A Hard Day’s Night

The Beatles’ first feature film. Released by United Artists. A Walter Shenson – Subafilms Production.

Comedy and music are combined to make this pastiche of a day in the life of The Beatles during 1964. The band have to use all their guile and wit to avoid the pursuing fans and press to reach their scheduled television performance. This is in spite of Paul’s troublemaking grandfather (Wildfred Brambell) and Ringo’s arrest.

The film has been praised as a benchmark for music film production, and remains influential to this day. Director Dick Lester used a documentary style of filming to capture the claustrophobia of Beatlemania, and writer Alun Owen delivered a script which epitomised the quick witted humour of the band.

Product information

Currently available in DVD and VHS formats.
Duration: 108 minutes
2 disc DVD set
Digital Dolby 5.1
Surround
Rating: U / G
Widescreen anamorphic
PAL / NTSC
Subtitles
Special features include: 35 minute new documentary “Things They Said Today”, interviews with the filmmakers, Sir George Martin, cast members, post production team.

Cast

John Lennon:John / Paul McCartney: Paul / George Harrison: George / Ringo Starr: Ringo / Grandfather: Wildfred Brambell / Norm: Norman Rossington / Shake: John Junkin / T.V. Director: Victor Spinetti / Millie: Anna Quayle / Police Inspector: Deryck Guyler / Man on train: Richard Vernon / Hotel waiter: Eddie Malin / T.V. Floor manager: Robin Ray / T.V. Choreographer: Lionel Blair / Secretary: Alison Seebohm / Young Boy: David Jaxon

Credits

Director: Richard Lester / Producer: Walter Shenson / Associate Producer: Denis O’Dell / Assistant Director: John D. Merriman / Scriptwriter Alun Owen / Director of Photography: Gilbert Taylor / Editor: John Jympson / Art Director: Ray Simm / Musical Director: George Martin / Songs by John Lennon and Paul McCartney / Sound Editor: Gordon Daniel / Costume Designer: Julie Harris / Suits by Dougie Millings and Son / Title photographs by Robert Freeman

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