A Hard Day’s Night
Directed by Richard Lester
Written by Alun Owen
1964/UK
Walter Shenson Films/Proscenium Films/Maljack Productions
Repeat viewing/Netflix rental
One of 1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die
[box] John: We know how to behave! We’ve had lessons.[/box]
Still a Beatlemaniac after all these years!
This is the filmmakers’ idea of a “typical” day in the life of the Beatles. It begins with an escape from adoring fans and ends with a TV concert attended by the same screaming girls.
In between the boys cope with Paul’s “clean” grandfather, who lives for causing trouble; attend a cocktail party/press interview; and have fun on a train. Ringo breaks away and proves himself to be a talented silent actor.
The group is so iconic by now that it is totally refreshing to be reminded just how talented and charming they really were. As familiar as it is, the music still bursts forth like a breath of fresh air. Fortunately, the film does not require any of them to “act”. They are fantastic playing themselves. The Criterion Blu-Ray contains a good commentary from people who were involved in the production. Everything was done in quite a rush to get it out while the group was still hot. Little did they know … Highly recommended.
A Hard Day’s Night was nominated for Academy Awards in the categories of Best Writing, Story and Screenplay – Written Directedly for the Screen and Best Music, Scoring of Music, Adaptation or Treatment (George Martin).
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Mpzl120Sjo
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