A Hard Day's Night (1964)

Director:

Richard Lester

Writer:

Alun Owen (screenplay)

Release Date:

11 August 1964 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Music

Tagline:

The Beatles starring in their first full-length, hilarious action-packed film !

Plot:

A 'typical' day in the life of the Beatles, including many of their famous songs.

Plot Keywords:

Concert | The Beatles | Rock Band | Swinging London | Photography

Awards:

Nominated for 2 Oscars. Another 2 wins & 4 nominations

Cast

John Lennon	...	John
Paul McCartney	...	Paul
George Harrison	...	Himself
Ringo Starr	...	Ringo
Wilfrid Brambell	...	John McCartney - Paul's Grandfather
Norman Rossington	...	Norm
John Junkin	...	Shake
Victor Spinetti	...	Richard - T.V. Director
Anna Quayle	...	Millie
Deryck Guyler	...	Police Inspector
Richard Vernon	...	Man on Train
Edward Malin	...	Hotel Waiter (as Eddie Malin)
Robin Ray	...	T.V. Floor Manager
Lionel Blair	...	T.V. Choreographer
Alison Seebohm	...	Dolly - Simon's Secretary
David Janson	...	Charlie - Young Boy (as David Jaxon)
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Isla Blair	...	Shakespearean Actress (scenes deleted)
Bridget Armstrong	...	Lead Makeup Woman (uncredited)
Roger Avon	...	(uncredited)
John Bluthal	...	Car Thief (uncredited)
Pattie Boyd	...	Jean - Schoolgirl on Train #1 (uncredited)
Andrea Brett	...	Bit Role (uncredited)
Terry Brooks	...	Urchin (uncredited)
Prudence Bury	...	Rita - Schoolgirl on Train #2 (uncredited)
Anne Clune	...	Bit Role (uncredited)
Phil Collins	...	Seated Fan With Necktie (uncredited)
Brian Epstein	...	Bit Role (uncredited)
Rosemarie Frankland	...	Brunette Showgirl (uncredited)
Kenneth Haigh	...	Simon Marshall (uncredited)
Julian Holloway	...	Adrian, Simon's Assistant (uncredited)
Terry Hooper	...	Casino Croupier (uncredited)
Ric Hutton	...	Bit Role (uncredited)
Clare Kelly	...	Barmaid (uncredited)
Lavinia Lang	...	Bit Role (uncredited)
David Langton	...	Actor (uncredited)
Linda Lewis	...	Audience Member (uncredited)
Jeremy Lloyd	...	Tall Dancer at the Disco (uncredited)
Maggie London	...	Girl at Disco (uncredited)
Jane Lumb	...	Bit Role (uncredited)
Dougie Millings	...	Tailor (uncredited)
Peter Newton	...	Bit Role (uncredited)
Derek Nimmo	...	Leslie Jackson - Magician (uncredited)
Margaret Nolan	...	Grandfather's Girl at Casino (uncredited)
Gordon Rollings	...	Man with Sandwich in Pub (uncredited)
Edina Ronay	...	Girl at Disco (uncredited)
Sally Sheridan	...	Bit Role (uncredited)
Geraldine Sherman	...	Girl Outside Secondhand Shop (uncredited)
Marianne Stone	...	Society Reporter (uncredited)
Michael Trubshawe	...	Casino Manager (uncredited)
Hedger Wallace	...	Bit Role (uncredited)
Carol White	...	Bit Role (uncredited)
Susan Whitman	...	Susan (uncredited)
Tina Williams	...	Tina (uncredited)

Directed by
Richard Lester

Writing credits
Alun Owen		(screenplay)

Produced by
Denis O'Dell	....	associate producer
Walter Shenson	....	producer
David V. Picker	....	executive producer (uncredited)

Cinematography by
Gilbert Taylor

Film Editing by
John Jympson

Art Direction by
Ray Simm

Costume Design by
Julie Harris
Dougie Millings		(uncredited)

Makeup Department
Betty Glasow	....	hair stylist
John O'Gorman	....	makeup artist

Production Management
John Rogers	....	executive in charge of production: Miramax (special edition re-release) (as John S. Rogers Jr.)

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
John D. Merriman	....	assistant director
Alex Carver-Hill	....	second assistant director (uncredited)
Bob Howard	....	third assistant director (uncredited)
Barrie Melrose	....	second assistant director (uncredited)

Art Department
William Alexander	....	draughtsman (uncredited)

Sound Department
Michael Barry	....	sound re-mixer: Sound One Corp. (special edition re-release)
H.L. Bird	....	sound recordist
Stephen Dalby	....	sound recordist
Gordon Daniel	....	sound editor
Michael DiCosimo	....	sound consultant: Dolby Laboratories (special edition re-release)
Kevin Reeves	....	sound engineer: Polygram Studios (special edition re-release)
Dominick Tavella	....	sound re-mixer: Sound One Corp. (special edition re-release)
Jim Roddan	....	sound editor (uncredited)
Mike Silverlock	....	sound camera operator (uncredited)
Don Wortham	....	boom operator (uncredited)

Visual Effects by
Ronnie Wass	....	optical effects: titles (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Derek V. Browne	....	camera operator
Jack Atcheler	....	second camera operator (uncredited)
Paul Wilson	....	camera operator (uncredited)

Editorial Department
Dan Edelstein	....	editorial coordinator (special edition re-release)
Stephen Schwartz	....	assistant editor (special edition re-release)
Charlotte Stobbs	....	apprentice editor (special edition re-release)
Kenny B. Stuart	....	post-production coordinator (special edition re-release)
Pamela Tomling	....	assistant editor
Roy Benson	....	assistant editor (uncredited)

Music Department
John Lennon	....	composer: songs
George Martin	....	musical director
Paul McCartney	....	composer: songs
George Martin	....	composer: incidental music (uncredited)
George Martin	....	music arranger (uncredited)

Other crew
Rita Davison	....	continuity
Robert Freeman	....	title designer
Andrew Herwitz	....	business affairs: Miramax (special edition re-release)
Tony Munroe	....	picture restoration: Triage Motion Picture Svcs. (special edition re-release)
Paul Rutan Jr.	....	picture restoration: Triage Motion Picture Svcs. (special edition re-release) (as Paul Rutan)
Mike Hyatt	....	restoration (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Proscenium Films

Distributors

• United Artists Corporation (1964) (UK) (theatrical)
• United Artists (1964) (USA) (theatrical)
• National Broadcasting Company (NBC) (1967) (USA) (TV) (original airing)
• Buena Vista International (2001) (Argentina) (theatrical)
• Buena Vista International (2001) (UK) (theatrical) (re-release)
• Alliance Atlantis Home Video (2002) (Canada) (DVD)
• Buena Vista Home Entertainment (BVHE) (2002) (USA) (DVD)
• Buena Vista Home Entertainment (2001) (UK) (DVD)
• Criterion Collection, The (USA) (laserdisc)
• Gativideo (2001) (Argentina) (DVD)
• Gativideo (2001) (Argentina) (VHS)
• Imagem Filmes (Brazil) (DVD)
• Kinowelt Home Entertainment (2001) (Germany) (DVD)
• MCA/Universal Pictures (re-release)
• Miramax Films (1999) (USA) (re-release)
• Miramax Home Entertainment (USA) (VHS)
• Pan-Canadian Video Presentations (1983) (Canada) (video)
• Shôchiku Eiga
• VCI Distribution
• Vestron Video (1988) (UK) (VHS)
• Video Collection International (1992) (UK) (VHS)
• West Video (Russia) (DVD)

Other Companies

• Dougie Millings and Son  Beatles' wardrobe (as Dougie Millings & Son)
• Polygram Studios  engineered at (special edition re-release)
• Sound One Corporation  sound re-mixing (special edition re-release) (as Sound One Corp.)
• Triage Motion Picture Services  film restoration (special edition re-release) (as Triage Motion Picture Svcs.)

Also Known As:

Beatles No. 1 (UK) (working title)

Runtime:

87 min

Country:

UK

Language:

English | German

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.75 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital (1982 re-release) | Mono (RCA Sound Recording)

Certification:

Australia:G (original rating) | Canada:F (Ontario) (re-rating) (1982) | Canada:G (Manitoba/Quebec) | Canada:G (Nova Scotia) (original rating) (1982) | Canada:PG (Canadian Home Video rating) | Canada:PG (Ontario) (original rating) | Iceland:L | Portugal:M/12 | USA:Approved (original rating) | USA:G (re-rating) (1979) | USA:TV-14 (cable rating) | Argentina:Atp | Finland:S | France:U (2001 re-release) | Peru:PT | Sweden:Btl | UK:U | West Germany:6 | Australia:M

Filming Locations:

Charlotte Street, Fitzrovia, London, England, UK

Company:

Proscenium Films

Trivia:

When shooting began, The Beatles had not yet joined the British actor's union. They were hastily inducted on the set with Wilfrid Brambell proposing their membership, and Norman Rossington seconding the motion.

Goofs:

Crew or equipment visible: Reflected in one of the train windows as the fans chase the group along the station platform in the opening scene.

Quotes:

Paul: Yeah, where's the old mixer?
Grandfather: Here, Paulie.
Paul: I've got a few words to say to you, two-faced John McCartney.
John: Oh, leave him alone. He's back, isn't he? He can't help being old.
Paul: What's being old got to do with it? He's a trouble-maker and a mixer, that's good enough for me!

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Love Monkey: Coming Out (#1.8)" (2006)

Soundtrack:

A Nation Once Again

The Age of Innocence

This is it. There has never been and never will be another band like the Beatles. The innocence of the generation is showcased in A Hard Day's Night. The perfect musical for any audience, the Beatles capture a time that can never be repeated. Like 4 childhood friends knowing that the Old can never get them down, they represented everything good and right of the world. They reflected the generation that wanted to be heard. Almost 40 years later, they are still as young as ever. Timeless, beautiful, true. A Hard Day's Night is perfection!