1960s: 10 Films That Defined the Decade

Easy Rider, Raybert Productions

9. A Hard Days Night (1964)

Hard Day's Night, Walter Shensun Films
Image: Hard Day’s Night

The 1964 film A Hard Days Night‘s come a long way since it first hit theaters.

1964 saw the height of Beatlemania, and manager Brian Epstein was looking for bigger challenges for his golden boys. Of course, movies were the obvious choice.

The Beatles looked at Elvis’s foray into movies as a lesson on what not to do. They would strike creative gold with the hiring of a young director by the name of Richard Lester. Lester was only 31 at the time, and directed only two films. His hiring was a stroke of genius.

Hard Day's Night, Walter Shensun Films
Image: Walter Shensun Films

Lester not only had to deal with the Beatles lack of acting experience, it was also at the height of Beatlemania. While shooting on location, Lester and his crew would work quickly.

If there was even a hint that the lads were in the area, a wave of screaming teenage girls would overrun the set. Keep that in mind when you watch.

Shot in a Black-and-White documentary style that kept tight to the actors, viewers experience the claustrophobia the Fab Four found themselves in daily.

Hard Day's Night, Walter Shensun Films
Image: Walter Shensun Films

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