The Beatles vs Cliff Richard - Coventry 1964

The Beatles vs Cliff Richard - Coventry 1964

By Pete Clemons

It is true. Cliff Richard once went head to head with The Beatles when both were involved in a contest for audiences at two of Coventry's most popular cinemas during August 1964. To be fair, the same conflict was also happening up and down the country. And, as it happens, both films proved to be incredibly popular with each doing exceptional business all round at their opposing box offices.

The Beatles first film 'A Hard Day's Night' had already broken box office records in many parts of the country in the short space of time since it was released. And it was anticipated that the tremendous attraction of the famous Merseyside group, which was so irresistible to teenagers, children and many adults during 1964, would bring about a box office record's at the Gaumont Coventry.

In preparation for the crowds a special schedule had been drawn up to show the film five times a day during the week, and three times on a Sunday. The way was indeed opened for records to be broken. Additionally, extra staff had been taken on to help control the enthusiastic audiences expected.

The film itself was, and still is, a comedy with many hit tunes and an offbeat storyline. It follows thirty six hours in the life of The Beatles as they travel to a TV show in London. The film used a variety of state of the art photographic techniques including a documentary. Together it created one of the music based motion pictures of the 1960s. Apart from The Beatles, the only other well known personality to share the film, is Wilfred Brambell of 'Steptoe and Son' fame. He played Ringo Starr's grandfather. 

Cliff Richard's third musical, 'Wonderful Life', which came to The Empire, had already outstripped the great success of his previous effort, 'Summer Holiday'. 'Wonderful Life' was filmed in colour and contained numerous song and dance numbers. The action took place against the beautiful backgrounds of Canary Islands.

The story was along the lines of a cruise ship pop band is thrown off the boat for causing an electrical failure, and they all end up in the Canaries. This happened to be where a film director is shooting a movie. The group help him in the making of the film by helping the nervous leading lady prepare for her scenes, but is inspired to reshoot the movie in their own way.

'Wonderful Life' is a musical comedy, with Susan Hampshire being Cliff's leading lady along with his backing group, The Shadows, who also having a prominent role. The film also starred Walter Slezak, as the movie maker, and Melvyn Hayes, Una Stubbs and Richard O'Sullivan. But in all honesty, the film was not one of Cliff's finest.

Both films produced soundtracks that hung on to top 10 places in the UK charts for weeks and, yes maybe dated now, but both were incredibly successful at the time of release. Interestingly, the 'Wonderful Life' soundtrack was released in America under the title 'Swingers Paradise' but failed to break unlike the soundtrack to 'A Hard Days Life' which was a massive success in the States.