A Hard Day's Night (Criterion Collection) (Blu-ray + DVD)

The Beatles, starring in their first full-length, hilarious, action-packed film!

A Hard Day's Night (Criterion Collection)

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Format: Blu-ray (2 Discs)

item number: 39KE3

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A Hard Day's Night (Criterion Collection, 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray) for $43

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Blu-ray Details

Number of Discs: 2
Rated: Not Rated
Run Time: 1 hours, 27 minutes
Video: Black & White
Released: June 24, 2014
Originally Released: 1964
Label: Criterion Collection

Blu-ray/DVD Features:

Encoding: Region 1 (USA & Canada)
Note: New 4K digital restoration, approved by director Richard Lester, with three audio options - a monaural soundtrack as well as newly created stereo and 5.1 surround mixes supervised by sound producer Giles Martin at Abbey Road Studios - presented in uncompressed monaural, uncompressed stereo, and DTS-HD Master Audio on the Blu-ray

Audio commentary featuring cast and crew
In Their Own Voices, a new piece combining 1964 interviews with the Beatles with behind-the-scenes footage and photos
"You Can't Do That": The Making of "A Hard Day's Night," a 1994 documentary by producer Walter Shenson including an outtake performance by the Beatles
Things They said Today, a 2002 documentary about the film featuring Lester, music producer George Martin, screenwriter Alun Owen, and cinematographer Gilbert Taylor
Picturewise, a new piece about Lester's early work, featuring a new audio interview with the director
The Running Jumping & Standing Still Film (1960), Lester's Oscar-nominated short
Anatomy of a Style, a new piece on Lester's methods
New interview with Mark Lewisohn
One Blu-ray and two DVDs, with all content available in both formats
PLUS: a booklet featuring an essay by critic Howard Hampton and excerpts from a 1970 interview with Lester

Special Edition
Aspect Ratio: Widescreen - 1.75
Audio:

Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo - English
Dolby Digital 5.1 - English
DTS HD Master Audio - English
Subtitles - English

Performers, Cast and Crew:

Starring		The Beatles
Performer:		John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, Ringo Starr, Wilfred Brambell, Norman Rossington, Victor Spinetti, John Junkin, Anna Quayle, Kenneth Haigh, Richard Vernon & Eddie Malin
Directed by		Richard Lester
Edited by		John Jympson
Screenplay by		Alun Owen
Produced by		Walter Shenson
Director of Photography:		Gilbert Taylor

Memorable Quotes and Dialog:

"Are you a mod or a rocker'"--Reporter to Ringo
"Um, no. I'm a mocker."

- Ringo (Ringo Starr)

"What would you call that hairstyle you're wearing'"--Reporter to George
"Arthur."

- George (George Harrison) to Reporter

Entertainment Reviews:

Total Film

May 1, 2001

Chicago Sun-Times

Oct 27, 1996

Newsday

Jan 4, 2018

Empire

Jul 4, 2015

Hollywood Reporter

Dec 1, 2000

USA Today

Sep 27, 2002

Los Angeles Times

Dec 1, 2000

Product Description:

A HARD DAY'S NIGHT presents a fictionalized day in the life of the Beatles as they give a performance on a live television show. Filmed just a month after their appearance on the Ed Sullivan Show in February 1964, this film--the Beatles' first--introduces us to the unique personalities of each member of the band. The film opens with the Fab Four boarding a train mobbed with adoring young fans (mostly women) as they attempt to travel to the television studio in London. The antics of the band during rehearsals and makeup application provide a large part of the comic material in this feature, though there are other moments of pure hilarity. The unscripted vignette featuring a hangover-suffering Ringo is especially funny, particularly when he is arrested and risks having to miss the broadcast. None of this goes unnoticed by the director of the show, played by Victor Spinetti, who went on to become a recurring cast member in Beatles movies. As the clock ticks away dramatically, our heroes manage to free Ringo from jail and sneak onto the stage in the nick of time, delighted in the knowledge that they have nearly driven the director mad in the process. Arguably the first music video ever made, this faux documentary and its shooting style have been a tremendous influence on nearly every rock and roll feature since.

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Production Notes:

Theatrical release: July 6, 1964.
A HARD DAY'S NIGHT was filmed and produced in only 7 weeks, at a budget of 180,000 pounds, or $500,000.
The opening scene, where the Beatles are mobbed by fans while getting onto a train, is actual documentary footage. A leak from the production department made the filming locations known to fans, so that when the Beatles showed up to film this first scene, there were hundreds of crazed, rowdy fans already there.
Brian Epstein, the Beatles' manager, gave the rights to the accompanying album to United Artists before the film was released. The album's advance sales more than covered the film's budget.
The Beatles were big fans of the comedy of Peter Sellers and Spike Mulligan. Director Richard Lester was chosen in large part because he helmed comedy series starring both men.
John Lennon and Paul McCartney wrote six new songs for the film.
Richard Lester makes a cameo appearance during the live performance scene, and a very young Phil Collins briefly appears as an audience member during the television performance scene.