A HARD DAY’S NIGHT (1964)

At the time of its release, The Beatles already established as cultural icons of 60s. The short hairstyle was raze even after a decade and the hysteric craze all over them is just phenomenon. There’s freshness in their melodies like no other, innocence and fun in their simple lyrics and their clone like presence express joy and freedom in all its impulsive rhythm. That’s the reason enough why they’re still timeless and ruling on No# 1 position of Rolling Stone’s 100 Greatest Artists of All Time.

Shot and edited by Richard Lester, this B&W semi documentary style film is a day in The Beatles lives. As film starts with title tracks, we see John, Paul, George and Ringo running in streets chased by surging crowd of girls. We see them on train, on road, in studio, at press conference and finally the concert. Their screen presence is impromptu, natural in all youthful energy and fun and though they’re more than celebrity then, they seem so unpretentious and down to earth. We can hear their easy go funny reply to fans and reporters and their recklessness on/off screen putting their manager and TV director constantly in mess. But the spirit of the film lies in their invocation to ‘do what you feel’ kind of freedom.

But above all the biggest reason to watch this film is great melodies. It’s just fun to see them performing with all irreverent fun. Watch their loose madness on track and field in ‘Can’t buy me love’. The real fun comes from Ringo who just before the climactic show ran away from theatre to street enjoying his carefree freedom. His messy fun continues on road, in restaurant and even on muddy potholes to win a gentle lady’s heart. The magic moment is concert coverage with melodies back to back and as they played ‘She loves you yeah…yeah…yeah’, camera pans to cheering, shouting, jumping frenzy of young girls with tears in their eyes. The way they drive orgasm to audience with their music, I must say ‘with love like that, you know you should be glad.’ And before it ends, do watch those classic black & white artistic images rapidly changing on screen along with ending titles.

Kudos to Richard Lester for bringing this nostalgic timeless experience.

Ratings-8.5/10