A Hard Day's Night

During the course of 36 hours, The Beatles dodge hordes of adoring fans, try to keep Paul's rascally grandfather in line, pick on Ringo, and even manage to find a few moments of peace and revelry in a sparse field while they prepare for their latest television broadcast. Filmed on a shoestring and rushed to theaters at the height of Beatlemania, "A Hard Day's Night" is a rollicking, whimsical, and irreverent pseudo-documentary recreating and imagining what a day or so in the life of the Fab Four would be like. Director Richard Lester employs a number of exhilarating techniques that give the form a free flowing feel. The film greatly depicts the exploits of John, Paul, George, and Ringo in a series of light and humorous vignettes, including that of Wilfrid Brambell who is a particular treat as Paul's mischievous grandpa. It also features wonderful concert footage and a fine array of their early tunes including "Can't Buy Me Love", "She Loves You", and the title track. "A Hard Day's Night" gloriously captures a pop phenomenon that has shook the world like nothing since and seemingly does so without effort.