The Beatles: A Hard Day’s Night (film) ©1964

The Beatles: A Hard Day’s Night (film) ©1964 A Hard Day’s Night is a 1964 musical comedy film directed by Richard Lester and starring the English rock band the Beatles—John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, and Ringo Starr—during the height of Beatlemania. Director: Richard Lester Starring: John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, Ringo Starr, Wilfrid Brambell Cinematography: Gilbert Taylor Musical Director: George Martin Songs: Lennon–McCartney Plot The Beatles evade a horde of fans while boarding a train for London. En route, they meet Paul McCartney’s trouble-making grandfather for the first time. The band play cards and entertain some schoolgirls before arriving at the London station, where they are quickly driven to a hotel and begin to feel cooped up. Their manager Norm tasks them with answering all their fan mail, but they sneak out to party, only to be caught by Norm and taken back. They then find out that Paul’s grandfather went to a gambling club using an invitation sent to Ringo, and bring him back to the hotel. The next day, the Beatles arrive at a TV studio for a performance. After the initial rehearsal, the producer assumes bad faith in them due to something Paul’s grandfather said. After a mundane press conference, they leave through a fire escape and cavort in a field until forced off by the owner. Back in the studio, they are separated when a woman named Millie recognizes John Lennon but cannot recall who he is. George Harrison is lured into a trendmonger’s office to audition for an advertisement with a popular female model. The band return to rehearse a second song and, after a quick trip to makeup, smoothly go through a third and earn a break. An hour before the final run-through, Ringo Starr is forced to chaperone Paul’s grandfather and takes him to the canteen for tea while he reads a book. The grandfather manipulates Ringo into going outside to experience life rather than reading books, passing a surprised John and Paul on the way out. He tries to have a quiet drink in a pub, takes pictures, walks alongside the river and rides a bicycle along a railway station platform.[b] After nearly injuring a parrot and accidentally causing a woman to fall into a newly dug hole, Ringo is apprehended by a policeman as a troublemaker, and is joined by Paul’s grandfather shortly after for attempting to sell Beatles photos with forged signatures. The grandfather runs back to the studio and tells the others about Ringo. Norm sends John, Paul and George to retrieve him. While doing so, the boys wind up in a Keystone Cops-style foot chase before arriving back at the studio with Ringo, with only minutes to spare before airtime. The televised concert goes on as planned, after which the Beatles are whisked away to another performance via helicopter. Cast John Lennon as himself Paul McCartney as himself George Harrison as himself Ringo Starr as himself Wilfrid Brambell as John McCartney, Paul’s grandfather Norman Rossington as Norm, the Beatles’ manager John Junkin as Shake, the Beatles’ road manager Victor Spinetti as the TV director Anna Quayle as Millie Deryck Guyler as police sergeant Richard Vernon as Johnson, the gentleman on the train Edward Malin as the hotel waiter Robin Ray as the TV floor manager Lionel Blair as the TV choreographer Alison Seebohm as Dolly, Simon Marshall’s secretary David Janson (as David Jaxon) as Charley, a young boy Ringo encounters Songs “A Hard Day’s Night“ (opening credits) “I Should Have Known Better“ “I Wanna Be Your Man“ (sample) “Don’t Bother Me“ (Harrison) (sample) “All My Loving“ (sample) “If I Fell“ “Can’t Buy Me Love“ “And I Love Her“ “I’m Happy Just to Dance with You“ “Ringo’s Theme (This Boy)“ (instrumental) “A Hard Day’s Night“ (sample, instrumental) “Can’t Buy Me Love“ (reprise) “Tell Me Why“ “If I Fell“ (reprise) “I Should Have Known Better“ (reprise) “She Loves You“ “A Hard Day’s Night“ (reprise; closing credits) Runtime: 87 min 33 sek Country: UK, US Color: Black and White Language: English Release Dates: 6 July 1964 (UK) 11 August 1964 (US) Filming locations: Les Ambassadeurs Club, Hamilton Place, Mayfair, London, England, UK Production Co: Walter Shenson Films, Proscenium Films