Following two days at Twickenham Film Studios, work on A Hard Day’s Night moved to Gatwick Airport.
The Beatles arrived at 10am. The first scene to be shot was the one which closes the film, in which the group run to board a helicopter and reams of signed promotional photographs are scattered as they ascend.
In the afternoon The Beatles were filmed fooling around on a helipad. A helicopter was flown overhead, with an airborne cameraman filming their antics. The footage was later incorporated into one of the film’s two ‘Can’t Buy Me Love’ scenes.
Last updated: 25 January 2023
Also on this day...
- 2009: Former Capitol Records boss Alan Livingston dies at 91
- 1999: Ringo Starr and his All-Starr Band live: Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, Las Vegas
- 1993: Paul McCartney live: Adelaide Oval, Adelaide
- 1990: Paul McCartney live: Tokyo Dome, Tokyo
- 1981: US single release: Watching The Wheels by John Lennon
- 1970: Mixing: Sentimental Journey by Ringo Starr
- 1969: Mixing: I’ve Got A Feeling, Dig It, Maggie Mae, Shake Rattle And Roll, Kansas City, Miss Ann, Lawdy Miss Clawdy, Blue Suede Shoes, You Really Got A Hold On Me
- 1967: Recording: Good Morning Good Morning
- 1965: Travel: London to Austria
- 1964: Mixing: Komm, Gib Mir Deine Hand, Sie Liebt Dich
- 1963: The Beatles live: Rialto Theatre, York
- 1963: Recording, mixing: Thank You Girl
- 1962: The Beatles live: Cavern Club, Liverpool (lunchtime)
- 1961: The Beatles live: Liverpool Jazz Society, Liverpool
- 1961: The Beatles live: Cavern Club, Liverpool (lunchtime)
- 1958: The Quarrymen live: Morgue Skiffle Cellar, Liverpool
Want more? Visit the Beatles history section.
Hi Beatles Bible, the location for the second image above is actually Thornbury Playing Fields, Isleworth and not Gatwick.
They did do some filming on a ‘helipad’ at Gatwick but it must have been decided that it was not enough so they made a replica and did more filming as you can see in the image above. They intermixed the footage assuming noone would notice. The real helipad was much larger than this one.
Yes I agree. I was lucky enough to be there that day and that picture is not at The Beehive. They did however sing and dance on a railway bridge watched by me and my mum! They sang ‘ Glad All Over’..not one of their songs and stamped their feet in the bit where there should be clapping.