Nominated for
two Academy Awards, Richard Lester's "A Hard Day's Night" (1964) arrives
on Blu-ray courtesy of Criterion. The supplemental features on the disc
include original rerelease trailers for the film; documentary film
produced by Walter Shenson; Richard Lester's early short film "The
Running Jumping & Standing Still Film" (1960); audio commentary
featuring various members of the film's cast and crew; exclusive new
video piece featuring story editor and screenwriter Bobbie O'Steen and
music editor Suzana Peric; Martin Lewis' documentary "Things They Said
Today" (2002); and a lot more. The release also arrives with an
illustrated booklet featuring an essay by critic Howard Hampton. In
English, with optional English SDH subtitles for the main feature.
Video Quality: 5.0 of 5.
Recently restored in 4K, A Hard Day's Night looks gorgeous on Blu-ray.
Indeed, there are dramatic improvements in every single area we tend to
scrutinize in our reviews, from image depth and clarity to contrast
stability and overall image stability. The overwhelming majority of the
close-ups impress with terrific depth, while the large panoramic shots
boast exceptional clarity and fluidity. The outdoor footage, in
particular, is always enormously vibrant. Contrast levels remain stable
throughout the entire film. Grain is well refined and evenly
distributed. Additionally, there are no traces of compromising
degraining corrections and sharpening adjustments. Quite predictably,
the film has a solid and enormously pleasing organic appearance. Lastly,
it is very easy to tell that large debris, scratches, cuts, stains, and
damage marks have been carefully removed as the film now looks
incredibly clean and healthy. To sum it all up, this is indeed a very
beautiful presentation of A Hard Day's Night that will likely remain the
film's definitive presentation on the home video market.
Audio Quality: 5.0 of 5
There are three standard audio tracks on this Blu-ray release: English
LPCM 2.0 (mono), English LPCM 2.0 (stereo), and English DTS-HD Master
Audio 5.1. For the record, Criterion have provided optional English SDH
subtitles for the main feature.
Special Features and Extras: 5.0 of 5
Trailers - two trailers for A Hard Day's Night.
1. 2000 Rerelease trailer. In English, not subtitled. (2 min, 1080i).
2. 2014 Rerelease trailer. In English, not subtitled. (2 min, 1080p).
Anatomy of a Style - in this video piece, story editor and
screenwriter Bobbie O'Steen and music editor Suzana Peric discuss the
unusual editing and framing of the music sequences in A Hard Day's
Night. In English, not subtitled. (18 min, 1080p).
1. "A Hard Day's Night"
2. "I Should Have Known Better"
3. "Cant Buy Me Love"
4. "And I love Her"
5. "She Loves You"
In Their Own Voices - this video piece features behind-the-scenes
stills, footage from the making of A Hard Day's Night, and clips from
audio interviews in which the members of the Beatles share their
impressions of their first film. The interviews were conducted during
the British band's 1964 American tour. In English, not subtitled. (18
min, 1080p).
"You Can't Do That: The Making of A Hard Day's Night" - this 1994
documentary, produced by Walter Shenson (producer of A Hard Day's
Night) and narrated by Phil Collins, features clips from archival
interviews with Roger Ebert, Peter Noone (lead singer of Herman's
Hermits), Roger McGuinn (founding member of The Byrds), cast member
Victor Spinetti (the nervous TV producer), wardrobe designer Julie
Harris, screenwriter Alun Owen, and Debbie Gendler (New Jersey Fan Club
President), among others. Also included is an outttake performance. In
English, not subtitled. (63 min, 1080i).
Things They Said Today - this documentary focuses on the
production history and success of A Hard Day's Night. Included in it are
clips from interviews with David Picker (VP Production & Marketing,
United Artists Corporation/1962 to 1964, Sir George Martin (The
Beatles' record producer), Tony Barrow (Beatles publicist/1962-1966),
producer Walter Shenson, and director Richard Lester, among others. The
documentary was produced by Martin Lewis in 2002. In English, not
subtitled. (37 min, 1080i).
Richard Lester:
1. The Running Jumping & Standing Still Film - this film was shot by
Richard Lester in 1959 for approximately seventy pounds and it was
nominated for an Oscar for Best Short Subject, Live Action Subjects. It
features Richard Lester, Peter Sellers, Spike Milligan, Graham Stark,
and Bruce Lacey. B&W. Music only. (12 min, 1080i).
2. Picturewise - this new video essay focuses on the production history
of A Hard Days Night and Richard Lester's directing style. The essay,
which is narrated by actor Rita Tushingham, features raw footage from
the shooting of A Hard Day's Night and a new audio interview with
Richard Lester. The essay was written and produced by critic and
filmmaker David Cairns exclusively for Criterion in 2014. In English,
not subtitled. (28 min, 1080i).
The Beatles: The Road to A Hard Day's Night - in this new video
interview, Mark Lewisohn, author of The Beatles: All These Years, Volume
1 -- Tune In, discusses the British band's glamorous career and its
enormous impact on the music business. The interview was conducted
exclusively for Criterion in 2014. In English, not subtitled. (28 min,
1080p).
Commentary - this audio commentary was created from material
produced by Martin Lewis in 2002 and features actors John Junkin, David
Janson, and Jeremy Lloyd; cinematographer Gilbert Taylor; associate
producer Denis O'Dell; second assistant director Barrie Melrose;
assistant editors Pamela Tomling and Roy Benson; and others.
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