Press Release Criterion Press Release: The Beatles A Hard Day's Night (1964) (4k UHD) (Blu-ray) (1 Viewer)

[Ronald Epstein]

​

Meet the Beatles! Just one month after they exploded onto the U.S. scene with their Ed Sullivan Show appearance, John, Paul, George, and Ringo began working on a project that would bring their revolutionary talent to the big screen. This film, in which the bandmates play slapstick versions of themselves, captured the astonishing moment when they officially became the singular, irreverent idols of their generation and changed music forever. Directed with raucous, anything-goes verve by Richard Lester (The Knack . . . and How to Get It) and featuring a slew of iconic pop anthems—including the title track, “Can’t Buy Me Love,” “I Should Have Known Better,” and “If I Fell”—A Hard Day’s Night, which reconceived the movie musical and exerted an incalculable influence on the music video, is one of the most deliriously entertaining movies of all time.

FILM INFO​

• United Kingdom
• 1964
• 87 minutes
• Black & White
• 1.75:1
• English
• Spine #711

DIRECTOR-APPROVED SPECIAL EDITION FEATURES​

• New 4K digital restoration, approved by director Richard Lester, with three audio options—a monaural soundtrack as well as 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 4K UHD and Blu-ray
• In the 4K UHD edition: One 4K UHD disc of the film presented in Dolby Vision HDR and one Blu-ray with the film and special features
• Audio commentary featuring cast and crew (dual-format and 4K UHD only)
• In Their Own Voices, a program featuring 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 (dual-format and 4K UHD only)
• Picturewise, a program about Lester’s early work, featuring a 2014 audio interview with the director (dual-format and 4K UHD only)
• The Running Jumping & Standing Still Film (1960), Lester’s Oscar-nominated short (dual-format and 4K UHD only)
• Anatomy of a Style, a 2014 program on Lester’s methods (dual-format and 4K UHD only)
• Interview from 2014 with Beatles biographer Mark Lewisohn (dual-format and 4K UHD only)
• English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing
• PLUS: An essay by critic Howard Hampton and excerpts from a 1970 interview with Lester (dual-format and 4K UHD only)

New cover by Rodrigo Corral

January 18, 2022

 

[Ronald Epstein]

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[roxy1927]

I was so so tempted to get the bluray. Thank goodness I didn't. So no double dipping. Still 49.95 is pretty steep even for 4k.

 

[dpippel]

I was so so tempted to get the bluray. Thank goodness I didn't. So no double dipping. Still 49.95 is pretty steep even for 4k.

That's just the MSRP. It will be less expensive after release day and, in fact, Criterion.com is currently selling it for $39.96, along with all of their other upcoming 4K UHD releases.

 

[RICK BOND]

I got mine Today. But noticed Problems on the 4K UHD Disc ! At the end of the TV show after The Beatles play She Loves You. Norm says to John ...You're a swine. As the start to walk out we see a 5 second shot of the video control room again. With the song If I Fell showing on the tv screens. ?? How does this stuff happen ? The Bluray does not have this problem. Will Criterion do a replacement disc ? They should. Also during She Loves You there is a shot of John singing I Should Have Known Better ! ??

 

[tskogg]

I got mine Today. But noticed Problems on the 4K UHD Disc ! At the end of the TV show after The Beatles play She Loves You. Norm says to John ...You're a swine. As the start to walk out we see a 5 second shot of the video control room again. With the song If I Fell showing on the tv screens. ?? How does this stuff happen ? The Bluray does not have this problem. Will Criterion do a replacement disc ? They should. Also during She Loves You there is a shot of John singing I Should Have Known Better ! ??

Same here!