Thursday 5th March 1964 | Film and video

On Thursday 5th March 1964, The Beatles completed the fourth day of filming for their début feature film, A Hard Day's Night.

The day was devoted to shooting the railway sequences that appear in the opening section of the film.

Railway Filming – Acton to the West Country

The Beatles boarded a train at Acton Main Line station in west London.

The production then filmed scenes during a journey between London and Taunton, Somerset, capturing:

• Compartment scenes
• Corridor interactions
• Exterior railway footage

These sequences form part of the film’s early narrative, portraying the group travelling under the watchful eye of Paul McCartney’s fictional grandfather.

Once filming concluded, the party returned to Westbourne Park Station in London.

Oxford Engagement – Brasenose College

Later that evening, The Beatles travelled to Oxford.

They were entertained at Brasenose College, where they attended an event connected to Oxfam’s 21st anniversary celebrations. The gathering had been organised by Jeffrey Archer, who was at that time active in charitable fundraising efforts.

Brian Epstein was also present.

The visit created significant press interest, particularly due to the symbolic juxtaposition of Britain’s most famous pop group with one of Oxford University’s historic colleges.

Derek Taylor’s Recollection

Beatles press officer Derek Taylor later reflected on the day in Fifty Years Adrift:

“I boarded the Beatles train very early one morning at Paddington Station, my head spinning with words and my notebook bursting with unwritten feature articles. Sommerville kept much of the train off-limits. I spent the journey down to the West Country mostly with George and John and Alun Owen, the film’s scriptwriter; though I was still not well enough ‘in’ to be told that, that very evening, The Beatles were to be guests of Sir Noel Hall, Principal of Brasenose College, Oxford. The Daily Mail ran an exclusive next day: a three-column report with massive picture coverage on the melding of the Fab Four with Older England. Scooped – and by our deadliest rival!”

The account illustrates the media frenzy already surrounding The Beatles in early 1964 — even during film production.

Historical Context

By March 1964:

• Beatlemania had firmly taken hold in Britain and America.
• The band had just returned from their first US visit in February.
• Filming of A Hard Day’s Night was progressing rapidly under director Richard Lester.

The railway sequences shot on 5th March became some of the most recognisable early scenes in the finished film.