A Hard Day’s Night in 4K UHD in the U.K.

The new 4k UHD blu-ray release looks just like the old non-UHD blu-ray. Cover by Rodrigo Corral

The Beatles’ debut film “A Hard Day’s Night” has been out in a few territories from before, but it will now be available a bit cheaper in the U.K., thanks to a July 7 domestic release there. In the HMV store, it’s priced at £29.99 Link.

Meanwhile, the 2022 U.S. release is on summer sale from Amazon.com at $33.21.

The film received a new 4K transfer when Criterion Collection was re-releasing it for its 50th anniversary back in 2014, but since neither DVD nor blu-ray specifications allows these formats the 4K quality, only the cinematic release justified the 4K experience of quality improvement. In addition, Giles Martin had reproduced the soundtrack and actually inserted a bit of new foley sounds.

Since then, new blu-ray players have added UHD functionality, and “A Hard Day’s Night” was first released in UHD 4K in Japan in 2021, and in the USA in 2022. Finally it will now be available in Europe, via Great Britain.

Description

Meet the Beatles! Just one month after they exploded onto the U.S. scene with their Ed Sullivan Show appearance, John, Paul, George, and Ringo began working on a project that would bring their revolutionary talent to the big screen. This film, in which the bandmates play slapstick versions of themselves, captured the astonishing moment when they officially became the singular, irreverent idols of their generation and changed music forever. Directed with raucous, anything-goes verve by Richard Lester (The Knack . . . and How to Get It) and featuring a slew of iconic pop anthems – including the title track, “Can’t Buy Me Love,” “I Should Have Known Better,” and “If I Fell” – A Hard Day’s Night, which reconceived the movie musical and exerted an incalculable influence on the music video, is one of the most deliriously entertaining movies of all time.

Region Code: Region B

Duration: 87 minutes
Extras: Language(s): English, Hard of Hearing Subtitles: English, Interactive Menu, 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio, Mono, Stereo, Commentary: Cast and crew, Essay by Howard Hampton (critic), Short film by Richard Lester: “The Running Jumping & Standing Still Film” (1960).

Documentaries: “In Their Own Voices”, “Things They Said Today”, “Picturewise”, “Anatomy of a Style”, “Making of” Documentary. Interview: Mark Lewisohn (Beatles biographer).

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Japan edition, 2021