A Hard Day's Night - The Beatles First Movie

This song was cut from the origianl release version of the film, but was later added as a prologue piece for the 1980 re-release.

The opening scene shows the Beatles running into, around and through the train station, being chased by fans, as they try to make their way onto the train.

Paul's Grandfather disappears on the train, and the lads go and search for him, where he is finally found in a compartment with a wealthy woman announcing 'congratulate me boys, I'm engaged'. In an attempt to keep him out of trouble, Paul puts him in the luggage car, where they are later joined by the rest of the group. To entertain themselves, they play cards and John begins to sing.

Patty Boyd (George Harrison's future wife) is one of the school girls in this scene.

Tired of sitting in their hotel room answering fan mail, the Beatles take a break at a local dance club. Meanwhile, Paul's grandfather takes Ringo's invitation, and borrows the black suit from the gentleman from room service to go gambling at Le Cirque.

The two sequences are intercut with each other, eventually ending with the Beatles manager making them leave the club, and then everyone going to Le Circe to get Paul's Grandfather (with the road manager 'Shake' saying he's Ringo's sister to get into Le Circe).

These two songs are played in the club while the boys dance and socialize.

This is the first song the Beatles 'rehearse' at the TV studio.

Watch George Harrison almost fall as he goes to lean against an amplifier.

This song is also performed in the concert sequence at the end of the movie.

My favorite scene in the movie (also happens to be one of my favorite songs).

Tired of being told to stay and wait, John gets up and leaves. When the others ask where he's going, he says he's leaving becuse he was told to stay. So the others get up and follow him out. They eventually exit the building and head down the fire escape into the open field below.

During the filming of A Hard Day's Night, George commented that there really wasn't a anything in it for him. Reviewing the script, the writer's realized he was right, so this scene was written while the movie was being filmed and added in for George.

This is one of the run-through scenes at the television studio, where they are told not to jiggle out of position.

During the song, as the camera pans around Paul McCartney, the klieg light in the background shines directly into the camera before catching him in silhoutte.

I think is one of the iconic images from this movie.

All the studio director cares about is getting them down to make-up for a little powder, for the shine.

Coming back to the stage, the Beatles come upon a dance segment to an instrumental version of 'I'm Happy Just to Dance With You'. Toward the end, Ringo joins in on drums and this is cut into another rehearsal sequence.

After this song is completed, the Beatles have about an hour before the show starts and are warned by their manager not to leave the theater.

After Paul's Grandfather convinces Ringo to go 'parading', he ends up getting picked up by the police for a series of minor infractions. John, Paul and George search in vain for him. Paul's Grandfather eventually also gets picked up by the police, but for his own safety as he is distributing autographed photos (forged by him) of the Beatles to their fans outside the theater. At the police station, he meets Ringo and makes a break for it, running back to the studio to get help and have Ringo rescued.

The four reunited Beatles end up getting back to the station in time for their show.

This scene reminds me of the Keystone Cops, especially the would be car thief who initially tries to hide every time the police run by, eventually not bothering since no one even notices him. When he does finally break into the car, a policeman runs up to him and tells him to follow them, and hops into the car with him. Makes me smile every time.

Back at the studio, the boys get their suits on and head for the stage, but not before Paul chastises his Grandfather for causing so much trouble.

Tell me Why is the first song of the final concert sequence.

For the final song of the concert, the Beatles perform one of their most popular songs (both at that time, and of all time), She Loves You.

My favorite part of the concert is when Paul's Grandfather manages to escape his handcuffs (he is handcuffed to a seat in the audience next to Shake so he can't cause any more trouble) and he pops up onto the stage - the look of absolute horror on the director's face is priceless.

The concert is over and it's time to push on to Wolverhampton straight away for a midnight matinee. But before they go, their manager has just one thing to say to John Lennon - 'you're a swine'.

The movie ends as the boys board a helicoptor and A Hard Day's Night plays as the credits roll.

The original movie was treated to an Enhanced Picture and Digitally Restored Soundtrack by Miramax prior to release on DVD in 2002.

This behind the scenes look was captured during the first days of filming on March 2, 1964.