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Richard Lester's A Hard Day's Night takes us on a magical mystery tour through a hectic, imaginary day in the life of The Beatles. Escaping from hoardes of female fans, The Fab Four jump on a London train en route to a live television appearance, but Paul's grandad (the film's comic trump card Wilfred Brambell) causes a rift when he tells Ringo he's unappreciated by the other members of the band! Made in 1964 at the height of Beatlemania, A Hard Day's Night would be worth seeing for the music numbers alone, but thanks to screenwriter Alun Owens and the visual inventiveness of American ex-pat director Lester, it rises far above other similar movies. Lester's approach throws in a dizzying combo of New Wave-style verite, jump cutting, varying camera angles and a frantic pace with nods towards silent comedies. A Hard Day's Night remains an energising experience today and is impossible not to enjoy.
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