Hard Day's Night, A MPAA Rating: G Entertainment: +2 Content: +2

Originally released at the height of Beatlemania in 1964, A HARD DAYS NIGHT is now being re-released in the year 2000 and will soon go to DVD. The film amounts to little more than an extended music video and can be considered a source for MTV products. It generally works as a merry romp down memory lane for anyone who went through all the hype the first time. The story takes place over two days, as the Beatles John, Paul, George, and Ringo travels to a show with an older man Paul calls his grandfather (Wilfred Brambell). Periodically in their travels, sometimes while being chased by crazed fans, the group breaks into song, singing such classic favorites as the title song, Cant Buy Me Love, and She Loves You. The sometimes frantic action leads up to a climactic concert, complete with screaming fans and obsessed teenagers. But when Ringo turns up missing, the concert is in danger of cancellation. The other three Beatles are forced to go find him, all the while trying to keep the troublesome grandfather under wraps. With plenty of music and a few laughs at Ringos expense, A HARD DAYS NIGHT is 90 minutes of nostalgic fun.

As the hugely popular band struggles to retain some semblance of privacy, they constantly find wild groups of screaming fans, mostly women, waiting for them at every turn. While the lack of privacy could be frustrating, the fab four seem to take it in stride as something that goes along with fame. Many of the jokes are at Ringos expense, often regarding the size of his nose, but they amount to nothing more than playful banter among friends. The film isnt meant to be taken too seriously, rather to showcase some popular songs, and there are no deep themes built into the story. A few women, wearing skimpy outfits, walk past the band and a few suggestive comments are made. But with the stronger moral sensibilities in films of the 60s, as well as presenting the musicians as clean-cut young men, almost no objectionable material is present. One mild crudity and an exclamatory profanity are the only foul language. Although the Beatles were noted in later years to promote drug use and Eastern religions, with an alert to some sexually suggestive elements, A HARD DAYS NIGHT is easy to recommend for teens and older, especially older Beatle's fans.

Preview Reviewer: John Adair
Distributor: Universal Pictures, 100 Universal City Plaza, Universal City, CA 91606