PopCult Rudy Panucci on Pop Culture

Gift Guide Flashback: A Hard Day’s Night

Back in 2011 I recommended the Criterion Collection 4K Blu Ray/DVD combo of the classic Beatles movie, A Hard Day’s Night. That 3-disc set is still available, and has tons of extras that will thrill and delight any fan of The Beatles or the film’s director, Richard Lester. It will run you around forty bucks. Now we’re going to recommend it again at a lower price.

A Hard Day’s Night is, of course, the first movie starring The Beatles. It was much-imitated, never equalled and is considered one of the classic, if not THE classic Rock and Roll movie. If someobdy says they don’t see the appeal of The Beatles, and you show them this, and they still don’t, then they are beyond hope.

However, if you’re looking for a gift for under fifteen bucks, you can go with the DVD-only version of the film, which still has the incredible transfer and the soundtrack remixed by Giles Martin, along with the following extra features:

  • New 4K digital film restoration, approved by director Richard Lester, with two audio options, a monaural soundtrack and a new 5.1 surround soundtrack made by Apple Records
  • In Their Own Voices, a new piece combining interviews with the Beatles from 1964 with behind-the-scenes footage and photos
  • You Can’t Do That: The Making of “A Hard Day’s Night,” a 1994 documentary program by producer Walter Shenson
  • Trailer
  • PLUS: An essay by critic Howard Hampton

It’s a bit odd that there are so many different versions of this movie available, some expensive, some not, but this particular edition has the lowest price and best transfer, combined with a healthy dose of bonus materials, and the music and comedy of The Beatles at the height of Beatlemania is something that should not be missed.

So I’m recommending it again. This Criterion DVD is most affordable from Amazon.