The Beatles board a train for London where they will film a TV appearance. They sing songs and evade hoards of girls every step of the way. On the train, we meet Paul’s whacky grandfather, who the Beatles will have to contend with for the next few days. Once in London, the Fab Four are directed to stay put and answer fan mail by their stuffy manager. Feeling cooped up, they sneak out to a party. The next day, the boys attend a press conference and rehearse for their TV appearance. They keep getting into various shenanigans and challenging authority until their manager has to reel them back in. Paul’s grandfather convinces Ringo that he’s not living fully enough. In agreement, Ringo begins to wander London hoping to experience life but keeps getting into trouble. With their band manager and the show director losing their minds, the band mates go on a wild Ringo-chase. Once reunited, they perform for TV cameras and screaming girls. It’s good to be a Beatle.
With little plot and a lot of music, “A Hard Day’s Night” doesn’t play so much as a musical as it does an extended music video. Viewed this light, it’s one of the first music videos and features unique camera angles and brilliant editing cut to the music. Don’t go into this one expecting a deep exploration on what makes the Beatle’s tick. Rather, the film depicts a fictional, mockumentary, rockumentary, day-in-the-life of the Beatles. It is fun and funny. The four are still in their younger, boyish phase in this film, but in gentle ways, the film shows the underpinnings of them being aware of their role as icons and trendsetters. It also shows them challenging any ounce of authority that tries to exert control over them, from their band manager, to the show director, to the police, to the poor stage-hand that dared touch Ringo’s drum kit. While I could have used with more story, I quickly realized what the film was going for and had fun enough with it. But if I was a moviegoer in 1964, I probably would have bought a ticket for “Mary Poppins” instead. Lol.