From Sam Goldsmith:
If there is any opening shot that truly shows the power of cinema, it comes from my favorite film, Richard Lester's "A Hard Day's Night." After crediting Miramax and Walter Shenson, the film makes a hard edit to John, George, and Ringo cheerfully running from hordes (not a group, hordes) of overzealous fans at Marylebone Station in London. Accompanied by one of the greatest opening chords in rock and roll history, you know that something fun is about to begin.
Also, notice the fact that George falls down, Ringo tumbles after him, and John turns and laughs. If it were any other film, the makers would probably have them do the shot again, but the spontaneity of that moment and how they react to it is real and joyous. When they finally approach the screen by the end of the shot, the magic of the film starts to weave a spell of euphoria, and we can do nothing else but enjoy the ride.
From Jerry Matthews, The Salt Shaker, Salt Lake City, UT:
The picture cuts in from black as, on the soundtrack, George Harrison's jangling 12-string strikes a kinetic opening chord. The four members of The Beatles run towards the camera on the left side of the frame, while the stampede of fans who want to touch them fills all of the narrow street. The cars parked on the street obstruct much of the crowd, suggesting the film's energetic, impromptu feel.
After George trips and Ringo falls behind him, they get back up and keep running. But as they reach the camera, they aren't running with fear, but with big smiles on their face. And they'll be smiling throughout Richard Lester's masterful celebration of youth and music.
JE: There's a whole mini-story -- and even character development -- in this single shot! Both our contributors mention how John (who was like the big brother to both George and Ringo) turns around and laughs when George falls. And George laughs, too -- self-effacingly. There's a moment when Ringo (The Slow One) seems to notice George has gone down, and all but says "Oh-oh!" -- but it's too late and he takes a tumble as well. This makes John, who keeps looking behind him to see how the boys are doing, laugh even harder. By the end of the shot (a telephoto, so everyone runs toward the camera without particularly seeming to get anywhere), they're clustered tightly together in the frame. These guys are a band.
Someone beat me to the punch! I *love* this opening show, and "A Hard Day's Night" makes my cry with delight every time I see it. Such joy!
This shot also conveys a small mystery. Where is Paul? Devoured by the mob? Assuming one third of Beatlemaniacs chose Paul as their favorite (everyone has a favorite Beatle and it seems as if it's split one-third Paul, one-third John, and the rest split between Ringo and George), there is a slight tension that one of their party was left behind. Since they were already easily identifiable, anyone who paid to see the movie would notice his absense. This makes the casual and bearded Paul revealed a few shots later that much funnier and more powerful.
Something about the opening shot that may be lost to audiences forty-some years later is the sheer joy of the Beatles. England had been mired in a dismal post-war funk for nearly two decades, and the shot of three young men running and laughing down a sunny street was a startling contrast to the more traditional Angry Young Men under slate-gray skies that had been central to British films at that point.
paul & his grandfather are at the train station, waiting. Paul is wearing a fake moustache, so the girls won't chase him in the greatest opening shot of any movie ever. also, if anyone is able to lose something the size of the sheer joy of the Beatles, i guess that person or generation of people should be put on restrictions and not allowed to watch Hard Day's Night until they have admonished older generations for leading the country to galloping ruin!