"A Hard Day's Night" - Film Review

Considering it’s on one level just a long ad for The Beatles’ latest album, A Hard Day’s Night is a surprisingly fun movie. This is a film with remove from its release that could feel very dated and artifactual. And to an extent it is that (We get a glimpse into that cultural milieu and the phenomenon of the band). But it’s also a film that stands on its own unexpectedly well.

The film has a number of slighter elements. This is best represented by Wilfred Brambell as Paul’s grandfather. Brambell seems to revel in having the old man do things that seem a little naughty for a man of his age and disposition.

The film is essentially about the bands journey to a studio to film and record a concert. Along the way shenanigans ensue. The band trades some memorable quips in between sets. The film is really cheeky and therefore really funny (There’s some humor here that is very much British from its delivery to its content). The band is having fun at the expense of everyone around them who expects them to be dumb because they’re young and rock stars. In one memorable scene, reporters interview the band mates and they proceed to take the questions incredibly literally to the consternation of their interviewers.    

The film is at its best when it’s playing up the personas of the band members. The band plays themselves and make fun of themselves and perceived conceptions of themselves. The film’s best sequences involve the band getting chased by screaming fans and by beleaguered police officers. 

The film is pretty much an extended music video. The movie plays the songs from the then upcoming album of the same name (a set list of one great song after another). There are a number of points where songs play over scenes or the band plays song, occasionally spontaneously. The film is considered to have widely influenced film musicals and even modern music videos. 

What is perhaps most striking is how young John, Paul, George, and Ringo seem. They’re old enough to be off at college, and as they goof around there’s an easy, youthful, bro-mantic banter to it all. The film works as well as it does because of their youth. There’s physicality to some of this and there’s also a sense of youthful abandon. 

The film has an energy to it, in line with the youthful character. Director Dick Lester appears to have taken cues from the French New Wave, then in full force. There’s a free form, loose quality to the way the film is shot. And this style suits the band’s music and the film’s cheekier sensibility.   

Through the film, The Beatles were trying to reach out to their fanbase and win a greater connection (Not that they needed any more. This was at the height of Beatlemania). Here we see them being down-to-earth, affable, charming and mildly rebellious. They're still rather winning, even if it isn't 1964 anymore. 

Grade: A