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Select media
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Stills must not be reproduced, copied or downloaded in any way.
Film details
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Featuring
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Director
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Countries
United Kingdom USA
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Year
1964
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Genre
Musical
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Type
Film
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Category
Fiction
Introduction
“The playful anarchism and exuberant vitality of this work – a thumbing of noses at the ‘straight’ adult world – caught the essence of the Beatles mystique.”
Amos Vogel, Film as a Subversive Art, 1974
The Beatles chose the American Richard Lester to direct their first feature film on the strength of his association with Peter Sellers and Spike Milligan. The script was written by actor-turned-screenwriter Alun Owen, who John Lennon later dismissed as a “professional Liverpudlian”.
The result is a mix of faux cinema vérité and kitchen-sink surrealism, aiming but failing to deflate the Beatlemania phenomenon. The songs aren’t worked into the story as anything other than songs, heard as the band rehearse then perform a televised concert in London.
Shot on the hoof in March 1964 in order to make a July release date, it mixes Lester’s visual trickery with the Fab Four’s deadpan shtick, honed at press conferences like the one featured in the film.
George Harrison, whom Lester considered the best actor of the four, later executive-produced such films as Monty Python’s Life of Brian (1979) and Withnail & I (1987).
Cast & Credits
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Cast
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John
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Paul
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George
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Ringo
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John McCartney, Paul's grandfather
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Norm
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Shake
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police sergeant
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Millie
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Richard, television director
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pompous man on train
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hotel waiter
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TV floor manager
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TV choreographer
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Dolly, Simon's secretary
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Charlie, young boy
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[Jean, schoolgirl on train]
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[schoolgirl on train]
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[casino croupier]
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[club dancer]
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[club manager]
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[society reporter]
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[Leslie Jackson]
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[tailor]
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[Simon Marshall, shirt advertising man]
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[Adrian]
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[Susan]
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[actor]
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[barmaid]
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[car thief]
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[Tina]
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[urchin]
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[boy in audience]
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[.]
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[.]
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[actress - role deleted]
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[cast]
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Credits
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Direction:
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Directed by
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Assistant Director
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2nd Assistant Director
Barrie Melrose (uncredited)
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2nd Assistant Director
Alex Carver-Hill (uncredited)
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3rd Assistant Director
Bob Howard (uncredited)
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Continuity
Rights:
Production:
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Production Company
United Artists (uncredited)
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Produced by
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Associate Producer
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United Artists Production Executive
George 'Bud' Ornstein (uncredited)
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Production Secretary
Beryl Harvey (uncredited)
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Made at
Casting:
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Casting Director
Irene Lamb (uncredited)
Writing:
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Original Screenplay by
Photography:
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Director of Photography
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Camera Operator
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2nd Camera Operator (2nd)
Jack Atcheler (uncredited)
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Camera Operator
Paul Wilson (uncredited)
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Focus Puller
Roy Ford (uncredited)
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Clapper/Loader
Peter Ewens (uncredited)
Stills:
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Stills Photography
Bert Cann (uncredited)
Editing:
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Editor
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Assistant Editor
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2nd Assistant Editor
Roy Benson (uncredited)
Design:
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Art Director
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Assistant Art Director
George Lack (uncredited)
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Draughtsman
William Alexander (uncredited)
Costumes:
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Costume Designer
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Beatles' Wardrobe
Make-up:
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Make-up
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Hairdressing
Titles:
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Titles Design
Music:
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Songs by
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Songs by
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Musical Director
Sound:
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Sound Recordist
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Sound Recordist
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Boom Operator
Don Wortham (uncredited)
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Boom Assistant
Frank Sloggett (uncredited)
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Sound Camera Operator
Mike Silverlock (uncredited)
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Sound Editor
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Sound Editor
Jim Roddan (uncredited)
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Sound System
Publicity:
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Publicity Director
Tony Howard (uncredited)
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