- Joined
- Jul 3, 1997
- Messages
- 66,759
- Real Name
- Ronald Epstein
A Hard Day's Night
Studio: Miramax
Year: 1964
Rated: G
Film Length: 92 minutes
Aspect Ratio: 16X9 Enhanced Widescreen (1.66:1)
Subtitles: English
Rock and Roll was forever changed in the early 60s
when four musicians from Liverpool known as The
Beatles created a pop-cultural revolution unlike
anything seen before or after it. For several
months, the Beatles sold two-thirds of all singles
and albums in the country and held the top four or
five spots on the hit charts.
It was destined that the fab four would soon come
to the silver screen. Alan Owen came up with a
screenplay after he spent three days with The
Beatles during their England tour in 1963.
Through Director Richard Lester's intricate
direction and the natural charms of John, Paul,
George, and Ringo, A Hard Day's Night
tells the story of two "typical" days in the lives
of the Beatles as they get ready for a concert.
Told in a documentary-like style, the film is
filled with slapstick, sight gags and silly
situations that hold this film together in between
the musical sequences. Of course, all of this
was done to promote their newest album.
Miramax has released A Hard Day's Night in
a deluxe 2-disc Collector's Series Edition that
arrives in a gray slipcase that sports the faces
of the fab four through its transparent windows.
The innards pull out to an attractive 4-pane gatefold
that hold the 2-discs in plastic hub housing amongst
some beautiful glossy B&W photos of The Beatles.
How is the transfer?
On a whole, the black and white transfer looks
quite good for its age. Though the transfer is
not as sharp as I would have expected, The picture
is well detailed with solid black levels. There
are a few noticeable traces of film dirt present
from time to time, but otherwise, the print is very
clean.
I started to watch this film with the 5.1
surround track, but quickly opted to turn it
off as it added nothing to the presentation.
In 5.1 mode, the dialogue is placed in the center
channel, with nothing supported in the front left
and right channels. It is only during the film's
musical numbers that the fronts come into play
with the rear channels only adding an "echo"
effect to what is happening in the front channels.
There is also narely any added bass through the
LFE channel. By opting to listen to this DVD in
standard stereo mode, I was able to enjoy a much
more realistic dynamic sounding mix without the
echo effects of the the rears.
Dialogue comes across very clearly, a bit on the
shrill side, but with no over modulation. There
is the slightest hint of hiss beneath these
dialogue sequences. As you would expect, the
musical sequences are greatly enhanced with
overdubs that have consistently greater dynamic
range.
In short, this transfer is as good as it is
going to get, and its pretty damn good for a
film of this age.
Miramax has released A Hard Day's Night as
a deluxe 2-disc Collector's Series Edition that
arrives in a bulky cardboard slipcover case that
provides transparent windows to the individual
faces of John, Paul, George and Ringo. The inner
package slips out and opens up to a 4-pane gatefold
that holds the 2 discs in plastic hub housing
surrounded by beautiful glossy B&W photos of the
individual Beatles.
Special Features
The DVD contains a wonderful live action/animated
menu sequence that opens small windows of the fab
four alongside windows of screaming fans (whose
screams can be heard in the rear channels in 5.1
mode).
Disc One contains the entire feature film.
While there is absolutely no running commentary,
there are two sets of supplements included on this
disc...
Things We Said Today.... may not contain
any interviews from the surviving band members,
but they do contain all-new interviews from the
filmmakers and people who were around them. We
begin with David Picker who was the VP of Production
and Marketing at United Artists between 1962 and
1964 who recalls green lighting the film production
based on the promise of publishing and soundtrack
rights. Beatles Record Producer Sir George Martin
recalls how manager Brian Epstein secured a three
picture film deal despite the fact that the group
was pretty much set against doing any films. The
creative success of A Hard Day's Night can
be attributed to Director Richard Lester, Producer
Walter Shenson and Screenwriter Alan Owen. In
interviews with both Lester and Owen, the men
recall how easy it was to write the film as they
hung out with The Beatles between stage shows and
in the privacy of their hotel rooms. At the height
of Beatlemania, the filmmakers talk about the
tactical problems of making this film, keeping the
very aware public very unaware of where the group
was filming. There are some great pieces of
footage that show the hysteria that surrounded the
filming, while filmmakers and friends recall some
very funny moments on the sets.
(length: approx. 36 minutes)
DVD-ROM content features an enhanced
Script Viewer that lets you read one of
two scripts while watching the film as well as
access to a website filled with pictures and
production notes.
Disc Two is just overwhelmingly filled
with interviews from the filmmakers, the cast
and personal friends of The Beatles themselves.
There's even a nice tribute to Wilfred Brambell,
the film's "clean old man", by Steptoe and
Son creators Alan Simpson and Ray Galton.
Final Thoughts
On the one hand, this edition of A Hard Day's
Night sports a brand new pristine transfer
and soundtrack making this an exciting viewable
experience. On the other hand, while the DVD is
chock-full of interviews, it becomes a bit
overwhelming in the manner that it is presented.
I just didn't want to sit here and review one
single camera interview after another. How about
some original film trailers or other promotional
spots? Perhaps a running commentary by Lester
and Owen? This is the sort of stuff you opt to
watch first.
I suppose I should keep my mouth shut and just
be thankful that A Hard Day' Night has
made it to DVD in the first place, receiving
careful attention to its overall transfer.
I don't have to hard sell this DVD to anyone that
is a fan of The Beatles. I'm one of the biggest!
Release Date: September 23, 2002
