A Hard Day's Night

Rock and Roll debuted in the 1950’s, changing music forever. The 60’s showed the world that even Rock and Roll could evolve past its origins. Also in the 1960’s, musicians and other men in that business were changing the way that the music and the artists could entertain their fans. “A Hard Day’s Night” was something revolutionary for the music and film industry. Elvis and other stars were in movies well before 1964 but this appears to be the first time that a band played themselves in leading roles in a movie about a day in their lives. I believe it to be one of the first “mockumentaries”, meaning that the subject is humorously portraying a fictional story as if it is documentary in nature. The film has a level of sincerity to it however and this makes it special. The film is another example of the Beatles being innovative.

The film has many great and memorable moments. Watching the opening sequence alone will show anyone the impact this film has had on pop culture. In other movies and TV shows, we have spoofs of this opening sequence where there is a chase sequence and those being chased use a disguise to lose the crowd of admiring pursuers. More direct references include using a telephone booth or photo booth to lose the crowd or sitting on a bench using a newspaper to hide the identity of the target. The opening sequence in “A Hard Day’s Night” appears almost Scooby Doo in nature even though there is no evidence that this film influenced Scooby Doo. This film has good cinematography such as a shot on the train where John, George & Ringo are talking to Paul & his Grandfather. The camera is facing the first three but thanks to a mirror, we can see the other two. Also in the TV Studio when Grandpa comes in to tell the band where Ringo is, the camera shows the band members leave the director’s booth and then it pans over to show Grandpa on a TV screen as he gives the message to them on the stage. The film appears based out of reality and that adds to the humor. John disappears in the tub and Ringo is unrecognized by everyone in the city once he buys his disguise. I couldn’t tell which boy in the studio audience was Phil Collins but it is cool that he is there. I can’t get enough of Ringo when he plays the drums. It is precious the way he moves his head and smiles. This is something you can see in any footage of the band. The best moment in the film is when different reporters are interviewing the Beatles separately and we cut from one to the next. The pace and humor is a perfect marriage of editing, acting and screenwriting.

The story is well done in that we have wit, youthful energy, irony and minor conflict. I say minor conflict because this is a mockumentary and any conflict is just for story purposes. Ringo doesn’t leave the band for real for example; it is just in the script. I love the ironic gag of Grandfather being called a clean old man when actually he is quite the opposite. His best moment is when he rises up from under the stage during the song and the Beatles push him off. The story uses many beloved songs and to great effect. The best usage of a Beatles song is “If I Fell” because Ringo is upset that his drums are being touched and messed with. John feels that he knows how to stop him from sulking and thus begins the singing. Another funny moment is when George is turned down as a clothing critic for teens. We again have irony because this is a guy who is credited for creating fads. George was never the best when it came to acting but that really doesn’t matter when you’re being yourself. Another great moment is when John is able to convince the lady that he looks nothing like John Lennon. There is a serious reference that the Grandfather makes when he is talking about his time with the band. He feels like his life following the band is “a train and a room and a car and a room and a room and a room” and that is how the Beatles feel their lives are like in truth. Grandpa even makes reference to a straightjacket. The film is about how all these guys want is some peace and some time to be themselves as shown in the “Can’t Buy Me Love” sequence. I am glad the film was nominated for Best Screenwriting at the Oscars.

I became a Beatles fan when “The Beatles Anthology” was shown on TV. They made great songs, had fun as a group of great guys and they pushed for new things such as technological & musical innovations. “A Hard Day’s Night” is one such advancement and the film helped me to tell the Beatles apart. This film has a great story but despite all the fun, there is good cinematography and screenwriting. Roger Ebert best describes the influence this film has had: “Today when we watch TV and see quick cutting, hand-held cameras, interviews conducted on the run with moving targets, quickly intercut snatches of dialogue, music under documentary action and all the other trademarks of the modern style, we are looking at the children of ‘A Hard Day's Night’”. The “Can’t But Me Love” sequence feels like a modern day music video that was inserted in the film at the last minute. The Beatles were a part of the change that was happening with Rock and Roll and now today we have genres like pop, rap and hard rock. The Beatles made other great movies and in more recent decades, we have seen films like “This is Spinal Tap” and “Spice World”. As a Beatles fan, I am very happy with this show and I await the release of the remake of “Yellow Submarine” by Robert Zemeckis.

3.5 Stars