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(About Our Ads) "A HARD DAY'S NIGHT" (1964/2000) (The Beatles) (G) Alcohol/ Drugs Blood/Gore Disrespectful/ Bad Attitude Frightening/ Tense Scenes Guns/ Weapons Mild None Moderate None None Imitative Behavior Jump Scenes Music (Scary/Tense) Music (Inappropriate) Profanity Mild None None None Minor Sex/ Nudity Smoking Tense Family Scenes Topics To Talk About Violence Mild Moderate None Minor Minor QUICK TAKE: Musical/Comedy: The Beatles run into frenzied fans and various complications as they make their way to London for a live TV appearance. PLOT: It's the 1960s and the members of the Beatles -- John (JOHN LENNON), Paul (PAUL McCARTNEY), George (GEORGE HARRISON) and Ringo (RINGO STARR) - are on their way to London for a live TV performance. Traveling via train with their manager, Norm (NORMAN ROSSINGTON), and his assistant, Shake (JOHN JUNKIN), they meet Paul's grandfather (WILFRID BRAMBELL), a somewhat eccentric senior citizen who either causes or gets into trouble during the trip. Arriving in London and trying to avoid their frenzied fans, the Fab Four spend the time before the telecast goofing off and partying, much to the chagrin of Norm and their show's TV director (VICTOR SPINETTI), all while playing or accompanying songs from their album, "A Hard Day's Night." WILL KIDS WANT TO SEE IT? If they're fans of the Beatles, they probably will. If not, it's not very likely. WHY THE MPAA RATED IT: G For supposedly not containing material to warrant a higher rating, but please note that the film does contain some brief language/sexual content. CAST AS ROLE MODELS: JOHN LENNON, PAUL McCARTNEY, GEORGE HARRISON and RINGO STARR all play themselves, members of the Beatles who occasionally smoke, goof off and occasionally have something of slight smart aleck attitude. NORMAN ROSSINGTON plays the group's "mother hen" manager who constantly tries to keep them in line and under control. He occasionally smokes. WILFRID BRAMBELL plays Paul's grandfather, a rebellious senior citizen who either causes or gets into various forms of trouble, drinks, and occasionally keeps the company of younger women. JOHN JUNKIN plays Norm's assistant. VICTOR SPINETTI plays a TV director who becomes progressively more upset and tense as his live broadcast nears and the Beatles don't. CAST, CREW, & TECHNICAL INFO HOW OTHERS RATED THIS MOVIE Curious if this title is entertaining, any good, and/or has any artistic merit? Then read OUR TAKE of this film. (Note: The "Our Take" review of this title examines the film's artistic merits and does not take into account any of the possibly objectionable material listed below). OUR WORD TO PARENTS: Here's a quick summary of the content found in this G film that was originally released in 1964. A few instances of non-explicit, but sexually related comments are made, while a handful of brief profanities and quaint, colorful phrases also occur. A few women show varying amounts of cleavage, and various characters drink and smoke (the latter including the Beatles). Some bad attitudes are present (but in a comical sense), as is some brief violence. Beyond that, the film's remaining categories have little or nothing in the way of other major objectionable content. As always, however, should you still be concerned about the film's appropriateness for anyone in your home who wishes to see it, you might want to take a closer look at our detailed content listings. ALCOHOL OR DRUG USE Paul's grandfather and some woman have champagne. People drink at a party/dance. Paul's grandfather drinks. We see various bottles of liquor at a press conference where people drink, and various members of the Beatles reach for those bottles, but are guided away before they can get them. Shake and Paul's grandfather drink. Norm mentions that it will be "wine, women and song" when Ringo gets a taste of something. Ringo orders and receives a beer in a pub, but doesn't get to drink it as his glass is accidentally broken. BLOOD/GORE None. DISRESPECTFUL/BAD ATTITUDE John and the others talk somewhat disparagingly about Paul's grandfather in his presence (calling him an old man, etc.). Later, they're somewhat rude (and have smart aleck attitudes) toward another passenger who's also rude to them (they argue about having a window open and a radio playing, etc.). Paul's grandfather feigns being a waiter at a gambling resort so that he'll be paid and have more gambling money for himself. Some viewers might not appreciate a joke where it's implied that a magic act dove is accidentally killed (Paul's grandfather pats a magician on the arm and feathers then fall from the magician's sleeve and he reduces the number of doves scheduled to appear - as indicated by writing on a board -- by one). The Beatles are somewhat inconsiderate of a TV director and the rehearsals they're supposed to participate in before a live TV show. Paul's grandfather causes or gets into trouble in various scenes and is surly toward some police who detain him. During a comical chase scene that doesn't involve him, a man tries to break into a car. FRIGHTENING SCENES None. GUNS/WEAPONS None. IMITATIVE BEHAVIOR Phrases: "Don't be cheeky," "You swine," "You wretched nit," "Cheeky baby," "Shut up" and "You ugly great brute." Paul's grandfather feigns being a waiter at a gambling resort so that he'll be paid and have more gambling money for himself. During a comical chase scene that doesn't involve him, a man tries to break into a car. JUMP SCENES None. MUSIC (SCARY/TENSE) None. MUSIC (INAPPROPRIATE) None. PROFANITY 1 damn and 1 "Oh my God" are used. SEX/NUDITY We see Paul's grandfather looking at a photo featuring a woman wearing a low-cut dress. Paul's grandfather comments on an invite that Ringo received regarding a gambling establishment where there will be "easy women." A woman next to Paul's grandfather in a gambling resort shows a great deal of cleavage - especially when she's bending over (and he looks at it, commenting that she must be a "good swimmer"). When the guys realize that Paul's grandfather has gone to a gambling establishment, one of them comments that he's probably involved in an orgy by now and they all enthusiastically run out of the room to go there. John says that Paul's grandfather is "sex obsessed." A woman shows cleavage in a low cut dress. George looks down at the buxom chest of a showgirl. Norm mentions that it will be "wine, women and song" when Ringo gets a taste of something. SMOKING Norm smokes several times (cigars and cigarettes), while we briefly see George, Ringo and Paul smoking (with John having a lit cigarette tucked into the end of his guitar while he plays). We also see Shake with an unlit cigarette over his ear, miscellaneous characters smoking cigarettes, cigars and pipes, and finally a few photos of the Beatles during the closing credits with cigarettes. TENSE FAMILY SCENES None. TOPICS TO TALK ABOUT The Beatles, their music and the influence both had/have over their fans. The film and how it was a precursor to music videos that would become popular some two decades after its release. VIOLENCE It's implied that a magic act dove is accidentally killed (Paul's grandfather pats a magician on the arm and feathers then fall from the magician's sleeve and he reduces the number of doves scheduled to appear - as indicated by writing on a board -- by one). Paul's grandfather kicks a police officer in the leg. Reviewed November 28, 2000 / Posted December 8, 2000