History Film / AHardDaysNight

The first film starring Music/TheBeatles. It provided clear caricatures of the members of the band – not ideal, but better than the {{Band Toon}}s. And it helped fuel the phenomenon it showed on-screen.

It was directed by Creator/RichardLester, who did a lot of surreal comedy (he'd previously worked on film adaptations of ''Radio/TheGoonShow''), some of which is seen in this film. Paul's grandfather was played by Creator/WilfridBrambell, a veteran of British TV of the era. The screenwriter was Alun Owen, who spent a week with the group to write the right script, and was nominated for an UsefulNotes/AcademyAward. If you'd like to find out what's scripted and [[ThrowItIn what's improvised]], his original screenplay has been published and is still in print.

* TheScottishTrope: For whatever reason, the name "Beatles" is never spoken during the film. (Most likely this has something to do with the lads being the most recognizable group in the world at this point; there's no doubt who anybody means by "them.")

!! Tropes:

* ComicallyMissingThePoint: When Ringo is sitting under a hairdryer wearing a bizarre wig, and incidentally reading a magazine:

-->'''John:''' Ringo, what are you up to?

It's just another day and a half in the life of Music/JohnLennon, Music/PaulMcCartney, Music/GeorgeHarrison, and Music/RingoStarr: A train and a room and a car and a room and a room and a room; lots of interviews and rehearsals and performances. Things are a little more unusual than most days, however, because Paul's ''supposed'' to be keeping an eye on his "[[Series/SteptoeAndSon very clean]]" grandfather, a "king mixer".[[note]]i.e. "first-rate troublemaker"[[/note]] But since when have the Beatles, off-stage, done what they were supposed to do?

It's just another day and a half in the life of Music/JohnLennon, Music/PaulMcCartney, Music/GeorgeHarrison, and Music/RingoStarr: A train and a room and a car and a room and a room and a room; lots of interviews and rehearsals and performances. Things are a bit more unusual than most days, however, because Paul's ''supposed'' to be keeping an eye on his "[[Series/SteptoeAndSon very clean]]" grandfather, a "king mixer".[[note]]i.e. "first-rate troublemaker"[[/note]] But since when have the Beatles, off-stage, done what they were supposed to do?

It's just another day and a half in the life of Music/JohnLennon, Music/PaulMcCartney, Music/GeorgeHarrison, and Music/RingoStarr: A train and a room and a car and a room and a room and a room; interviews and rehearsals and performances. Things are a little more unusual than most days, however, because Paul's ''supposed'' to be keeping an eye on his "[[Series/SteptoeAndSon very clean]]" grandfather, a "king mixer".[[note]]i.e. "first-rate troublemaker"[[/note]] But since when have the Beatles, off-stage, done what they were supposed to do?

* ActorAllusion: Paul's grandfather is frequently referred to as "clean" because the actor, Creator/WilfridBrambell, played a character who was frequently accused of being a "dirty old man" in ''Series/SteptoeAndSon'' (which begat [[TransAtlanticEquivalent the American version]] ''Series/SanfordAndSon''). While these jokes would often go over American viewers' heads, British audiences would've gotten the references immediately.[[note]]Bosley Crowther of the ''New York Times'', for example, seemed to think it was satirising the band's own reputations in press write-ups, but he also admitted in the same review that he couldn't tell any of the Beatles apart, except Ringo.[[/note]]

* ActorAllusion: Paul's grandfather is frequently referred to as "clean" because the actor, Creator/WilfridBrambell, played a character who was frequently accused of being a "dirty old man" in ''Series/SteptoeAndSon'' (which begat [[TransAtlanticEquivalent the American version]] ''Series/SanfordAndSon''). While these jokes would often go over American fans' heads, British audiences would've gotten the references immediately.[[note]]Bosley Crowther of the ''New York Times'', for example, seemed to think it was satirising the band's own reputations in press write-ups, but he also admitted in the same review that he couldn't tell any of the Beatles apart, except Ringo.[[/note]]

* ActorAllusion: Paul's grandfather is frequently referred to as "clean" because the actor, Creator/WilfridBrambell, played a character who was frequently accused of being a "dirty old man" in ''Series/SteptoeAndSon'' (which begat [[TransAtlanticEquivalent the American version]] ''Series/SanfordAndSon''). These jokes would often go over American fans' heads, but British audiences would've gotten the references immediately.[[note]]Bosley Crowther of the ''New York Times'', for example, seemed to think it was satirising the band's own reputations in press write-ups, but he also admitted in the same review that he couldn't tell any of the Beatles apart, except Ringo.[[/note]]

* AlwaysCamp: Simon Marshall is equal parts camp and uptight TV producer. He and his crew mistake George as the new spokesperson for a line of men's shirts which Simon instructs George to call "gear and fab and all the other pimply hyperboles." When George calls them "grotesque" and then calls resident teenager Susan Campey a drag ("We turn the sound down and say rude things"), Simon flips.

It's just another day and a half in the life of Music/JohnLennon, Music/PaulMcCartney, Music/GeorgeHarrison, and Music/RingoStarr: A train and a room and a car and a room and a room and a room; interviews and rehearsals and performances. Things are a little more unusual than most days, however, because Paul is ''supposed'' to be keeping an eye on his "[[Series/SteptoeAndSon very clean]]" grandfather, a "king mixer".[[note]]i.e. "first-rate troublemaker"[[/note]] But since when have the Beatles, off-stage, done what they were supposed to do?

The first film starring Music/TheBeatles. It provided clear caricatures of the members of the band -- not ideal, but better than the {{Band Toon}}s. And it helped fuel the phenomenon it showed on-screen.

[[caption-width-right:330: Ah, the almost-innocent joys of youth...]]

Released at the pinnacle of Beatlemania in 1964, the film has many innovations in cinematography (notably the invention of the hand-held camera shot and its use of the bird's-eye view shots during the "Can't Buy Me Love" sequence).

The Beatles later did four more movies: ''Film/{{Help}},'' ''Film/MagicalMysteryTour'' (though that one ended up a MadeForTVMovie), the cartoon ''WesternAnimation/YellowSubmarine'' (although it was more a case of NotQuiteStarring), and the actual documentary ''Film/LetItBe.''

[[quoteright:314:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/a-hard-days-night_6100.jpg]]
[[caption-width-right:314: Ah, the almost-innocent joys of youth...]]

It's just an ordinary day and a half in the life for Music/JohnLennon, Music/PaulMcCartney, Music/GeorgeHarrison, and Music/RingoStarr: A train and a room and a car and a room and a room and a room; interviews and rehearsals and performances. It's a little more unusual than most ordinary days, however, because Paul is ''supposed'' to be keeping an eye on his "[[Series/SteptoeAndSon very clean]]" grandfather, a "king mixer".[[note]]i.e. "first-rate troublemaker"[[/note]] But since when have the Beatles, off-stage, done what they were supposed to do?

Released at the pinnacle of Beatlemania in 1964, the film has many innovations in cinematography (notably the invention of the hand held camera shot and its use of the birds eye view shots during the "Can't Buy Me Love" sequence).

* BuxomIsBetter: Paul's grandfather certainly thinks so. When the {{Gambler Groupie|s}} that accompanies him at the casino (Creator/MargaretNolan) leans over his shoulder and shows off her cleavage, he grins lecherously and says: "I bet you're a great swimmer."

--->'''John:''' [[BlatantLies No.]]

* AluminumChristmasTrees: During the opening sequence, The Beatles are shown running from fans at the train station. Well, except for Paul, who's disguised himself by wearing a phony beard. In the early years of Beatlemania, the Beatles really wore disguises in public to avoid being seen. Even better, the scene really is of the band running from fans, which just happened to be caught on film.

* PlayingGertrude: Creator/WilfridBrambell was only thirty years older than Paul despite playing his grandfather.

%% * GettingCrapPastThe Radar: Due to overwhelming and persistent misuse, GCPTR is on-page examples only until 01 June 2021. If you are reading this in the future, please check the trope page to make sure your example fits the current definition.

* ActorAllusion: Paul's grandfather is frequently referred to as "clean" because the actor, Creator/WilfridBrambell, played a "dirty old man" in ''Series/SteptoeAndSon'' (which begat [[TransAtlanticEquivalent the American version]] ''Series/SanfordAndSon''). These jokes would often go over American fans' heads, but British audiences would've gotten the references immediately.[[note]]Bosley Crowther of the ''New York Times'', for example, seemed to think it was satirising the band's own reputations in press write-ups, but he also admitted in the same review that he couldn't tell any of the Beatles apart, except Ringo.[[/note]]

** Paul's Grandfather's complaint that "So far, I've been in a train and a room, a car and a room, and a room and a room!" is based on actual complaints the Beatles had about touring.

* ActorAllusion: Paul's grandfather is frequently referred to as "clean" because the actor, Creator/WilfridBrambell, played a "dirty old man" in ''Series/SteptoeAndSon'' (which begat [[TransAtlanticEquivalent the American version]] ''Series/SanfordAndSon''). These jokes would often go over American fans' heads, but British audiences would've gotten the references immediately.

* NiceHat: John wears a Nice Hat (a cap, really) for much of the film. It's nice enough that some copies of his book ''In His Own Write'' have pictures of him in that hat.

** Number of times the Beatles lead the policemen chasing them past a man attempting to steal a car. The burglar tries to look inconspicuous the first two times but gives up and doesn't even bother trying to hide what he's doing the last time.

It was directed by Richard Lester, who did a lot of surreal comedy (he'd previously worked on film adaptations of ''Radio/TheGoonShow''), some of which is seen in this film. Paul's grandfather was played by Creator/WilfridBrambell, a veteran of British TV of the era. The screenwriter was Alun Owen, who spent a week with the group to write the right script, and was nominated for an UsefulNotes/AcademyAward. If you'd like to find out what's scripted and [[ThrowItIn what's improvised]], his original screenplay has been published and is still in print.

* YoungerThanTheyLook: Richard Vernon, who plays the crusty old gentleman on the train, was only 15 years older than Ringo Starr. He was 39 when the film was shot.