A few months ago Miramax re-released “A Hard Day’s Night” on a collector’s edition DVD, packed with extras. What could have been a pathetic exploitation of the Beatles’ rising fame is actually a debonair and funny film.
The setting is July 1964. The Beatles landed at Kennedy airport five months ago, and Beatle hysteria still grips an entire continent. The band releases its first movie, “A Hard Day’s Night,” which immediately is hailed by critics and fans as special and endearing.
The script of such a movie should be clever and light, and it is. The script is full of sly puns and plays on words, many of which are laugh-out-loud funny. A quotation from Roger Ebert on the packaging of the DVD proclaims it as “irreverent,” and it certainly is.
Though today it may not be thought remotely scandalous, very subtle sexual references in the script draw smiles from attentive viewers. Although the plot is minimal in importance, as the movie is based around a single televised concert The Beatles play in Britain, Richard Lester’s exciting form of energetic directing permeates each scene: the camera always moves. The cinematography fits the carefree screenplay perfectly. This, melded with the free-wheeling soundtrack, form a great movie.
The Beatles are not bad actors and have an unsurprisingly calm and clear presence on the screen. John Lennon in particular shines as the most photogenic of the four. The soundtrack includes numerous Beatle anthems such as “I Should Have Known Better,” “If I Fell,” “And I Love Her” and “Can’t Buy Me Love.” The music delivers.
The bonus DVD has a wealth of fascinating information in the form of interviews and documentaries. Interviews with the director, sound editors, choreographers and the production crew offer an interesting perspective into how miraculous the movie’s production actually was.
The documentary’s most intriguing parts are those with George Martin, the Beatles’ producer. His comments on each of the film’s songs provide an unequalled glimpse into the everyday songwriting habits of one of the world’s most beloved bands.
The DVD has one major drawback. It lacks interviews with The Beatles. The added features are wonderful, but listening to various people talk about the cast without any cast members commenting themselves is distracting and unnerving.
The Beatles shine in their movie. With exuberance and wonder they take their roles, not yet jaded by fame. Rarely will one ever see a musical act adapt to the screen so well or with such humor. Laugh and enjoy.