I was in the middle of debating my doubtful parents over the necessity for a training bra (I didn’t need one but I desperately wanted one) when the movie A Hard Days Night finally reached one of the two movie theaters in my hometown of Reno Nevada. The Granada sat on the edge of the Truckee River about two blocks down from the Mapes Hotel which I’ve written about before. Back then, an easy two mile walk from my house on the end of Washington Street.
The Granada always had a double feature on Saturdays and, once you bought your ticket, you could stay all day. And we did. I don’t remember who I first saw the movie with. Probably my neighbor, Lee Lee (who actually needed a bra and planned to marry George Harrison) but I do remember the second feature. It was Romeo and Juliet starring Rudolph Nureyev and Dame Margot Fontaine. As a budding ballerina I loved watching Nureyev fly across the stage again and again but I can’t say the same for rest of the audience. They took advantage of the break between showings of A Hard Days Night to smoke in the bathrooms.
Yesterday I noticed that A Hard Day’s Night had been added to the roster of “Classics” on HBO Max. Ouch. Did I dare stream a favorite from my training bra days whilst strapped in my 34 D “over the shoulder boulder holders”? Would the movie maintain its magic after … don’t say it … fifty plus years? Did I dare find out?
Of course, you know I did. I guess I needed a diversion from the precipice of Civil War on which we Californians now stand. Would I do it again? Noooooo. This is a movie whose primary purpose was to cement Beatle stereotypes: Paul as cute and charming, John as rebellious and snarky, George as cool and mysterious, and Ringo as goofy and lovable. I now know too much about those four human beings (doesn’t everyone?) because, watching the movie in my over the shoulder boulder holders, John seems insecure and painfully self-conscious while Paul seems cocky and smug. George was already so thin and fragile looking that my heart wept for him. The only one who after all these years still seemed the same was Ringo, below in arguably the best scene in the movie.
At the end of the clip, Ringo watches the four young “deserters” hanging out on the edge of the river perhaps thinking back to the time when he was young and carefree. Before he got trapped by overwhelming fame. Have you ever watched a film you loved as a kid and been disappointed? Or worse, saddened? Do you think DT will rest after he destroys LA? Or is this just the beginning?
Saying nothing in particular 
It is funny that the thing that made Ringo happy was not being recognized, but that was the life of a Beatle.
I think they probably had mixed feelings about all that fame.
I’ve found it’s best not to reexamine things I loved when I was young, they rarely hold up and then I’m massively disappointed.
As for Trump, I don’t think he’ll be satisfied until the whole country is in flames.
😥
There are a few movies I loved as a child that have held up but then I tend to be a sloppy sentimentalist!
Hi – I enjoyed the closing video – a lot – it was new to me and I felt like it had such an artsy vibe – in black and white and the different angles and foot shots. Nice culture things – like the stor “We buy anything” and the way he was dissed by the girl when he was in disguise.
I also like what you noted about when he looked down at the kids playing – hmmmm
and yes, I have watched films that I lked when younger but then they were big dud when older.
It was a well done scene. Nice way to end the flick.
so many fun takeaways from your blog posts 🙂
I remember liking Hard Day’s Night WAY better than Help, which was extremely silly. This was a good clip although I needed subtitles sometimes! Trump will go as far as he’s allowed to, which seems to the extreme. 😦
I completely agree. Help was a self-absorbed mess! I doubt it will make it to the “classics” section.
I have not seen Hard Day’s Night and I’m not much of a Beatle’s fan … have you recovered yet? I do love Romeo and Juliette though, especially as a ballerina.
The Beatles changed the music industry completely and were the first to speak out on social issues. Before them, rock and roll artists were completely owned by the record companies. I find most of their music magical but then I remember what it was like before they burst upon the scene. Nureyev’s dancing was electric. I’ve never seen anything like him since.
I do admire their role in the history of music, Jan. They just weren’t big during my teen and young adult years so they aren’t an immediate draw for me. I do love Hey Jude.
I noticed a poster on the side of the theater for Love ‘Em and Leave ‘Em. Looked it up and it is about two feuding sisters, a dying mother, horses, and money. Louise Brooks stars as the wild sister. Did you see that one too? I doubt it but the plot might interest you. Duke
The Granada played family friendly movies from Friday night to Sunday afternoon but the rest of the week it was known as a place where the police dumped drunks to sleep it off. The casinos are just down the street. They’re still there but the Granada crumbled into the river just like the Maples was threatening to do.
I rarely go back to what I saw or read as a child. No reason that I can think of though. The Donald loves to destroy, people, things, systems. I doubt that the LA riots will be his last attempt to ruin this country.
I live in California and have relatives who live in LA – Trump is sending in troops with no logistical support and no directives — just to stand around and look menacing in front of office and federal buildings. I can’t imagine they’re very happy.
You are right about your assumptions about the Beatles … Paul was and is a pompus smug man, Lennon too very insecure and had taken on a sarcastic persona to protect himself. George was a gentle genius and though Ringo had drink and drug problems be always seemed the most grounded.
It was a great film of its time …Back long ago when we was Fab!
It certainly was better than all those awful movie Elvis was forced to do! The other thing I noticed was how much baby fat Paul and John had!!
We call it puppy fat… 😊, too much alcohol and not enough exercise… It was actually the best film they ever made … I was not a big fan of Elvis … But I believe he had a very hard time of it bless him 💜💖
Elvis’ movies did not age well at all!
I loved the clip. I’ve never seen the movie, so this is the first time I’ve seen it. I loved seeing the streets of London from the 1960s. Poor Ringo, though, what with his camera falling into the River Thames. I also loved the hints of comedy in the clip. I think the woman in the street he asked to hang out with may have been Una Stubs.
Ima Stubs? Now there’s a name! The other movie I love from that time is To Sir With Love. It also shows the London of the sixties – I blubber my eyes out each and every time I’ve seen it!!!
Just checked out Una – I didn’t know her name but I loved that actress!!
I know the ‘Movie ‘From Sir with Love’ but I have never seen it. When we lived in central London, Una Stubbs used to live nearby, and she’d often push her grandson or daughter in their pushchair past the house. If we were in the garden, she’d always stop and compliment us on the garden.
What a great memory!
Elvis movies did not age well ….. Just like Elvis himself 💜
Looks pretty messy. I hate to say it, but I think the worst is yet to come.
Oh, I’m certain you’re right. The worst is going to be far beyond what most Americans can imagine. The people I know who voted for T had unfocused grievances about their lives and then they found communities of like-minded people and T gave them targets on which to direct their grievances. They don’t dare doubt anything T. says for fear of losing that sense of community. They’d rather hide under the bed when the atrocities begin – or rather, keep mounting.
How sad is that!
Hmm, I can’t think of any movies from my past that I can say I was disappointed in when I watched again. Then again it’s hard to be disappointed by movies like Gone With the Wind and Streetcar. Still, they were already reruns then.
Your stain of a leader will never stop, his hate, loathing and uber demented ego is almost a perpetual motion device.
I have a pit of the stomach feeling tomorrow will not be a good day for him, and he will take it out on the citizens.
As a Canadian, I too am worried. He hates us.. for why/what?
I just found out there is a No Kings demonstration at the US Embassy tomorrow. I have plans, but am trying to reroute at least some.
I solidarity, Resa
He did not look like a happy camper at his parade. The sheer size of the protests should bring the GOP to its senses but we keep reaching what we think must be the final straw and it’s only seems to push the MAGA deeper into denial.
He looked miserable.
Maga will stay in denial, but those biding Maga for whatever reasons are carefully coming around.
There are non-Maga who voted for him. They are sobering up.
Still, he has the power.
We shall see what happens next.
Sadly, when he is unhappy, he starts with the vengeance routine, tariffs, and police state stuff.
His petulance breeds contempt, and he is old and his mind is going.
What a mess!
It will be interesting to see what comes out of the G7!!!
Until the MAGA are ostracized for their outrageous behavior we’ll have problems. I hope that happens soon before more damage is done to the US reputation and economy.
Me too!
The “No Kings” went well, but the mid terms are still 1.5 years away.
Hopefully SCOTUS doesn’t cave too much.
The Beatles shall remain. Whatever their personalities were, they changed music. Forever… Compliments to Americans for No Kings Day…
They and others from that time brought a feeling of joy to music that is hard for anyone who wasn’t around then to understand.
Indeed. To music and life. Last night I watched and listened to a few of those days: Eric Burdon and the animals, Credence, Santana at woodstock… The drummer on that piece was amazing. Clapton with Cream. Event the Troggs. Remember “Wild thing”?
Be good Jan.
There was a wonderful PBS documentary on Nureyev recently. He broke the mold for male dancers. His partnership with Fonteyn was amazing – they were both amazing individually and as a couple, separated by almost a generation.