A day in the life of the Beatles as they perform on a live television show. Filmed just a month after their appearance on the Ed Sullivan Show in February 1964, this film introduces us to the personalities of the Beatles. The film opens with the band boarding a train mobbed with adoring young fans (mostly women) as they attempt to travel to the television studio in London. The antics of the band and Paul's stowaway grandfather (Brambell -"He's very clean") during rehearsals and makeup provide ample comic material in this feature which influenced so many others. The unscripted vignette featuring a real-life hangover suffering Ringo is especially funny, particularly when he is arrested and risks not appearing on the live television broadcast. None of this goes unnoticed by the director of the show, played by Victor Spinetti, a recurring cast member in Beatles movies. As the clock ticks away dramatically, our heroes manage to free Ringo and sneak onto the stage in the nick of time, delighted in the knowledge that they have nearly driven the director mad in the process. Arguably the first music video, this faux documentary and its shooting style have been a tremendous influence on nearly every rock and roll feature since. Laserdisc release features the original trailer and an interview with Lester. The DVD release includes the same as well as newsreel footage and the Richard Lester short film Running, Jumping, and Standing Still starring Peter Sellers, a favorite of the band and likely the reason for their choosing Lester to direct A Hard Day's Night.

release year: 1964

star(s): The Beatles