A Hard Day's Night 1964

Jonas Mekas, Village Voice: At best, it is fun. But "fun" is not an aesthetic experience: fun remains on the surface. I have nothing against the surface. But it belongs where it is and shouldn't be taken for anything else. Read more

Kenneth Turan, Los Angeles Times: From the opening chords of the title song played over the group bemusedly fleeing from their fans, A Hard Day's Night creates pure, infectious joy. Read more

Chris Vognar, Dallas Morning News: Richard Lester's tangential, effortlessly clever ode to the Fab Four, given the re-mastered print and soundtrack treatment, still feels fresh and alive. Read more

Peter Howell, Toronto Star: Has survived the years like a Disney cartoon classic. Read more

Bosley Crowther, New York Times: It's a fine conglomeration of madcap clowning in the old Marx Brothers' style, and it is done with such a dazzling use of camera that it tickles the intellect and electrifies the nerves. Read more

Don Druker, Chicago Reader: American-born director Richard Lester serves up a helping of what, on this side of the pond, we came to think of as kicky, mod British filmmaking. Read more

John Anderson, Wall Street Journal: The results remain pop perfection. Read more

Steven Rosen, Denver Post: It captures almost everything good about its time. Read more

Owen Gleiberman, Entertainment Weekly: In A Hard Day's Night, the Beatles, in song after song, pay homage to the faith of love, and that faith connects them to something ancient, lending this topspin musical its near oracular beauty. Read more

John Anderson, Newsday: A comedy classic that cross- pollinated Jean-Luc Godard with the four Marx brothers. Read more

Rafer Guzman, Newsday: The movie never feels like a nostalgia trip. It moves, breathes and sings with life. Read more

Peter Rainer, New York Magazine/Vulture: Not only has this film not dated, it may even look fresher than it did in 1964; the zigzag cutting and camera moves, the jaunty ironies and pop-celebrity playfulness, are all standard issue now on MTV and its offspring. Read more

Elizabeth Weitzman, New York Daily News: Rejected the status quo with an irreverent, quick-cutting documentary style that could fairly be described as mod, rocking and mocking. Read more

Michael Sragow, Orange County Register: The whole movie is an ecstatic mix of serendipity and invention. The Beatles were ready for their cinematic breakthrough. Read more

Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times: One of the great life-affirming landmarks of the movies. Read more

Stephanie Zacharek, Salon.com: An hour and a half of pure, chaotic bliss. Read more

Geoff Andrew, Time Out: The mop-tops are likeably relaxed, with Lennon offering a few welcome moments of his dry, acerbic wit. Read more

Variety: Charged with vitality, and inventiveness. Read more

Stephanie Zacharek, Village Voice: Let's talk about joy, and about wistfulness, because one so often trails the other, and both are woven into the DNA of A Hard Day's Night. Read more

J. Hoberman, Village Voice: No previous rocksploitation film had ever done so splendid a job of selling its performers. Read more

Desson Thomson, Washington Post: To watch the movie, and to enjoy such pop music classics as 'All My Loving' and 'She Loves You' is not merely to saunter down Memory or Penny Lane, but to drink at pop's headwaters. Read more