Up and Up

After the first American tour, the Beatles turned to another world - films. They made A Hard Day's Night in the spring of 1964. The title of the film and the song of the same name was something that Ringo said. The rest of the band often laughed at the drummer's unusual way of saying things. The film's writer, Alan Owen, spent a few days with the band. The Beatles were funny, and the film showed this. Owen also understood the band's daily life. For much of the film, they were running away from screaming fans. The band liked making the film, but George probably enjoyed it most. He fell in love with one of the actresses, Patti Boyd. They were married in 1966.

The black-and-white film was first shown in London and Liverpool. It was a big success. (The album was, too. This time, all the songs were by Lennon and McCartney.) Many people really liked Ringo's acting in the film. Some even called him 'the new Charlie Chaplin'. But Ringo remembers that he came straight from a club for one very funny part. He says that he wasn't acting much! John and Paul's musical ideas were growing all the time. Each new song was different and exciting.

A different sound

John and Paul were both big fans of Bob Dylan's music. The subjects and language in the young American's songs were always unusual and interesting. The song 'I'm a Loser' on the album Beatles for Sale, at the end of 1964, sounded a little like a Dylan song. The same was true of the following year's 'You've Got to Hide Your Love Away'. John even found time to write a book in 1964. John Lennon In His Own Write was full of funny short stories and pictures. It didn't have any serious meaning. In the introduction Paul wrote, 'If it seems funny, then that's enough.' John wrote another book the next year.

In early 1965, the Beatles made their second film. After the success of A Hard Day's Night, there was more money. But the band just wanted to travel and have a good time. 'We started saying, "We've never been to the Bahamas. Could you write that in?"' Paul remembers. As George said later, 'We had fun in those days.' But John remembered it differently. This wasn't a happy time for him. 'You can't see it but I'm singing "Help!"' he said.