Writer: Alun Owen
Producer: Walter Shenson
Cast: The Beatles as themselves (John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, Ringo Starr), Wilfrid Brambell, Norman Rossington, John Junkin, Victor Spinetti, Richard Vernon, Anna Quayle, Deryck Guyler, David Janson (as David Jaxon), Edward Malin, Robin Ray, Lionel Blair, Alison Seebohm, (and uncredited cast) Margaret Nolan, Pattie Boyd, Prudence Bury, Kenneth Haigh, Julian Holloway, Michael Trubshawe, John Bluthal, Jeremy Lloyd, Charlotte Rampling, Marianne Stone, Phil Collins, Derek Nimmo, Douglas Millings, David Langton, Terry Hooper
John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, and Ringo Starr are the four rock ’n’ roll musicians from Liverpool, England who form the wildly popular band called the Beatles. The irreverent young men are accompanied by Paul’s sly and unruly grandfather (Wilfrid Brambell). The Beatles’ manager, Norm (Norman Rossington), has his hands full ensuring that the rambunctious lads arrive at the television studio on time to prepare for their live broadcast performance.
The Flashback Fanatic movie review
The Beatles were the most fab example of catching lightning in a bottle. Inspired by the American rock ’n’ roll acts of the late 1950s, those Liverpool lads from humble backgrounds honed their talents playing for small music venues in Liverpool, England; Hamburg, Germany; and Scotland. In 1961, Liverpool record-store owner and music columnist Brian Epstein noticed the Beatles’ talent, charisma, and growing popularity. Epstein took an interest in managing the Beatles and made some savvy decisions honing the band’s image into something appealing and distinctive — hence the mop top haircuts, tailored suits, and pointy-toed Cuban boots. Once record producer George Martin began to hone their sound in their earliest recording sessions, the stage was set for the four-of-a-kind talents of John, Paul, George, and Ringo to enrapture the world with Beatlemania.
Timing was also a factor in the smash success of the Beatles. During the height of the Cold War and England’s post-World War II malaise, the Beatles were a blast of fresh air with a great new sound. They were true originals whose music invigorated their young generation with independence and hope.
The cultural phenomenon of Beatlemania is perfectly distilled down to 87 minutes of celluloid called A Hard Day’s Night. Even those who are too young to have witnessed the Fab Four’s worldwide explosion of popularity can immediately catch that thrill watching this wonderful film. This is not a documentary or a trite dramatic narrative framing a rock ’n’ roll act. The filmmakers made the bold decision to have the Beatles be the main characters in a surreal musical comedy that critics noted was reminiscent of the Marx Brothers. That was a very perceptive reaction as this film is truly the ’60s youth equivalent of a Marx Brothers movie; we see the witty and talented Beatles’ cool exuberance and youthful independence disrupt the establishment. Between their comedic bouts of teasing the older generation and ducking their manager-dictated responsibilities, the Beatles get it together for performances of their now-classic songs. All of this is tossed off with such breezy cinematic verve that anyone not grooving to this must not have a pulse. You simply can’t be in a bad mood for long watching A Hard Day’s Night.
Initially, the Beatles were reluctant to make a film. Other rock ’n’ roll stars appearing in films were either just trotted out during a story to provide musical interludes or were made to play other musically talented characters (à la Elvis Presley). The filmmakers were smart enough to realize that the audience for a film with the Beatles wanted the film to be just about the Beatles. This also meant that the Fab Four could just be themselves, Liverpool accents and all. To make the non-actor stars of the film comfortable, screenwriter Alun Owen spent plenty of time with the band to write dialogue that suited them. Some of the lines were actual quotes of witticisms the Beatles had made in interviews or in banter among themselves.
Perhaps the most famous Beatles remark would be Ringo Starr’s malapropism referring to a long Beatles concert performance as “a hard day’s night.” That was John Lennon’s inspiration for the film’s fantastic opening credits music he crafted with Paul McCartney overnight when the film’s producer decided a new and original Beatles tune was needed as a title song. That mighty, first guitar chord by George Harrison blasts off the coolest rock ’n’ roll romp of all time.
What follows is a “day in the life” of the Beatles on the go being chased by adoring fans, frustrating their stressed manager, stepping out to party, and eventually preparing to perform for their television broadcast. This could all come across as a self-indulgent ego trip by the Beatles, yet they approach everything and each other with irreverent wit. This movie really clicks because the Beatles are having a lark with this film between their great songs.
There is just enough character conflict between the Beatles, and the various establishment figures they encounter, to create comic moments. Yet, this never becomes mean-spirited, since the Beatles refuse to take anything seriously. Their first moment of youth vs. elder impudence occurs when they sense a stuffy fellow train passenger’s (Richard Vernon) immediate disapproval of them. This amusing scene establishes the Beatles as champions of the younger generation’s independence.
The most direct generational conflict is caused by Paul’s grandfather John. As played by the hilarious Wilfrid Brambell, he is an unrepentant troublemaker always conniving to misbehave and avoid Paul’s supervision. It is an interesting dichotomy having one of the young, rebellious Beatles still trying to be responsible for an even more immature elder. Whether Paul’s grandfather is trying to sneak off to gamble in the company of a buxom blonde (Margaret Nolan), encourage rebellion in the hapless Ringo, or exploit the fame of his grandson’s band for a quick buck, this funny display of crotchety sociopathy demonstrates that irresponsibility is not only indulged in by the young.
Much has been made of director Richard Lester’s cinéma vérité technique in A Hard Day’s Night. This seemingly improvisational approach, often using handheld cameras and unusual perspectives for the crisp black-and-white photography, trades gloss and glamor for grit and spontaneity that mirrors the energy and honesty of the Beatles. It also suits the occasional surreal touches of humor and musical set pieces. When Lester’s work in this film had been described as the father of MTV, he quipped that he wanted a paternity test. However, you can see this is a perfectly valid assessment when you watch the surreal scenes of the Beatles suddenly breaking into a performance of “I Should Have Known Better” in the baggage car of a train they are traveling on or clowning around on an athletic field while “Can’t Buy Me Love” is rocking the soundtrack. Lester truly kicked off the music video medium with this film.
The Beatles were the perfect combo of talent appearing at just the right time for a world that didn’t know they needed them until they heard them. We may never know their like again, but we can still cherish their many recordings and feel the excitement of Beatlemania watching A Hard Day’s Night. It brings us some of the joy and solace we need just as much today as they did back in 1964.
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