Rent The Beatles: A Hard Day's Night (1964)

Interesting & Fun British Pop Film - The Beatles: A Hard Day's Night review by GI

Even if you don't like The Beatles or think they are no longer of any relevance this is still an important film and it remains hugely enjoyable. Richard Lester created a zany comedy that captured the phenomenon of 'Beatlemania', showed a sort of snapshot of the daily lives of the band and more importantly delved craftily into the divisive nature of British society of the mid 1960s with the teenage generation conflicting sharply with the 'establishment'. There's no real plot as such and the film is mostly the Beatles being chased by fans and/or the police and Richard Lester basically filmed them doing whatever they wanted. Their individual personalities are neatly captured though and there's a host of British comedy actors supporting including Wilfred Brambell of Steptoe & Son fame playing Paul McCartney's fictional grandfather. Mostly of course you get a great collection of songs that are still magical today and everyone knows them whatever your age or taste.

Musical Realism. - The Beatles: A Hard Day's Night review by Steve

Released right on the bang of when The Beatles exploded as a cultural as well as musical phenomenon, their debut film also feels like a turning point in the decade. The UK still looks like the tatty, sooty industrial wasteland of the British new wave, but the screen comes alive with a freedom and optimism which heralds the swinging sixties.

George, John, Paul and Ringo are the essence of the band as a gang.  They inhabit a shared, secret domain, which separates and protects the group from outsiders. They wryly mock the old England of social class, war heroes, bobbies on the beat and the old school tie.

And this feeling of emancipation is in Richard Lester's direction too. All is movement, with the hand held cameras, the zooms, pans and jump cuts. Not all in focus. It is a day in the life of the band, which they mostly spend horsing around with Wilfred Bramble, then climaxes with a performance at a tv studio to an audience of screaming girls.

The script draws on their image as four ordinary lads from Liverpool. There is barely a plot so when the narrative gets stuck it coasts on surreal humour. But the action is stuffed with music, including three UK/US number ones. Now it's a period piece, and a reminder of a time when pop groups could become global superstars without expensive dentistry.