A HARD DAY'S NIGHT presents a fictionalized day in the life of the Beatles as they give a performance on a live television show. Filmed just a month after their appearance on the Ed Sullivan Show in February 1964, this film--the Beatles' first--introduces us to the unique personalities of each member of the band. The film opens with the Fab Four boarding a train mobbed with adoring young fans (mostly women) as they attempt to travel to the television studio in London. The antics of the band during rehearsals and makeup application provide a large part of the comic material in this feature, though there are other moments of pure hilarity. The unscripted vignette featuring a hangover-suffering Ringo is especially funny, particularly when he is arrested and risks having to miss the broadcast. None of this goes unnoticed by the director of the show, played by Victor Spinetti, who went on to become a recurring cast member in Beatles movies. As the clock ticks away dramatically, our heroes manage to free Ringo from jail and sneak onto the stage in the nick of time, delighted in the knowledge that they have nearly driven the director mad in the process. Arguably the first music video ever made, this faux documentary and its shooting style have been a tremendous influence on nearly every rock and roll feature since.

Theatrical release: July 6, 1964.

A HARD DAY'S NIGHT was filmed and produced in only 7 weeks, at a budget of 180,000 pounds, or $500,000.

The opening scene, where the Beatles are mobbed by fans while getting onto a train, is actual documentary footage. A leak from the production department made the filming locations known to fans, so that when the Beatles showed up to film this first scene, there were hundreds of crazed, rowdy fans already there.

Brian Epstein, the Beatles' manager, gave the rights to the accompanying album to United Artists before the film was released. The album's advance sales more than covered the film's budget.

The Beatles were big fans of the comedy of Peter Sellers and Spike Mulligan. Director Richard Lester was chosen in large part because he helmed comedy series starring both men.

John Lennon and Paul McCartney wrote six new songs for the film.

Richard Lester makes a cameo appearance during the live performance scene, and a very young Phil Collins briefly appears as an audience member during the television performance scene.

Excerpt: "Are you a mod or a rocker?"--Reporter to Ringo
"Um, no. I'm a mocker."--Ringo (Ringo Starr)

"What would you call that hairstyle you're wearing?"--Reporter to George
"Arthur."--George (George Harrison) to Reporter

DVD Features:

Region 1 Encoding

Special DVD Features: English, Spanish, and French Language Tracks; English, Spanish, and French Language Subtitles; English: Dolby Digital Stereo; Spanish and French: Mono; Interactive Menus; Chapter Search; Biographies.

Keep Case

 Beatles: British rock group, nicknamed "The Fab Four"
John Lennon: British Songwriter/Musician
Paul McCartney: Rock Singer/Songwriter/Composer, the Beatles, Wings
George Harrison: Former Beatle/Film Producer
Ringo Starr: British Musician/Actor, HELP!(1965), BORN TO BOOGIE (1972)
Wilfred Brambell: 
Norman Rossington: British Supporting Actor
Victor Spinetti: Character Actor
John Junkin: British Supporting Actor
Anna Quayle: British Actress
Kenneth Haigh: British Actor
Richard Vernon: British Character Actor
Eddie Malin: English Actor

Richard Lester: American Director/In UK

Walter Shenson: American Producer

Alun Owen: Screenwriter

John Jympson: British Editor, A HARD DAY'S NIGHT

"...As a vehicle for the mop-tops' schoolboy humour and all-smiles-and-screams gig, it's infectious stuff..."
"...The film is mad, mad and crazy....Imaginative..."
"...It was smart, it was irreverent, it didn't take itself seriously, and it was shot and edited by Richard Lester in an electrifying back-and-white, semi-documentary style..."
"...Groundbreaking..."
"...Fabness itself....They look prettier than Audrey Hepburn, talk funnier than the Marx Brothers and strut sassier than Brando..."
"...Helter-skelter glee..." - Recommended
"...[A] rapid-fire screenplay and the...Beatles' charismatic acting....Irresistible..." -- Rating: A+
"...A HARD DAY'S NIGHT creates pure, infectious joy. Larking about is what these Beatles do best, pleasure is what they convey..."