A Hard Day's Night

A Hard Day's Night

Yesterday afternoon, I watched A Hard Day's Night, Richard Lester's chronicle of early Beatlemania and the Ur-pop film, the prototype for the "get me to the stage on time" band movie. How strange to see the Fab Four with that retrograde insouciance, before the cares of the world took over (or perhaps before Al Aronowitz introduced them to Dylan), before snarls and quarrels and 'artistic differences'. Just four likely lads from Liverpool, shot beautifully by Gil Taylor in crisp black and white, women in pursuit, the world lain out at their feet.

I'll write a full review of the film soon, but I just thought I'd get those thoughts out there first.

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Comments

nicky blue said…
I watched this a long time ago, but I remember vividly the sheer, almost unadulterated, joy in the movie (esp that speeded up scene of the 4 of them dancing...on the roof?) - a liberation with which you can't help but be infected. It must have been such a magical time to live in.

On the other end of the spectrum...... Have you seen Pennebaker's Don't Look Back? Dylan's generally alot darker, but DLB is just depressing. The subject is a similarly astonishing musical talent, but addled with so much pain and bitterness and vindictiveness (and drugs).

It's for that reason I so unabashedly like That Thing You Do! Yeah, it's not the deepest film in the world, but it's got a shade of that AHDN ecstasy and that always bring a smile to my face. Bring it on!
4 July 2005 at 19:49
Eric "Babe" Morse said…
Paul's "very clean" grandfather rules.
"...so far I've seen a train and a room, a car and a room, and a room and a room."
The line I quote as a complete non sequitor at times, because it makes me laugh every time I see it is when Ringo's trying to mail a letter and the guy in the box grabs his hand, and... crap. I think that's Help! Never mind. Anyways, loved it.
5 July 2005 at 23:58
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