RICHARD LESTER

Bil’s rating (out of 5):  BBBB

United Kingdom, 1964.  Walter Shenson Films, Proscenium Films, Maljack Productions.  Screenplay by Alun Owen.  Cinematography by Gilbert Taylor.  Produced by Walter Shenson. Music by John Lennon, George Martin, Paul McCartney.  Production Design by Ray Simm.  Costume Design by Julie Harris.  Film Editing by John Jympson.  

Superjollyfun musical starring The Beatles as themselves, giving us a glimpse into a “typical” day in their lives. Not typical at all, actually, because this hilarious comedy (scripted with witty brilliance by Alun Owen) has them go on all sorts of silly adventures that allow ample opportunities to sing some of their best songs. The title track, “I Should’ve Known Better”, “She Loves You” and lots more pulse over the speakers between inspired bits of slapstick, including a running joke involving Paul McCartney‘s overly mischevious grandfather (actually played by Wilfrid Brambell) and the trouble he causes for the group. Zipping by at a mere ninety minutes, it’s a funny and smart trip down memory lane to when the band was at its most girls-gone-wild popular.

The Criterion Collection:  #711

Academy Award Nominations:  Best Original Story and Screenplay; Best Scoring of Music-Adaptation or Treatment