Day 87 - A Hard Day's Night

A Hard Day's Night (1964) directed by Richard Lester

Light hearted whimsical fun, filled with humor, energy and of course great music by the one and only Beatles. From the opening sequence of John, Paul, George and Ringo running away from crazed fans you can get a feel that you're going to watch something special. A Hard Day's Night is a mockumentary about the famous band during the height of Beatlemania. The "behind the scenes" looks are filled with an off beat humor that reminded me a bit of This is Spinal Tap, another famed mocumentary about a rock band.

I loved the banter between the four Beatles which is whimsical and humorous.

George: Ah, you have an inferiority complex, you have.
Ringo: Yeah I know, that's why I play the drums - it's me active compensatory factor.

And their interactions with the media.

Reporter: Has success changed your life?
George (in a total deadpan expression): Yes.

If I had to describe what this movie is about in one word, it'd be freedom. The Beatles have become trapped by their fame, by the crazed fans and the pressures of their manager and director. They are set free in the scenes when the music plays where they flee from fans, run loose frolicking in a field, or just get behind their instruments and jam. This was set in the heyday of the free loving hippie liberation movement during the 1960's and rock and roll music was the soundtrack to the era.

The film is really well made, intercutting the behind the scenes documentary feel with moving action shots following the Beatles' hectic lives and of course the music. It is part documentary, comedy, music video, concert film and 100% good fun. All the Beatles have great one liners and each have their moments to shine. I really loved Paul's grandfather who is just hilarious. There isn't much plot going on, it just chronicles a couple days in the lives of the most famous band in the world. Certain situations are obviously absurd, but that is sort of the point. The Beatles were larger than life in that every little step they took was magnified to ridiculous proportions. Every little thing they did was made into an event, a feeling that this film captures perfectly.

Grade: A-