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IMDbPro

I Wanna Hold Your Hand

  • 1978
  • PG
  • 1h 44m
IMDb RATING
6.9/10
6.1K
YOUR RATING
Nancy Allen, Eddie Deezen, Theresa Saldana, and Wendie Jo Sperber in I Wanna Hold Your Hand (1978)
In 1964, six teenagers from New Jersey run off to see The Beatles perform on Toast of the Town (1948) in the hope of meeting their idols. However, they don't have tickets. Along the way, they learn new things about friendship and growing up.
Play trailer1:15
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99+ Photos
Dark ComedyComedyMusicRomance

In 1964, six teenagers from New Jersey run off to see The Beatles perform on The Ed Sullivan Show (1948) in the hope of meeting their idols. However, they don't have tickets. Along the way, ... Read allIn 1964, six teenagers from New Jersey run off to see The Beatles perform on The Ed Sullivan Show (1948) in the hope of meeting their idols. However, they don't have tickets. Along the way, they learn new things about friendship and growing up.In 1964, six teenagers from New Jersey run off to see The Beatles perform on The Ed Sullivan Show (1948) in the hope of meeting their idols. However, they don't have tickets. Along the way, they learn new things about friendship and growing up.

  • Director
    • Robert Zemeckis
  • Writers
    • Robert Zemeckis
    • Bob Gale
  • Stars
    • Nancy Allen
    • Bobby Di Cicco
    • Marc McClure
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    6.9/10
    6.1K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Robert Zemeckis
    • Writers
      • Robert Zemeckis
      • Bob Gale
    • Stars
      • Nancy Allen
      • Bobby Di Cicco
      • Marc McClure
    • 57User reviews
    • 48Critic reviews
    • 64Metascore
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • Videos1

    Trailer
    Trailer 1:15
    Trailer

    Photos115

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    Top cast64

    Edit
    Nancy Allen
    Nancy Allen
    • Pam Mitchell
    Bobby Di Cicco
    Bobby Di Cicco
    • Tony Smerko
    Marc McClure
    Marc McClure
    • Larry Dubois
    Susan Kendall Newman
    • Janis Goldman
    Theresa Saldana
    Theresa Saldana
    • Grace Corrigan
    Wendie Jo Sperber
    Wendie Jo Sperber
    • Rosie Petrofsky
    Eddie Deezen
    Eddie Deezen
    • Richard 'Ringo' Klaus
    Christian Juttner
    Christian Juttner
    • Peter Plimpton
    Will Jordan
    Will Jordan
    • Ed Sullivan
    Read Morgan
    Read Morgan
    • Peter's Father
    Claude Earl Jones
    Claude Earl Jones
    • Al
    James Houghton
    James Houghton
    • Eddie
    Michael Hewitson
    • Neil
    Dick Miller
    Dick Miller
    • Sgt. Bresner
    Vito Carenzo
    • CBS Security Guard
    Luke Andreas
    • Police Officer in Alley
    Roberta Lee Carroll
    • Cafeteria Girl #1
    Sherry Lynn
    Sherry Lynn
    • Cafeteria Girl #2
    • Director
      • Robert Zemeckis
    • Writers
      • Robert Zemeckis
      • Bob Gale
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews57

    6.96K
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    Featured reviews

    Brainy-2

    A Masterpiece

    There is a scene that takes place about three quarters of the way through this film that is not only one of the ten funniest scenes in the history of movie-making, but probably does even a better job of summing up what the year 1964 was all about than Dr. Strangelove. It involves Christian Juttner, who must confront an evil looking one-eyed barber, and a snake-like pair of electric clippers.

    And forget Burt Lancaster & Deborah Kerr on the beach in "From Here To Eternity." For sheer lustful passion, that scene doesn't even come close to Nancy Allen's roll in the hay with Paul McCartney's Hoffner bass.

    A flawless masterpiece!
    8MarioB

    Just simple fun

    I never heard of that movie in 1978! I saw it a few years ago and I was asking myself why I never heard of that film in 1978! This is not a great comedy movie : just plain fun and entertainment, in a very creative and honest way. Even if there's some cliche (the old-fashioned rocker of the 1950's, the beatnik girl, the cars) I think it captures very well the Beatlemania in a teenage 1964 point of view. Young actresses are very good and comedy situation are pleasants. I also love the idea of hearing only the voices of the Beatles, and showing only their feet, as if they were adultes in a children comic strip. I have this on tape - thanks to PBS! - and I watch it once a year, just for smiling.
    Boyo-2

    Hysterically funny

    A cast of unknowns with a young Robert Zemeckis as director made a movie as memorable as the Beatles themselves! Especially Wendie Jo Sperber, who is the most hysterical of all the fans, and Nancy Allen, who actually gains access to their hotel room at one point. This movie is very funny and it helps if you're an admirer of the Beatles, but anyone would like it.
    San Franciscan

    What a cute movie!

    I never saw this until just today--I was afraid it would turn out to be a dumb film like "Beatlemania!" was--but it turned out to be one of the innocently charming films I've ever seen.

    I am a big Beatles admirer, but I wasn't around for this particular time period (I grew up with them during the 70s instead). But this film was sure a fun treat to watch! Delightful slapstick, lots of times completely unbelieveable, but who cares? The fun is in watching these very likeable characters (except that annoying nerd who was goofy and funny but not likeakle, and the Beatle-hater who tries to axe the show... LITERALLY) go through their exciting and silly adventure in their attempts to get tickets.

    I was really laughing HARD while watching this one, and highly recommend it!

    Out of all the characters, the one whom I fell in love with the most was the one young girl who wanted more than anything else in the world to see her beloved Paul McCartney. Long dark hair, just *slightly* chubby, having cute puppy dog eyes and wearing a sweet little pink bow in her hair, I felt so sorry for her. She wanted SO much to see Paul, and it was both funny and terribly heartbreaking at the same time to watch her rush into a phone booth to call the radio station with the correct answer for a Beatles trivia contest and be so anxious with her handful of dimes that she practically *THROWS* them at the phone.

    My favorite lines declaring the Beatles one of life's happiest pleasures come at a scene when the bride-to-be is driving with her future husband (who gives the impression with his short onscreen time that he'd be a real CREEP to her!). Check this scene out and listen to her lines, they're priceless to Beatle fans everywhere.

    I'm afraid I'm not a good judge concerning whether or not non-Beatle admirers will react so favourably to this one... but if they dig slapstick and watching people go berzerk over such ridiculous things as the everyday napkins celebrities use, they just might. I mean hey, I love the Beatles, but I would NEVER go for the nonsense that goes on here! So for both Beatle fans and non-fans, I think it's safe for me to say that this movie works as both a fun piece of nostalgia and a satirical look of human nature gone wild and how crazy some will go when it comes to beloved icons.

    Oh, and I'm sure Paul finds it VERY flattering as well! Hee hee...
    Petey-10

    The 60's and the Beatles

    When you think about the 60's, what do you remember from that decade? The Beatles of course! And this movie tells about the 60's and the Beatles. And there are these American teenagers who just have to see this British group called the Beatles. And what would be a better way to see them than go to Ed Sullivan show, where the Beatles perform.And believe me, it's not going to be that easy. I Wanna hold your Hand is a great movie with great actors. Although this movie was made in the 70's, it shows you what the 60's was all about.

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    Related interests

    Phoebe Waller-Bridge and Sian Clifford in Fleabag (2016)
    Dark Comedy
    Will Ferrell in Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy (2004)
    Comedy
    Prince and Apollonia Kotero in Purple Rain (1984)
    Music
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    Romance

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Director Robert Zemeckis' feature debut, as well as his first of many collaborations with producer Steven Spielberg. Despite the film's relatively modest budget (approximately $2.8 million), Universal Studios were uneasy with Spielberg's choice in hiring the unproven director. To prevent Zemeckis from being fired, executive Ned Tanen made Spielberg agree that if Zemeckis was doing a markedly poor job, Spielberg would step in and direct the film himself. This way, Universal could hardly lose: they would either have given a new whiz-kid director his first chance, or they would have gained another Spielberg film to release.
    • Goofs
      The Höfner bass guitar used in the movie was a right handed version. Paul McCartney is left-handed.
    • Quotes

      Ed Sullivan: And so, I want you to be prepared for excessive screaming, hysteria, hyperventilation, fainting, fits, seizures, spasmodic convulsions, even attempted suicides. All perfectly normal. Merely means that these youngsters are enjoying themselves.

    • Connections
      Featured in Some Jerk with a Camera: Back to the Future: The Ride - Part I (2015)
    • Soundtracks
      I Want to Hold Your Hand
      Written by John Lennon and Paul McCartney

      Performed by The Beatles

      Courtesy of EMI Records Limited

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    FAQ18

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    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • 1978 (United Kingdom)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Fiebre de juventud
    • Filming locations
      • Biltmore Hotel - 506 S. Grand Avenue, Downtown, Los Angeles, California, USA(hotel alley and interiors)
    • Production companies
      • Amblin Entertainment
      • Universal Pictures
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $2,700,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $1,944,682
    • Gross worldwide
      • $1,944,682
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      • 1h 44m(104 min)
    • Sound mix
      • Mono
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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