American audiences to understand the quaint dialect and slang expressions.
But only the experts and the finicky will cavil at these deficiencies. There's a host of young American females waiting for this picture like the world is waiting for the sunrise.
A HARD DAY'S NIGHT
United Artists
Producer: Walter Shenson
Director: Richard Lester
Screenwriter: Alun Owen
Director of photography: Gilbert Taylor
Art director: Ray Simm
Music director: George Martin
Songs by: John Lennon, Paul McCartney
Sound: H.L. Bird, Stephen Dalby
Editor: John Jympson
Associate producer: Dennis O'Dell
Assistant director: John D. Merriman
Cast: The Beatles (John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, Ringo Starr), Wilfrid Brambell, Norman Rossington, Victor Spinetti, John Junkin, Deryck Guyler, Anna Quayle.
Running time -- 85 minutes
MPAA rating: G...
In their first feature, "A Hard Day's Night", the Beatles display a flair for knockabout comedy and slapstick when they're not beating out some dozen of their tunes, including six new ones. The film is mad, mad and crazy, shrewdly designed for the teenage and calculated also to attract the curious and the oldsters who enjoy this sort of thing.
The shrieking, screaming teenage reaction was evident at a packed invitational afternoon screening at an upper Broadway theater. The mere appearance of a Beatle set off a chain reaction of screeching. When this mingled with the screams of pursuing teenagers on the screen, the result was pandemonium.
The Liverpool string quartet collectively achieves stardom in their maiden cinematic effort, and the film may be expected to be the first in a series.
Produced by Walter Shenson, directed by Richard Lester and written by Alun Owen, the team that delivered "The Mouse on the Moon", the film purports to chronicle 36 hours in the life of the moptops, hours that are normal because they're hectic. The riot starts as they take off for their next engagement, continues with their arrival in the provincial city and rehearsal and staging of a TV show. Always there are mobs of young girls in hot pursuit.
The script cleverly makes use of the Beatles' individual personalities, and while Norman Rossington as the harassed manager, Wilfrid Brambell (of TV's "Steptoe & Son") as a fictional grandfather and Victor Spinetti as a neurotic director have their moments in counter-plot, it's the Beatles' show all the way. Ringo Starr in a solo sequence displays potential as a mime.
While imaginative and often offbeat, the photography is lacking by top standards in on-the-spot location shooting, and editing is not as fluent as it might be in integrating the fast-moving scenes. The sound at times doesn't help American audiences to understand the quaint dialect and slang expressions.
But only the experts and the finicky will cavil at these deficiencies. There's a host of young American females waiting for this picture like the world is waiting for the sunrise.
A HARD DAY'S NIGHT
United Artists
Producer: Walter Shenson
Director: Richard Lester
Screenwriter: Alun Owen
Director of photography: Gilbert Taylor
Art director: Ray Simm
Music director: George Martin
Songs by: John Lennon, Paul McCartney
Sound: H.L. Bird, Stephen Dalby
Editor: John Jympson
Associate producer: Dennis O'Dell
Assistant director: John D. Merriman
Cast: The Beatles (John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, Ringo Starr), Wilfrid Brambell, Norman Rossington, Victor Spinetti, John Junkin, Deryck Guyler, Anna Quayle.
Running time -- 85 minutes
MPAA rating: G...
- 12/1/2000
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
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