You can watch it for the soundtrack not the plot.

I remember seeing it in the theater when it was released (my sister's mother took me to see it), I was 10 & I was pissed off at the others 'girls' in the theater screaming their heads off. I couldn't hear what was going on, so I asked my sister's mother to talk to the manager! I was a weird child.

It's just a glorified music video. Some artists do for some songs, others do for an entire album. :D

Wow I just watched this movie for the 3rd(!) time and still hated it. Came here and was surprised to see I'd posted my exact thoughts 5 years ago.

But one thing helped me warm up a bit. On the bonus features there's a 60s interview with the band where you realize how inexperienced they were at the movie business (and even stardom in general) and how they really struggled to "act" lines that they normally wouldn't say. John Lennon sums up my feelings toward the movie when he says something like, "Parts of the movie are really embarrassing. But there are parts I like; the Ringo scenes & the old man in the train, I like. But other parts are really embarrassing to us."

Which goes back to what I said above, that the problem isn't the band and certainly not the music, but it's the silly screenplay that kills it. Or rather makes it so goofy that perhaps that's its niche charm.

One thing that occurred to me as I was watching (relating to what @bratface said) is that maybe this movie was made for the silly pre-teen crowd who might enjoy the goofy slapstick stuff, or at least be screaming so hard they wouldn't notice how hollow the movie is...

@bratface said:

I remember seeing it in the theater when it was released (my sister's mother took me to see it), I was 10 & I was pissed off at the others 'girls' in the theater screaming their heads off. I couldn't hear what was going on, so I asked my sister's mother to talk to the manager! I was a weird child.

I have always found this movie idiotic, unfunny, and never cared for it at all.

@genplant29 said:

I have always found this movie idiotic, unfunny, and never cared for it at all.

Sums it up for me too. But I'm baffled (and challenged) by the fact that it's a classic & recently got the Criterion 4k deluxe treatment.

I'm also trying to appreciate the Beatles more in general, for their undenyable influence on music. But this movie aint helping.

I just now read the Wikipedia article about this movie. Apparently critics far and wide consider it great. THIS movie? 🤔

Btw, I'm a huge fan of the Beatles music (I was born during first half of the '60s, so grew up regularly hearing their terrific hit songs on the radio, and singing along; also purchased their Greatest Hits album [on cassette, so could play while driving around in my car; also got Ringo's very enjoyable '70s solo album, I think which was a greatest hits one, also on cassette] during my teens), so do love that. I'm a fan of the various individual Beatles' (particularly Paul's and Ringo's) '70s and early '80s post-Beatles careers and resultant hits.

@genplant29 said:

I just now read the Wikipedia article about this movie. Apparently critics far and wide consider it great. THIS movie? 🤔

Btw, I'm a huge fan of the Beatles music (I was born during first half of the '60s, so grew up regularly hearing their terrific hit songs on the radio, and singing along; also purchased their Greatest Hits album [on cassette, so could play while driving around in my car; also got Ringo's very enjoyable '70s solo album, I think which was a greatest hits one, also on cassette] during my teens), so do love that. I'm a fan of the various individual Beatles' (particularly Paul's and Ringo's) '70s and early '80s post-Beatles careers and resultant hits.

You & me both... I think the Beatles truly deserve the hype because they really lurched 20th century music in a new direction, for the first time in popular music introducing influences from other genres (classical) and cultures (India), as well as solid pop songwriting like we have on this album/movie. Since we're both fans of the music, it would be interesting to see if either of us can find the hidden appeal of this movie.

Another thing that warmed me up is learning that the song "Hard Day's Night" was written for this movie. Not the other way around. Paul says they originally thought it was a weird title and would never work as a song, but they got to writing and the result is a great song which outdoes the movie.

So maybe the love for this movie is really about the soundtrack more than the silliness on screen. After all, we don't fault great 80s bands for the stupid videos they did back then 😬 Talk about embarrassing...

A bit off-topic, this is the Ringo album (on cassette) I had back in the day. I was crazy about it! (Still readily recall the listed songs fondly. Great for happily singing along to! Darn: Now I'm feeling like ordering this CD for the wonderful memories it'll bring of my teen years of many moons ago, driving around [frequently with school chums in tow] in my first car. 😀 )

@genplant29 said:

A bit off-topic, this is the Ringo album (on cassette) I had back in the day. I was crazy about it! (Still readily recall the listed songs fondly. Great for happily singing along to! Darn: Now I'm feeling like ordering this CD for the wonderful memories it'll bring of my teen years of many moons ago, driving around [frequently with school chums in tow] in my first car. 😀 )

That's a new one to me! I didn't really keep up with any of their post-Beatles output except the big hits (Imagine, Band on the Run), but I'm suddenly curious.

On the subject of Ringo, I think his subplot was really the movie's saving grace. When he wanders off he has an interesting existential journey that has a lot of nice moments like his chat at the river with the kid, a metaphorical version of him skipping school with his 3 delinquent mates. I wish the movie had focused on that subplot entirely. It would've made the whole story more interesting ("Where's Ringo?") rather than a bunch of seemingly random bits about the old man causing trouble.

Maybe that's the main reason why I didn't like the movie. I didn't find the old man to be funny at all, just kinda creepy and annoying. Why they made him the central character is beyond me!

@rooprect said:

Wow I just watched this movie for the 3rd(!) time and still hated it. Came here and was surprised to see I'd posted my exact thoughts 5 years ago.

But one thing helped me warm up a bit. On the bonus features there's a 60s interview with the band where you realize how inexperienced they were at the movie business (and even stardom in general) and how they really struggled to "act" lines that they normally wouldn't say. John Lennon sums up my feelings toward the movie when he says something like, "Parts of the movie are really embarrassing. But there are parts I like; the Ringo scenes & the old man in the train, I like. But other parts are really embarrassing to us."

Which goes back to what I said above, that the problem isn't the band and certainly not the music, but it's the silly screenplay that kills it. Or rather makes it so goofy that perhaps that's its niche charm.

One thing that occurred to me as I was watching (relating to what @bratface said) is that maybe this movie was made for the silly pre-teen crowd who might enjoy the goofy slapstick stuff, or at least be screaming so hard they wouldn't notice how hollow the movie is...

@bratface said: I remember seeing it in the theater when it was released (my sister's mother took me to see it), I was 10 & I was pissed off at the others 'girls' in the theater screaming their heads off. I couldn't hear what was going on, so I asked my sister's mother to talk to the manager! I was a weird child.

Is that a dig? 🤔

I'm pretty sure roo didn't mean it that way. I took him to mean kids generally are easy to amuse. (I think it's the young crowd overall his comment was referencing.)

@genplant29 said:

I'm pretty sure roo didn't mean it that way. I took him to mean kids generally are easy to amuse. (I think it's the young crowd overall his comment was referencing.)

Yup, not a dig at all. Just an objective statement about their euphoric young crowd that would eat up anything they see on screen, as long as it isn't dry. Same can be said about any megastar's fanbase today.

Welp I have some pretty significant updates after reading the 70 page Criterion booklet and watching 2 1/2 hrs of bonus features, especially the ones that pick apart certain scenes piece by piece. Ok I admit this is an important film. Not necessarily enjoyable but important. If I had to sum it up in 1 sentence, it's that A Hard Day's Night totally broke the traditional pop "jukebox musical" format and set the template for how a modern rock video should be.

There's no goofy contrived lovestory or narrative. Instead for the 1st time in a major musical, this was almost like a reality show giving us a day in the life of megastars. Except it's not straight reality; there's a clearly established sense of surrealism, perhaps the seed that would sprout Monty Python? On a technical level, lots of new tricks were introduced into the cinematic musical vocabulary. Simple things we now take for granted, like closeups on the guitar strings, stylistic touches like the 360 degree camera swing around the singer, and of course the MTV style editing of rapid disorienting cuts were all established here in this movie. In fact, in 1984 MTV honored director Richard Lester with the supreme award "Father of the Music Video".

In terms of the story, one of its most striking characteristics is the way it doesn't feel scripted. Even though it actually was, the movie feels ad libbed and spontaneous. Again this may seem annoying or amateurish today, since that's how every youtube vlogger comes across, but back in '64 it was insane for a major motion picture to have such a casual approach. It broke down the wall of formality.

There's a great documentary on the disc, hosted by none other than Phil Collins (who was actually an extra in the movie!) that really delves into these and other points. There are some bits with Roger Ebert ranking this in his top 5 musicals of all time. Found it here on youtube:

THE BEATLES | You Can't Do That! | Making Of A HARD DAY'S NIGHT

@rooprect said:

@genplant29 said:

I'm pretty sure roo didn't mean it that way. I took him to mean kids generally are easy to amuse. (I think it's the young crowd overall his comment was referencing.)

Yup, not a dig at all. Just an objective statement about their euphoric young crowd that would eat up anything they see on screen, as long as it isn't dry. Same can be said about any megastar's fanbase today.

Welp I have some pretty significant updates after reading the 70 page Criterion booklet and watching 2 1/2 hrs of bonus features, especially the ones that pick apart certain scenes piece by piece. Ok I admit this is an important film. Not necessarily enjoyable but important. If I had to sum it up in 1 sentence, it's that A Hard Day's Night totally broke the traditional pop "jukebox musical" format and set the template for how a modern rock video should be.

There's no goofy contrived lovestory or narrative. Instead for the 1st time in a major musical, this was almost like a reality show giving us a day in the life of megastars. Except it's not straight reality; there's a clearly established sense of surrealism, perhaps the seed that would sprout Monty Python? On a technical level, lots of new tricks were introduced into the cinematic musical vocabulary. Simple things we now take for granted, like closeups on the guitar strings, stylistic touches like the 360 degree camera swing around the singer, and of course the MTV style editing of rapid disorienting cuts were all established here in this movie. In fact, in 1984 MTV honored director Richard Lester with the supreme award "Father of the Music Video".

In terms of the story, one of its most striking characteristics is the way it doesn't feel scripted. Even though it actually was, the movie feels ad libbed and spontaneous. Again this may seem annoying or amateurish today, since that's how every youtube vlogger comes across, but back in '64 it was insane for a major motion picture to have such a casual approach. It broke down the wall of formality.

There's a great documentary on the disc, hosted by none other than Phil Collins (who was actually an extra in the movie!) that really delves into these and other points. There are some bits with Roger Ebert ranking this in his top 5 musicals of all time. Found it here on youtube:

THE BEATLES | You Can't Do That! | Making Of A HARD DAY'S NIGHT

I was just curious as to why you included my little blurb in your comment.

@rooprect said:

Yup, not a dig at all. Just an objective statement about their euphoric young crowd that would eat up anything they see on screen, as long as it isn't dry. Same can be said about any megastar's fanbase today.

Yes, fans - of all age groups - will follow their megastar everywhere. "Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour" concert and movie has made Taylor Swift a billionaire in 2023. She is more popular than other stars like Beyoncé and Billie Eilish, and many non-fans have asked the question 'what is so special about her and her music?'.