Fab Four Blog

Marylebone Station, Great Central St. London

Working, unusually, on a Sunday, the film crew cme to Marylebone Station this afternoon (and again the following Sunday) to shoot the first sequences for A Hard Day's Night. This usually busy central London terminus was closed to the public on Sundays, so filming could only be done then. By the conclusion of their two Sunday's work, the Beatles had been filmed running across Melcombe Place and into the station, using its public telephones and a photo booth, leaping over a hoarding. Paul sitting in disquise on a concourse bench with his "grandfather" Wilfrid Brambell, and the group running down the length of platform one and jumping onto an already-moving train. (From here, the film cut to the footage shot between March 2nd and 9th). All this time, the group were being cased by more than one hundred screaming fans.

While at Marylebone, John, George and Ringo were also filmed in the station's adjacent street, Boston Place, running towards the camera and being chased by the same frenzied fans. This sequence was used at the very beginning of the film, under the titles.

The Beatles took a rest today

Twickenham Film Studios, St. Margaret's, Twickenham

Among the action filmed this day at Twickenham was a trailer for the film, a bizarre sequence in which John/George and Ringo/Paul sat in two adjacent baby prams, their legs dangling over the sides. John typed, Paul spoke, George mumbled and Ringo twice answered a telephone saying "It's for you, John," to which John twice replied, "Don't be soft." Quite how this promoted A Hard Day's Night seems unclear, but it was distributed to cinemas nonetheless.

The Beatles also filmed an unusual engagement with Tyne Tees Television, the ITV franchise for north-east England. Viewers of the area's weekly movie programme Star Parade had been invited to send in questions for the Beatles, and the best of these were put to the group by the programme's presenter Adrian Cairns this day at Twickenham. All four Beatles participated, giving their answers straight to camera, then - back in Newcastle - Tyne Tees later filmed the questioners (girls) posing their questions, again straight to camera, and the two sets of footage were edited together into a Q&A format. But the lack of genuine inter-play, the clearly different settings and the uncomfortable straight-to-camera scenario also resulted in a somewhat stiff six minute outcome which,ltogether with a brief interview the Beatles gave to Adrian Cairns, was transmitted to Star Parade on Thursday, April 9th, 10:10 to 10:40 pm.

Scala Theatre, London

More shooting at the Scala. The Beatles filmed the "press party" sequence, written by Alun Owen as an approximate re-creation of a reception the Beatles had attended at the British Embassy in Washington DC (after their February 11th concert at the Coliseum), in which they had grown irritated by the condescending and rude line of questioning and had then walked out after someone, without warning, produced a pair of scissors and cut off a lock of Ringo's hair.

The Beatles broke up today.

Scala Theatre, London and Playhouse Theatre, London

This was perhaps the most exciting and rewarding day's work on A Hard Day's Night the "TV performance" that was the climax of the film. It was shot this day at the Scala before an audience of 350 screaming fans, film union rules dictating that each person, even though thousands would have gladly done it for nothing, be paid for the pleasure of screaming at the Beatles. (Among these 350 was a 13 year old child actor named Phil Collins, later to achieve worldwide fame of his own with Genesis and as a solo musician.)

In the finished film the Beatles mime to four songs in this sequence, "Tell Me Why", "And I Love Her", "I Should Have Known Better" and "She Loves You". They filmed others too, certainly "You Can't Do That" was one to be left unused. During "Tell Me Why" director Richard Lester allowed himself to be briefly visible on camera, appearing - Hitchcock-like - in a shot that looks out from the back of the stage into the Scala auditorium.

This hectic day for the Beatles concluded with a lengthy evening session for BBC radio at the Playhouse, recording an insert for the next edition of the weekly series Saturday Club, broadcast in the Light Programme between 10:00 am and 12:00 noon on April 4th. Additionally, during a session break, John recorded an interview for broadcast on the BBC's Home Service Radio network.

For the Saturday Club session, from 7:00 to 10:30 pm, the Beatles chatted with host Brian Matthew and recorded "Everybody's Trying To Be My Baby", "I Call Your Name", "I Got A Woman", You Can't Do That", "Can't Buy Me Love", "Sure To Fall" (In Love With You), and "Long Tall Sally". The last three songs fell into the final half hour of the domestic broadcast,  simultaneously transmitted by the BBC's General Overseas Service.

Between 9:00 and 9:30 pm, while the other Beatles took a break, John was interviewed again by Brian Matthew, this time for the Home Service series A Slice Of Life. The subject of thies edition, broadcast from 4:00 to 4:30 pm on Saturday, May 2nd was "Hobbies" and for just under three minutes listeners heard John speak about his writing and best-selling book.

The Beatles enjoying several days off from filming at the Scala.

The Beatles enjoying several days off from filming at the Scala.

The Beatles enjoying several days off from filming at the Scala.

The Beatles enjoying several days off from filming at the Scala.

The Beatles enjoying several days off from filming at the Scala Theatre in London

The Beatles enjoying several days off from filming at the Scala.

Scala Theatre, London

More filming at the Scala. During a break on the 24th, John discussed his new book in an interview given to the British-based Australian broadcaster/actor Dibbs Mather, which was then distributed exclusively to overseas radio stations by the BBC's Transcription Service in its series Dateline London. Neither the series nor the interview was heard in Britain.

An extended Easter weekend break followed the Thursday shoot, with John and Cynthia, accompanied by George and girlfriend Pattie Boyd, spending the weekend at the remote Dromolan castle in County Clare, Ireland, Paul staying in London and Ringo and friends spending Easter at the country house Woburn Abbey, in Bedfordshire. Filming resumed the  following Tuesday.

Scala Theatre, Charlotte Street, London and Lime Grove Studios, London and Empire Ballroom, Leicester Square, London

Filming a Hard Day's Night switched to the Scala Theatre to central London for seven working days (this day through to April 2). The main premise of the film was that the Beatles appear on a television show, the Scala was therefore mocked-up as "United TV House". The film's "performance" finale was shot here on March 31st.

To promote his first book, In His Own Write - this was the date of the publication - John appeared on the live BBC TV program Tonight, broadcast from 7:00 to 7:35 pm from the Corporation's Lime Grove Studios in west London. Following the reading of brief extracts by programme presenter Cliff Mitchelmore and regulars Derek Hart, and Kenneth Allsop, John was interviewed by Allsop for exactly four minutes.

Later the same evening, the Beatles attended the annual Carl-Alan ballroom dancing awards event, at the Empire Ballroom in Leicester Square, Central London, where the Duke of Edinburgh (Prince Philip) presented them with two awards for their musical achievements in 1963. The moment was filmed by TV and newsreel companies, including the BBC which broadcast proceedings live from the ballroom - entitling its programme The Carl-Alan Awards - from 10:25 to 11:15 pm.

Today, the Beatles had a day off.

Today, the Beatles took a day off

Twickenham Film Studios, St. Margaret's, Twickenham and Studio Nine, Television House, London

During the late morning and afternoon the Beatles shot more "corridor" scenes for A Hard Day's Night at Twickenham. Ringo was also interviewed by reporter Lyn Fairhurst for the BBC radio program Movie-Go-Round, broadcast April 12th, following immediately after a group interview done the day before with Peter Noble.

During the late afternoon and early evening the Beatles went to Television House, the central London HQ/studios of Associated-Rediffusion, where they quickly rehearsed and then appeared live on Ready, Steady, Go!, broadcast from 6:15 to 7:00 pm. It was their second live spot on the program, but was also their last, for their next and final group appearance was pre-taped.

The Beatles mimed to three disc recordings: "It Won't Be Long", "You Can't Do That", and "Can't Buy Me Love", took part in a humorous fashion parade, were presented by RSG! co-host Keith Fordyce with a special award from the US trade magazine Billboard to recognise the fact that they held the top three singles chart positions simultaneously and were interviewed by the series' other main host, Cathy McGowan.

This performance of "Can't Buy Me Love" was twice re-shown. The first time was on Friday, April 24, 1964 (6:10 to 7:00 pm) in Ready, steady, Go To Montreux!, a special edition recorded at the Casino in Montreux, Switzerland, Light Entertainment Programmes. The second time was on Thursday, July 15, 1965 in Pick Of The Songs.

Twickenham Film Studios, St. Margaret's Twickenham and Dorchester Hotel, Park Lane, London and Twickenham Film Studios, St. Margaret's and Television Theatre, London.

During the early morning and mid-to-late afternoon the Beatles filmed at Twickeham, spending the first of two consecutive days shooting TV studio "corridor" scenes. They were also visited on the set by film columnist Peter Noble who interviewed them for the BBC radio Light Programme series Movie-Go-Round, broadcast on Sunday, April 12 (3:00-4:00 pm). It was followed in the program by an interview done the next day, with Ringo only.

Around noon they left to attend the 12th annual luncheon of the Variety Club of Great Britain, at the Dorchester Hotel in Park Lane, central London, where leader of the opposition Harold Wilson presented them with the award for "Show Business Personalities of 1963". The moment was captured on film by several TV and newsreel companies, including the BBC which made a 30 minute program of the luncheon - The Variety Club of Great Britain for 1963 - screened from 10:30 to 11:00 pm on Friday, March 20th.

In the evening, between 7:00 and 8:30 (including rehearsal time), the Beatles could be found at the BBC's Television Theatre in Shepherd's Bush, west London, taping (without an audience) their debut appearance on Britain's most famous TV pop show, Top Of The Pops, the first edition of which had been transmitted on New Year's Day 1964. Though broadcast at this time from Manchester, the Beatles were allowed to pre-tape and to do so in London, miming to both sides of their new single, "Can't Buy Me Love" and "You Can't Do That". Both performances were included in the following Wednesday's edition, March 25th, transmitted from 6:35 to 7:00 pm, while "Can't Buy Me Love" alone was repeated on April 8th (same time).

In other weeks, before the Beatles had taped an appearance, or if the BBC had used up its contracted number of transmissions of a particular item, Top Of The Pops would run either its own commissioned, non-descript film item to accompany a song, or the studio audience would be shown dancing to a spinning disc. This situation applied until the early 1970's.

Twickenham Film Studios, St. Margaret's, Twickenham

Shooting of "dressing room" sequences for the film. Wile waiting around on the set at Twickenham, the Beatles recorded a number of items for broadcast in the BBC Light Programme radio series The Public Ear on Sunday, March 22 (3:00 to 4:00 pm) and also transmitted simultaneously by the BFBS - British Forces Broadcasting Service, in West Germany. In keeping with the sophisticated nature of the series, they interviewed temselves, rather than be interviewed by a BBC man, so humor was at a premium.

Listeners on the 22nd heard a novel opening to the programme, a reader had written into The Public Ear asking that advance warning be given if ever the Beatles should be set to apear, so that fans could contact other fans and ensure that as many as possible were tuned in. This letter was read out, following which Ringo announced, "We're on today, later on, so don't forget, get on the phone and get all your friends listening!"

When "later on" arrived, George assumed the role of BBC interviewer, adopting a plum accent and discussing John's book "In his own words" first with Ringo and then with the author, who proceeded to read an excerpt, "Alec Speaking". George then chatted about the making of A Hard Day's Night with Paul and, to round off the show, joined part-way credits, ascribing themselves joint producer credits along with the real incumbent, John Fawcett Wilson.

Extracts from the broradcast, together with extracts from the Beatles' first appearance on The Public Ear, and interview given by Brian Epstein to Bill Grundy, an interview given by George Martin to Edward Greenfield, various discs and a linking script written and read by William Mann (music critic on the The Times) comprised an interesting 30 minute programme, The Beatles, Who are they?, broadcast globally by the BBC's General Overseas Service.

Les Ambassadeurs, Hamilton Place, London

The Beatles twice visited this splendid private club, situated just off Park Lane in central London, to film sequences for A Hard Day's Night, on this day and again on April 17th.

On this first occasion, they filmed the sequence in which they discovered Ringo's father gambling at "Le Circle Club". Veteran BBC broadcaster Jack de Manio came to Les Ambassadeurs to record an interview with John about his imminent foray into the world of books (In His Own Write being due for publication on the 23rd). The interview was broadcast in the Home Service news-magazine program Today (presented by de Manio) the next morning, Wednesday, March 18th, between 7:15 and 7:45 am. It was also repeated in the second-half of the program, on air 8:15-8:40 am.

Twickenham Film Studios, St. Margaret's, Twickenham

Filming of the "studio canteen" sequence, in which Wilfrid Brambell persuades Ringo to take his nose out of "A Booook" and go "parading" instead, deserting his fellow Beatles in their hour of need.

The other Beatles were not involved in this day's action so George took the opportunity to accompany Brian Epstein at a Cilla Black session for Saturday Club.

The Beatles took a break today filming at Twickenham Film Studios.

The Beatles took a break today filming at Twickenham Film Studios.

Gatwick Airport South, Surrey

Shooting moved 27 miles south of London for two of the film's most important sequences. It meant an early start for the Beatles, who arrived at Gatwick at 10:00 am. The first task of the day was to shoot the film's closing sequence, in which the Beatles ran into view and clambered into a helicopter which then took off into the sky, scattering promotional photographs of the group onto the ground below.

After lunch, the Beatles were filmed larking about on a nearby helicopter launch pad (the helicopter was overhead, with the camera man on board). Along with footage shot on April 22nd, and 23rd, this formed a part of the "Can't Buy Me Love" liberation sequence.

Twickenham Film Studios, St. Margaret's, Twickenham

Shooting of the "Hotel Room" sequences, in which road managers "Norm" and "Shake" (actors Norman Rossington and John Junkin re-creating the roles of Neil Aspinall and Mal Evans) order the Beatles to remain in their room and answer fan mail, and in which - having sneaked out to a night club- the group return to discover a hotel waiter, minus his suit, bound and gagged in a wardrobe.

Meanwhile, working at EMI from 10:00 am to 12:00 noon, George Martin made stereo mixes of the two German language recordings, "Komm, Gib Mir Deine Hand", and "Sie Liebt Dich". Copy tapes  were dispatched to West Germany, and even to the USA, for record release.

Twickenham Film Studios, The Barons, St. Margaret's, Twickenham, Middlesex

The Beatle's first day of shooting at Twickenham Film Studios, where they would make not only "A Hard Day's Night", but also "Help!" (in 1965), several promotional videos (1965 and 1968), Get Back/Let It Be (1969) and where Ringo would shoot the studio scenes in his solo venture The Magic Christian (also 1969).

On this day, working from 8:00 am until 10:00 pm (the early starts were maintained throughout the shooting), the group filmed on a set resembling a train guard's van, where they played cards and also mimed to "I Should Have Known Better", later edited into the film's train sequences.

The Turks Head, Winchester Rd. St. Margaret's, Twickenham, Middlesex and Studio Two, EMI Studios, London

One of the main talking points in what was to be called a Hard Day's Night was Rindo's long solo sequence, in which - having been encouraged to desert the group by Paul's "grandfather", Wilfrid Brambell - he embarks upon a series of adventures, most ending in disaster. The first element to be shot was his trip to a pub, where he complains about the sandwiches, accidently smashes a beer bottle and then almost maims a parrot positioned uncomfortably close to the dart board. The sequence was filmed on this day at the Turks Head public house on Winchester Road, St. Margaret's, close by Twickenham Film Sutdios where the film production was based and where the studio work would be filmed.

Also this day, at Abbey Road, George Martin produced stereo mixes of "Can't Buy Me Love", "Long Tall Sally", "I Call Your Name", and "You Can't Do That", and mono mixes of "Long Tall Sally", "Komm, Gib Mir Deine Hand" and "Sie Liebt Dich". An intriguing document was uncovered at EMI in 1991 suggesting that a "drummer" participated in this 10:00 am - 1:00 pm session with regard to "Can't Buy Me Love" - which only can mean that he did some overdubbing. He was paid a Musician's Union session fee of £5 15s (£5.75) - the Beatles were also paid for their sessions in these early years, quite distinct from their royalty calculations - but his name was not detailed on the document.

This answers one question that has long puzzled some Beatles students, why the drumming on this song's stero mix differs slightly from the mono. But it also raises a new question regarding the drummer's identity: Ringo's "A Hard Day's Night" shooting schedule would seem to suggest that he had little, if any, opportunity to visit Abbey Road on this day.

Various locations, London to Newton Abbot

THe conclusion of the train filming, traveling this time from London to the Devonshire town of Newton Abbot, 2500 miles having been clocked up during the past week. A Monday to Friday work schedule, leaving weekends free, was maintained throughout the shooting, but for the necessary exceptions.

The Beatles still filming their first feature film - still not titled.

The Beatles still filming their first feature film