A Hard Day's Night ~ The Movie

Filming for 'A Hard Day's Night' began in March of 1965. With the script and shouting schedule barley in place, The Beatles started work on their first feature film, an intact slant on Beatlemaina. Director Richard Lester: "It was all a bit of a blur. We only had seven weeks' shooting. Nobody really had any time to stop and think over what they were doing. But the incredible speed with which it was made worked to its benefit". Fortunately the band had already written and recorded a batch of songs for the soundtrack. The films title came from a remark Ringo Starr made in location late one evening.

The police closed Piccadilly Circus for the London permiere for A Hard Day's Night at the London Pavilion on July 6th, 1963, keeping at bay a 12,000 crowd who'd come to see The Beatles getting in and out of their cars. And the critics raved, even ones from 'quality papers' who'd been expecting the usual B-movie standard from rock stars. The band were most apprehensive about Liverpool premiere five days later as they'd barley been back since moving to London. But they needn't have worried; nearly 200,000 people turned out to watch them en route to the Town Hall for a civic reception. Paul McCartney's day was made when he spotted his old English teacher in the crowd.

The plot of the movie is on a trip to London, The Beatles are chased to a train station by fans and are forced to escape. Once aboard the train and trying to relax, various interruptions test them. After a dalliance with a female passenger, Paul's grandfather is confined to the guard's van and the four lads join him there to keep him company. John, Paul, George, and Ringo play a card game, entertaining schoolgirls before arriving at their destination.

Upon arrival in London, the Beatles are driven to a hotel, only to feel trapped inside. After a night out during which Paul's grandfather causes minor trouble at a casino, the group is taken to the theatre where their performance is to be televised. The preparations are lengthy so Ringo decides to spend some time alone reading a book. Paul's grandfather, a "villain, a real mixer," convinces him to go outside to experience life rather than reading books.

 

Ringo goes off by himself. He tries to have a quiet drink in a pub, walks alongside a canal and rides a bicycle along a railway station platform. Meanwhile, the rest of the band frantically (and unsuccessfully) attempts to find Ringo. Finally, he returns after being arrested by the police along with Paul's grandfather, and the concert goes ahead as planned. After the concert, the band is taken away from the hoards of fans via helicopter.

 

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