A Hard Day's Night (1964)

 A Hard Day's Night (1964)

A Hard Day’s Night is an interesting film. It is an often-entertaining look at a 12-hour span of the lives of John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, and Ringo Starr in a Fab 4 group otherwise known as the Beatles. When the film was released in 1964, The Beatles have already achieved stardom thanks to their famous appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show. However, they were not the cultural icons they were soon to be as the musical group has yet to lose their innocence. The Beatles were not terrible actors and actually have some zingy one-liners. That said, their schtick fell out quickly. I am glad the film was rather short because the energy was clearly on its way out by the time the film ended. But there is enough juice to prop up the film and make it a respectable docu-comedy. As for the music, how can you go wrong with Can’t Buy Me Love or A Hard Day’s Night on the soundtrack?

United Artists essentially made the film to make money from soundtrack sales before the record label company can release the album. In other words, all the movie is an exploitation film to take advantage of the Beatlemania craze. Still unlike similar musicals produced by musicians such as Elvis Presley, this particular film actually had substance and still holds up in today’s modern world. In 1964, the era of the 1960’s we know of today has not come to fruition yet. The Beatles and their movies may have introduced those thoughts. Richard Lester would go on to direct the Beatles in other features. He essentially is the godfather of music videos. His directorial style and his jump-cut editing techniques became popular through MTV and today’s music videos. After all, this is a glorified, 90-minute music video. That can be enough to turn some people away. Once again though, the Beatles music is enough to make you stay. This is rock’n’roll at its finest! Alun Owen was chosen to write the script because of his knowledge of Liverpool dialect, so he kind of knew how to write dialogue for the group. His script is basic, but at least provides some high-quality moments.

The four Beatles (and funnily enough, the group name is not mentioned in the film although it is alluded to) leave their hometown Liverpool as they embark on an adventure to London to perform on television. Other than some engagements like rehearsals, the band is stuck at the hotel, mainly to avoid an overbearing crowd of screaming teenage females. They also encounter people from another generation who do not approve of their music or style. Of all Beatles, Ringo is the one to take advantage of their limited freedom to find some fun, but that could provide trouble for everyone. In addition, Paul’s paternal grandfather (Wilfrid Brambell) makes the trip with the band. He is a mischievous man and may be up to no good.

The Beatles actually turned out to be decent actors. They are not going to win any awards, but they held their ground. Their banter with one another, although grows old rather quickly, provided some excellent comedic moments. Ringo Starr, the lesser-known Beatle, happens to have the best lines. “I’m a mocker.” It was also nice to see John Lennon in action. His death has been turned the man into a myth, a legend, so it was cool to see him before all the big drama. That goes for everyone really. Still, the best scenes of the movies are with Paul’s grandfather. He was hilarious and I love how trouble ensues everywhere he goes.

As rock musicals go from this time period, A Hard Day’s Night is one of the better ones. It is still an obvious sham to make money from soundtrack sales, but at least Richard Lester tried to make a good movie out of this. It has some amusing, funny moments and is quite influential in shaping the immediate future of the Beatles and our vision of the 1960’s as the psychedelic rock-infused decade people think it was. The Beatles is one of the greatest bands in the history of music, so it was great to listen to some of their classics within the film. A better script would have served everyone well. Luckily, this is good enough.

My Grade: B-