On This Day in Beatles History: Filming ‘I Should Have Known Better’ for A Hard Day’s Night – 11 March 1964
On Wednesday 11 March 1964, The Beatles began work at Twickenham Film Studios in London during the filming of their first feature film, A Hard Day’s Night.
This was the first day the group worked at Twickenham Studios, a location that would later play an important role in their career. The Beatles would return to the studio to film their second feature film Help! in 1965, as well as parts of the Let It Be project in 1969, alongside several promotional films and solo projects in later years.
Filming the ‘I Should Have Known Better’ sequence
During the session on 11 March 1964, The Beatles filmed the performance sequence for the song ‘I Should Have Known Better’, which appears midway through the film.
To create the scene, the production team built a set designed to resemble a train guard’s van. Inside the carriage, the band performed the song while the set was physically rocked from side to side in order to simulate the movement of a train.
The Beatles mimed to the studio recording of the track while performing on the moving set, creating one of the film’s most memorable musical sequences.
A moment of chaos on set
Filming took place throughout the day, with the band working from 8am until 10pm to complete the scene.
At one point during filming, director Richard Lester had to temporarily halt production. The technicians responsible for rocking the carriage set had begun moving it in rhythm with the music, which created an unrealistic effect and disrupted the intended visual illusion of a train in motion.
After the problem was corrected, filming continued and the sequence was successfully completed.
Twickenham Film Studios and The Beatles
The 11 March 1964 session marked the beginning of The Beatles’ long association with Twickenham Film Studios, one of the United Kingdom’s most famous film production facilities.
The studio would later host several significant Beatles-related projects, including:
- Help! (1965) – The Beatles’ second feature film
- Let It Be (1969) – rehearsals and filming for the documentary
- various promotional films and solo-era projects
Because of this continued association, Twickenham Studios remains one of the key locations in Beatles film history.
A Hard Day’s Night
Directed by Richard Lester, A Hard Day’s Night was released in 1964 and quickly became one of the most influential music films ever made.
The film captured the energy and humour of the Beatles during the height of Beatlemania, combining documentary-style scenes with musical performances of songs from the band’s catalogue.
The ‘I Should Have Known Better’ sequence filmed on 11 March 1964 remains one of the standout musical moments in the film.
Why 11 March 1964 matters
The filming session on 11 March 1964 represents an important moment in The Beatles’ transition from recording artists to global multimedia stars. A Hard Day’s Night would become a landmark film, helping define the visual identity of the band during the early years of Beatlemania.
On This Day in Beatles History
Date: 11 March 1964
Project: A Hard Day’s Night
Scene filmed: ‘I Should Have Known Better’
Location: Twickenham Film Studios, London
Working hours: 8am – 10pm
Filming Location
Twickenham Film Studios – London
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