Beatles back in “˜Hard Day’s Night’
By Daily Bruin Staff
Nov. 29, 2000 9:00 p.m.
 Miramax Films Paul McCartney appears
startled in a scene from "A Hard Day’s Night," which is being
re-released by Miramax 35 years after its initial run.
By Brent Hopkins
Daily Bruin Senior Staff
Thirty-five years after the fact, the Beatles still look like
the world’s most cuddly band. At least they sure do to the
mobs of voracious girls who follow them everywhere in “A Hard
Day’s Night.”
Three-and-a-half decades after it first hit the silver screen,
the Fab Four’s debut film hasn’t lost a thing.
You’d think that the mobs of screaming fans would seem
strange and dated today, but they are a timeless phenomenon.
Knowing that John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and
Ringo Starr, pictured on their way to the top, would bitterly flame
out a scant six years later, makes watching the film strangely
bittersweet. Though it’s sad to know that the fresh, innocent
boys shown here won’t last forever, it’s nice to have
that slice of young purity.
In 1964, the quartet was still finding its place in the world.
Already a commercial success in both Britain and in the United
States, the members of the group still made up a bubblegum boy
band, borrowing heavily from American rock ‘n’ roll
styles.
 "A Hard Day’s Night" was the Beatles’ first feature film.
From left, George Harrison, John
Lennon, Ringo Starr and Paul
McCartney starred in the 1964 movie. With Ringo being the
oldest at 24, they were still fresh-faced youngsters, designed to
look cute and pleasant in their matching suits. Though they’d
already garnered a fair amount of commercial success, manager Brian
Epstein decided that the best way to further the band’s
influence was via movies, which could bring the boys to the world
without the rigors of touring.
Little did he know how successful he’d be.
As “A Hard Day’s Night” opens, propelled by
the energetic title track, the foursome enters, dashing away from a
pack of screaming fans. This is pretty much how the rest of the
movie continues. Just like the omnipresent fast-paced music,
they’re always in a hurry.
Whether it’s running to catch a train, rushing to get
through an interview, escaping the pressures of being out in public
or even sitting around playing cards, the Beatles seem to do
everything at lightning speed. It’s no wonder they’d
give up touring a few years later.
Though done with a light-hearted twist, “A Hard
Day’s Night” captures the rigors of rock stardom well.
With such an intensely public life, it’s easy to see why
they’re always trying to get out of the public eye.
The cute little boy image is hyped to a maximum, showing the
foursome as essentially rambunctious youngsters, only looking for
some innocent amusement. Though they’re not above looking at
a pretty girl now and then, the main source of entertainment is
just childlike fun.
After ducking out on their controlling managers, they frolic in
a field, shoving each other around and dancing to the sound of
their own music. Though their appetite for drug use later became
legendary, here, their strongest vice is Coca-Cola. Even their
lustful side is toned down, with the majority of the ribald remarks
coming from Paul’s imaginary grandfather, played with
drooling zest by Wilfrid Brambell.
Seen through modern eyes, the movie can seem a little odd. Now
that the name “The Beatles” has become a cultural
institution, known more for its psychedelic connotations than its
wide-eyed youth, it’s hard to watch the merrymaking without
laughing. If audiences can set aside their contemporary
perceptions, however, the movie is still extremely enjoyable.
So while it may be a little chilling today to see someone point
at John and say “I’ll murder you,” when he gets
out of line, it’s important to remember the 1964 mind-set.
Back then, there was no “Sgt. Pepper,” not too many
drugs, no Yoko Ono and no talk of breaking up.
“A Hard Day’s Night” may be a little silly in
some respects. Then again, this was before the band got
“bigger than Jesus,” in John’s words. Even now,
it’s refreshing to see the four lads from Liverpool in all
their young glory.
FILM: “A Hard Day’s Night” opens Friday at the
Nuart Theatre at 11272 Santa Monica Boulevard. Call (310) 478-6379
for showtimes and ticket information.
