Thursday, December 25, 2008

A Hard Day's Night

A Hard Day's Night. 1964 Proscenium Films & United Artists (now controlled by Miramax Films).
Starring: The Beatles, Wilfrid Brambell, Norman Rossington, John Junkin, Victor Spinetti, Anna Quayle
Director: Richard Lester
Buy A Hard Day's Night at Amazon.

The screenplay for A Hard Day's Night was written by Alun Owen, who spent several days with the Beatles, and wrote the movie from a viewpoint that the group had been trapped by their own fame. However, their biggest problem isn't their own fame, but Paul's "clean" grandfather (Brambell), who was brought along on the train to London because he's "nursing a broken heart". Hassled by their manager (Junkin, bearing absolutely no resemblance to Brian Epstein at all), and other distractions on the train, they retreat to a caboose for some privacy.

On arrival in London, they are taken to a hotel where all involved feel trapped. The night after Grandfather causes a minor disturbance at a casino, the band is taken to the theater where their performance will be filmed. Bored with the length of the preparations of the show, Ringo takes a walk, trying to have a quiet drink in a pub, walking alongside a canal, and riding a bike. He returns, and the show goes on as planned. Paul's grandfather remembers there's a trap door on the stage, and makes an unscheduled appearance during the show's final song, "She Loves You".

A decent and very influential movie. Seek it out immediately!

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