Rent The Beatles: A Hard Day's Night (1964)

3.8 of 5 from 153 ratings
1h 24min
Rent The Beatles: A Hard Day's Night Online DVD & Blu-ray Rental
  • General info
  • Available formats
Synopsis:
In 1964 the biggest band on the planet made their big screen debut with 'A Hard Day's Night', a groundbreaking film that presented a 'typical' day in the life of The Fab Four as they tried to outrun screaming fans, find Paul's mischievous grandfather, deal with a stressed TV producer and make it to the show on time. Directed with unrelenting verve by Richard Lester, whose innovative techniques paved the way for generations of music videos, the film's frenetic mix of comic escapades, legendary one-liners and pop perfection captured a moment in time that defined a generation. The most iconic band in music history had arrived.
Actors:
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Directors:
Producers:
Walter Shenson
Writers:
Alun Owen
Others:
George Martin
Studio:
Miramax
Genres:
Classics, Comedy, Music & Musicals
Collections:
10 Films to Watch if You Like: A Hard Day's Night, A Brief History of Cinema Afloat: Part 3, A Brief History of Old Age on Screen: Part 1, Award Winners, Elvis Presley on Screen, Films & TV by topic, Films by Year, Films From: 1964, People of the Pictures, The Beatles in Film, The Biggest Oscar Snubs: Part 1, The Golden Age of British Pop Musicals, A Brief History of Film..., The Instant Expert's Guide, The Instant Expert's Guide to Steven Soderbergh, The Instant Expert's Guide to: Brian De Palma, The Instant Expert's Guide to: Robert Altman, Top 100 BFI Films, Top Films, What to Watch Next If You Liked Chariots of Fire
BBFC:
Release Date:
30/09/2002
Run Time:
84 minutes
Languages:
English Dolby Digital 2.0
Subtitles:
English, English Hard of Hearing
DVD Regions:
Region 2
Formats:
Pal
Aspect Ratio:
Widescreen 1.66:1
Colour:
Colour
Bonus:
  • New Promotional Special -Things They Said Today
  • Filmmaker Interviews
  • With The Beatles
  • Working Like A Dog
  • Busy Working Overtime
  • Listen To The Music Playing In Your Head
  • Such A Clean Old Man!
  • Interviews
Disc 1:
This disc includes the main feature
Disc 2:
This disc includes the following special features:
- Filmmaker Interviews
- With The Beatles
- Working Like A Dog
- Busy Working Overtime
- Listen To The Music
- Playing In Your Head
- Such A Clean Old Man!
- Interviews
BBFC:
Release Date:
21/07/2014
Run Time:
84 minutes
Languages:
English DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1, English LPCM Mono, English LPCM Stereo
Subtitles:
English Hard of Hearing
Formats:
Pal
Aspect Ratio:
Widescreen 1.77:1
Colour:
B & W
BLU-RAY Regions:
B
Bonus:
  • In Their Own Voices: a new piece combining 1964 interviews with The Beatles with behind-the-scenes footage and photos
  • You Can't Do That: The Making of 'A Hard Day's Night' - a documentary by producer Walter Shenson including an outtake performance by The Beatles
  • Things They Said Today: featuring director Richard Lester music producer George Martin, screenwriter Alun Owen and cinematographer Gilbert Taylor
  • Picturewise: a new piece about Richard Lester s early work featuring a new audio interview with the director
  • Anatomy of a Style: a new piece on Richard Lester's methods
  • The Beatles: The Road to 'A Hard Day's Night' - New interview with author Mark Lewisohn
  • Audio Commentary with Cast and Crew
  • New 50th Anniversary Trailer

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Reviews (2) of The Beatles: A Hard Day's Night

Interesting & Fun British Pop Film - The Beatles: A Hard Day's Night review by GI

Spoiler Alert
11/01/2023

Even if you don't like The Beatles or think they are no longer of any relevance this is still an important film and it remains hugely enjoyable. Richard Lester created a zany comedy that captured the phenomenon of 'Beatlemania', showed a sort of snapshot of the daily lives of the band and more importantly delved craftily into the divisive nature of British society of the mid 1960s with the teenage generation conflicting sharply with the 'establishment'. There's no real plot as such and the film is mostly the Beatles being chased by fans and/or the police and Richard Lester basically filmed them doing whatever they wanted. Their individual personalities are neatly captured though and there's a host of British comedy actors supporting including Wilfred Brambell of Steptoe & Son fame playing Paul McCartney's fictional grandfather. Mostly of course you get a great collection of songs that are still magical today and everyone knows them whatever your age or taste.

1 out of 1 members found this review helpful.

Musical Realism. - The Beatles: A Hard Day's Night review by Steve

Spoiler Alert
11/09/2023

Released right on the bang of when The Beatles exploded as a cultural as well as musical phenomenon, their debut film also feels like a turning point in the decade. The UK still looks like the tatty, sooty industrial wasteland of the British new wave, but the screen comes alive with a freedom and optimism which heralds the swinging sixties.

George, John, Paul and Ringo are the essence of the band as a gang.  They inhabit a shared, secret domain, which separates and protects the group from outsiders. They wryly mock the old England of social class, war heroes, bobbies on the beat and the old school tie.

And this feeling of emancipation is in Richard Lester's direction too. All is movement, with the hand held cameras, the zooms, pans and jump cuts. Not all in focus. It is a day in the life of the band, which they mostly spend horsing around with Wilfred Bramble, then climaxes with a performance at a tv studio to an audience of screaming girls.

The script draws on their image as four ordinary lads from Liverpool. There is barely a plot so when the narrative gets stuck it coasts on surreal humour. But the action is stuffed with music, including three UK/US number ones. Now it's a period piece, and a reminder of a time when pop groups could become global superstars without expensive dentistry.

0 out of 0 members found this review helpful.

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