Beatles - A Hard Day's Night

Pros: The Grandaddy of All Music/Concert Films

Cons: None

Review: In early 1964 when Beatlemania hit the U. S. I was 17 years old and a Junior in High School. I had a part time job working as an usher at the United Artists Theatre, Louisville?s ornate and elegant 1923 Movie Palace. When the Beatles first film...

Pros: An interesting look at the Fab Four in the days of relative simplicity

Cons: a few interviews shedding little information or insight.

The Bottom Line: A classic movie that started may have started what MTV is today.

Review: When I was about fourteen years old I remember waiting on line to get in to see A Hard Days Night. The line began early in the day and stretched far around the theatre. I didn't make the first show so we stayed on line for the second show...

Pros: Great music, often hilarious

Cons: None for me

The Bottom Line: There you go, hiding behind a smoke screen of bourgeois cliches.

Review: In 1964, The Beatles were phenomenally popular, so United Artists wanted to quickly film and release a movie starring the group. In order to cut back on costs for the movie, it was filmed in black-and-white instead of color. The studio didn't really...

Pros: The Fab Four; spirited good fun; witty dialog and plenty of sight gags; dynamic soundtrack

Cons: Excellent package of extras except no interviews with surviving band members

The Bottom Line: A landmark film that cleverly exploited the charms and talents of The Beatles to provide an entertaining free-for-all.

Review: Beatlemania would have occurred without Richard Lester, but the man gave it one heck of a nudge.

Historical Background: Richard Lester, despite being known mainly as a British film director, was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in...

Pros: Funny as heck and plenty of good tunes, to boot

Cons: Not a one

The Bottom Line: The Fab Four find themselves in a fantastic film! Heh. Couldn't resist.

Review: When the Beatles first became stars around the world in 1964, United Artists wanted a film that would allow the company to capitalize on the popularity of the band. Oh, and the folks at United Artists wanted it as soon as possible. Oh, and they...

Pros: John. Paul. George. Ringo. 'Nuff said.

Cons: It eventually ends. -sigh-

The Bottom Line: A Hard Day's Night is the Citizen Kane of rock and roll.

Review:
Interviewer: "Do you often see your father?"
Paul: "No, actually, we're just good friends."

By the time Paul McCartney utters this famous response to a particularly banal interviewer during one of the many press...

Pros: The Beatles, the music, Wilfrid Brambell, Victor Spinetti; great direction; exhilarating

Cons: The humor might not catch on decades later; will non Beatles fans like it?

The Bottom Line: Richard Lester's A HARD DAY'S NIGHT provides a timeless snapshot of the Beatles at the dawn of their superstardom with endless charm and extraordinary music

Review: Midway through A HARD DAY'S NIGHT, George Harrison stumbles into the production offices of smug Simon Marshall (An uncredited Kenneth Haigh), who runs a "hip" trendsetting television program and tosses about mod phrases like "cheeky baby" and "sonny...

Pros: Great script; the Beatles are naturals; excellent added material

Cons: Terrible lip-syncing

The Bottom Line: The best and funniest film about a rock group ever made.

Review: The Beatles' first film, "A Hard Day's Night," was shot in six weeks and released three months later to take advantage of what everyone thought was going to be a brief moment of fame for the four lads from Liverpool. To the surprise of nearly...

Pros: Lots of humour, great songs, cinematic style

Cons: If you really hate the Beatles, this film probably won't make things better for you.

The Bottom Line: A fun movie, with good songs, good lines, and the lasting memory of the Beatles.

Review: The Beatles were just experiencing the beginnings of their fame in the early 1960 s, and naturally, other people besides the band itself were wanting a piece of that fame. Music stars such as Elvis Presley and others had already experienced film...

Pros: fresh, full of energy, really embodies spirit of early Beatlemania

Cons: somewhat stilted dialogue in beginning

The Bottom Line: Bursting with energy and fun, this is vintage Fab Four. A must-see for Beatles fans!

Review: Sadly, I was born several decades too late for Beatlemania, so I have to catch up when I can. This past weekend, I had the opportunity to see _A Hard Day's Night_ at the local art theater--a movie I'd seen and enjoyed before on video, but never on...