Deleted scenes from A Hard Day's Night

I understand some footage was shot of Paul walking in on an actress practicing lines. She was a young girl, really overacting, and he was very amused by her.

Does anyone know if that deleted footage is available anywhere? I'm sure it was great.

As far as I know, that footage is long gone, unfortunately. I know, it would have been very cute to see.

[ QUOTE ]
beatlegirl9977 Posted:
As far as I know, that footage is long gone, unfortunately. I know, it would have been very cute to see.

[/ QUOTE ]

Tina's right, that footage was destroyed long ago. I believe part of the problem was that Paul couldn't get through it very well!

There is the text of the scene, however, preserved in the book containing the complete script (which I have, but which is out of print), and also in the novelization. It's a pity no one thought to save the film footage, but remember, back in the day, who knew the Beatles'd be around six months later?

Somehow I seem to recall having seen that scene somewhere, but I might be mistaking. On my AHDN dvd there are some pictures from this scene and an interview with Isla Blair, the actress in question, on the special features disc. I might be thinking about these pictures and not the actual footage. This is probably the case, if you guys are sure the footage is long gone by now. At least some still-pictures are available.

I have the book with the complete script too. Sadly it has been out of print since in or about 1978. I also have the 1964 Lancer novelized version. In the 1964 book, I have to laugh because so much was changed in the movie.

Example: In the book, John says to his make up artist that her work won't "interfere with the rugged concept of my personality" and in the movie George says this line, looking adorably serious.

There are other changes like this throughout the book. In the book with the full script, John was originally given this line, but George ended up with it instead. And he was so adorable delivering it!

One scene I was sad was cut was one where some men move a fan and it blows this guy's hair forward into a Beatle moptop!

I don't care how hard you try, you just can't dodge that Beatle influence!

I also have the original novelization. I love to read it because it had so much more in it. I have to be happy with just visualizing the scenes they never made.

Originally Posted by JaneAsher

I understand some footage was shot of Paul walking in on an actress practicing lines. She was a young girl, really overacting, and he was very amused by her.

Does anyone know if that deleted footage is available anywhere? I'm sure it was great.

A similar scene was cut from Help, where they visit
a drama school. Wendy Richard played an actress
in training there. She played Pauline Fowler on
"Eastenders" and Miss Brahms on "Are You Being Served?"

The stills help in imagining it. Here it is from the original script, right after Ringo in the pub.

http://fan-sites.org/the-beatles/fil...hat/script.txt

71. EXTERIOR STREET

PAUL comes down the street looking about him for RINGO. In the street
is an old building, the sort of place that is highly favoured for TV
rehearsals. There is a sign on the door, "TV Rehearsal Room." As PAUL
draws near, a load of actors and extras, etc. are leaving, they are in
costume, they are the ones who earlier had been going to a word
rehearsal. When PAUL gets near the entrance he decides to go inside.

72. INTERIOR HALL

PAUL enters and wanders about. He reaches a door, pushes it open and
looks in. He sees a GIRL clad in period costume. She is moving around
the room and obviously acting. PAUL watches her for a moment and then
decides to go in.

73. INTERIOR REHEARSAL ROOM

PAUL goes into the room. The GIRL is in mid-flight. She is very young
and lovely and completely engrossed in what she is doing. The room is
absolutely empty except for PAUL and herself. She is acting in the
manner of an eighteenth-century coquette, or, to be precise, the voice
English actresses use when they think they are being true to the
costume period ... her youth however makes it all very charming.

GIRL
If I believed you, sir, I might do those things
and walk those ways only to find myself on
Problem's Path. But I cannot believe you, and
all those urgings serve only as a proof that you
will lie and lie again to gain your purpose with
me.

She dances lightly away from an imaginary lover and as she turns she
sees PAUL who is as engrossed in the scene as she was.

GIRL
(surprised)
Oh!

PAUL
(enthusiastically)
Well ... go 'head, do the next bit.

GIRL
Go away! You've spoilt it.

PAUL
Oh, sorry I spoke.

He makes no attempt to go. He simply continues to look steadily at the
girl; then he smiles at her. She is undecided what to do next.

GIRL
Are you supposed to be here?

PAUL
I've got you worried, haven't I?

GIRL
I'm warning you, they'll be back in a minute.

PAUL
D'you know something, "They" don't worry me at
all. Anyroad, I only fancy listening to you
... that's all but if it worries you ...
well ...

GIRL
You're from Liverpool, aren't you?

PAUL
(ironically)
How'd you guess?

GIRL
(seriously)
Oh, it's the way you talk.

PAUL
(innocently)
Is it ... is it, really?

GIRL
(suspiciously)
Are you pulling my leg?

PAUL
(looking her straight in the eye)
Something like that.

GIRL
(unsure)
I see.
(airily)
Do you like the play?

PAUL
Yeah ... I mean, sure, well, I took it at
school but I only ever heard boys and masters
saying those lines, like, sounds different on a
girl.
(smiles to himself)
Yeah, it's gear on a girl.

GIRL
Gear?

PAUL
Aye, the big hammer, smashing!

GIRL
Thank you.

PAUL
Don't mench ... well, why don't you give us a
few more lines, like?

GIRL pouts.

PAUL
You don't half slam the door in people's faces,
do you? I mean, what about when you're playing
the part, like, hundreds of people'll see you
and ...

GIRL
(cutting in)
I'm not ...

PAUL
Oh, you're the understudy, sort of thing?

GIRL
No.
(aggressively)
I'm a walk-on in a fancy dress scene. I just
felt like doing those lines.

PAUL
Oh, I see. You are an actress though, aren't
you?

GIRL
Yes.

PAUL
Aye, I knew you were.

GIRL
What's that mean?

PAUL
Well, the way you were spouting, like ....
(he imitates her)
"I don't believe you, sir..." and all that.
Yeah, it was gear.

GIRL
(dryly)
The big hammer?

PAUL
(smiling)
Oh aye, a sledge.

GIRL
But the way you did it then sounded so phony.

PAUL
No ... I wouldn't say that ... just like an
actress ... you know.

He moves and stands about like an actress.

GIRL
But that's not like a real person at all.

PAUL
Aye well, actresses aren't like real people,
are they?

GIRL
They ought to be.

PAUL
Oh, I don't know, anyroad up, they never are,
are they?

GIRL
(teasingly)
What are you?

PAUL
I'm in a group ... well ... there are four of
us, we play and sing.

GIRL
I bet you don't sound like real people.

PAUL
We do, you know. We sound like us having a ball.
It's fab.

GIRL
Is it really fab or are you just saying that to
convince yourself?

PAUL
What of? Look, I wouldn't do it unless I was.
I'm dead lucky 'cos I get paid for doing
something I love doing.

He laughs and with a gesture takes in the whole studio

PAUL
... all this and a jam butty too!!

GIRL
I only enjoy acting for myself. I hate it when
other people are let in.

PAUL
Why? I mean, which are you, scared or selfish?

GIRL
Why selfish?

PAUL
Well, you've got to have people to taste your
treacle toffee.

She looks at him in surprise.

PAUL
No, hang on, I've not gone daft. You see, when
I was little me mother let me make some treacle
toffee one time in our back scullery. When I'd
done she said to me, "Go and give some to the
other kids." So, I said I would but I thought
to meself, "She must think I'm soft." Anyroad,
I was eating away there but I wanted somebody
else to know how good it was so in the end I
wound up giving it all away ... but I didn't
mind, mind, 'cos I'd made the stuff in the
first place. Well ... that's why you need
other people... an audience ... to taste your
treacle toffee, like. Eh ... does that sound
as thickheaded to you as it does to me?

GIRL
Not really but I'm probably not a toffee maker.
How would you do those lines of mine?

PAUL
Well, look at it this way, I mean, when you
come right down to it, that girl, she's a bit
of a scrubber, isn't she?

GIRL
Is she?

PAUL
Of course ... Look, if she was a Liverpool
scrubber ...
(Paul starts acting a Liverpool girl,
he minces about then turns, extending
his leg)
Eh, fella, you want to try pulling the other
one, it's got a full set of bells hanging off
it ... Y'what? ... I know your sort, two cokes
and a packet of cheese and onion crisps and
suddenly it's love and we're stopping in an
empty shop doorway. You're just after me body
and y'can't have it ... so there!!

GIRL
(shattered)
And you honestly think that's what she meant?

PAUL
Oh, definitely, it sticks out a mile, she's
trying to get him to marry her but he doesn't
want ... well ... I don't reckon any fella's
ever wanted to get married. But girls are
like that, clever and cunning. You've got to
laugh.

He laughs.

GIRL
Well, it's nice to know you think we're clever.

PAUL
(grinning)
And cunning.

GIRL
And what do you do about it?

PAUL
Me? Oh, I don't have the time, I'm always
running about with the lads ... no, we don't
have the time.

GIRL
Pity.

PAUL
(not noticing the invitation)
Aye, it is but as long as you get by, it's
all right, you know ... bash on, happy valley's
when they let you stop. Anyroad, I'd better
get back.

GIRL
Yes.

PAUL
(going)
See you.

GIRL
Of course.

PAUL stands at the doorway, shrugs then goes out.

Interesting! I always enjoy explorations of the word 'gear' and how so many people in England can identify a Liverpudlian accent, haha. I really wonder if there's someone far out of the public eye, in a regular old house somewhere, who was once involved with AHDN and who has the footage nicely hidden away in an attic or something... well, it's exciting to think about. You never know...

Now I want to see the scene. how you people toture me

How totally gutted would you be if you were that girl and your scene with Pau was cut! Wendy Richards says on the Help! DVD that she was very upset about it but it made her happy that years later Paul remembered her.

This is what you are referring to from A Hard Days Night it was shot on 20th April 1964 at Jack Billing's TV School Of Dancing, Shepherds Bush, London, but unfortunately no footage:

Two scenes were filmed but never used. A sequence where the Beatles are stuck in a traffic jam along with their chauffeur (Frank Thornton) and a solo scene where Paul meets a Shakespearean actress (Isla Blair) rehearsing in her dressing room.

Link:
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0058182/trivia

Well at least those scenes being deleted did not spell the end of her career! She has been in LOADS of things!

Yeah, and she could have included that briefly starring with the Beatles in some later deleted scenes to her resume!

On the 2002 DVD, the actress involved stated it was cut as it didn't fit the pacing of the rest of the film.

Some extra footage may survive on some BBC newsreel.

Originally Posted by oldbeatlechick

A sequence where the Beatles are stuck in a traffic jam along with their chauffeur (Frank Thornton)

No way! ANOTHER Are You Being Served/Beatles connection? (Frank Thornton played the floorwalker on AYBS?)

AYBS is a VERY funny show! I love it!

Interesting about Frank the Chauffeur. That is quite an impressive credit to add to his resume that he got to drive the Beatles!

[quote=HappinessIsAWarmBagel;677544]Interesting! I always enjoy explorations of the word 'gear' and how so many people in England can identify a Liverpudlian accent, haha.QUOTE]

I don't know anyone who uses the word "gear" in a legitimate way!

Seriously, the only people who say "fab gear" are Beatles fans and Beatle tribute band members! (And that phrase only came about in a naughty way reportedly anyway! Tut tut Beatles!)

Liverpudlian accent? Easy, it's a mongrel combination of Welsh, Irish and Lanc! AND even worse, the accent differs depending on which part of Liverpool you're in!

As for the deleted scenes, have you seen the Frankie Howerd stills from Help? I always feel sorry he wasn't in the film!

I have read the above with great interest. I have press cuttings from 1964 that state that 15 minutes was cut from the film. Through contacts, I have asked Richard Lester, the film's director, what happened to this footage but he does not know. I have also asked (again via contacts) if Paul McCartney remembers using a London bus in these scenes, but again he does not remember anything specific - it was of course, an intense period for the group. The press cuttings refer to filming in a road in Twickenham, I think on 14th April 1964 (not sure if I have the right date there, it may have been earlier). The film crew took over an entire street in Twickenham, near the studios, for scenes with traffic, including a double-decker. The shooting was planned out in the living-room of the owner of the double-decker, who was Tim Lewis (his father was a judge, and had a large house in Twickenham). Tim has recounted to me how he had the four Beatles sitting in his lounge. The Beatles autographed the upper-deck ceiling of the bus, but this was later (would you believe?) painted over, and then in 1972 the bus was open-topped, taking the ceiling away.

I would dearly love to see these missing scenes, as I now own the bus that was used in the filming (ex London Transport 1950 Leyland RTL 1050, LLU 829). If anyone has any further information on these missing film sequences, which I am fairly sure would not have been physically destroyed afterwards, please do post something.

David Thrower
Warrington, Cheshire