The funny film debut of the Beatles, starring as themselves

Rating: 8/10 (28 November 2010)

Released in 1964, at the height of Beatlemania, this was the silver screen debut of the Beatles. This film was released 22 years before I was born, which means I was born sixteen years after the band broke up, and six years after the assassination of John Lennon, but I cannot remember a time in my life when I was completely unfamiliar with the music of the groundbreaking group. The first time I ever saw "A Hard Day's Night" might have been in the late 90's, and I watched it again for the first time in many years in 2007. I still thought this 1964 comedy was good when I finally saw it again after all those years, so I saw no reason why I wouldn't still be impressed nearly four years later. Without a doubt, it didn't wear thin with my latest viewing.
The Beatles (John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, and Ringo Starr), from Liverpool, England, have a live TV performance scheduled to take place in London. The band members manage to escape from a crowd of crazed fans and board a train to take them from Liverpool to London. Paul brings his grandfather along for the trip, and the train ride does not turn out to be a very peaceful experience for the band members. Upon arrival in London, they inevitably come across more crazed fans to escape from. Their lives continue to be burdened by their stardom during their stay in the capital of the United Kingdom as they face problems, especially with Paul's grandfather. Even though he is constantly called a "clean old man" by the people who see him, it's hard to keep him out of trouble. The misadventures might eventually even threaten the band's upcoming performance, which is supposed to happen very soon!
The opening sequence of this mockumentary features the hit Beatles song with the same title as the film, and shows the band members trying to get to the train while they are pursued by crazed fans. This is a great, energetic opening sequence with a fitting song to go with it. After this, the film shows the band on the train, and at this point, it's VERY funny, with lots of humorous dialogue, the people the band members meet on board, the presence of Paul's grandfather affecting the experience, etc. After the train ride, the laughs continue, but it eventually becomes clear that the film is not as great or consistently funny as it looks at first, and there are times when the camera work is shaky. Still, there are laughs throughout the film, with the dialogue and situations, even if they're not usually very big laughs. The band members all put on good comical performances as themselves, and the other cast performances are generally favourable as well, including Wilfrid Brambell as Paul's fictional grandfather. The Beatles songs featured in the film are a big part of it as well, and they also help.
My latest viewing of this film was my first one since watching "Spice World" three years ago. That film was released over thirty years after this one, but certainly is a similar idea. Both movies feature a band playing themselves, experiencing fictional trouble as the time for a big upcoming live show which they are scheduled play in London draws nearer. However, I thought that the 90's film was very bad, and never before or since have I seen a movie which was that much like watching something in fast forward mode when I actually wasn't! I am not a Spice Girls fan, but even if I were, I highly doubt that would have made TOO much of a difference when I finally decided to watch their movie years after their heyday! Unlike that mess, "A Hard Day's Night" is funny, well-written, well-cast, and focused, not just slopped together like the later film that's often been compared to it. If you're a Beatles fan and want a laugh, but haven't seen this 1964 music comedy, there's probably a lot you could find to like here.