Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility

Lot #635
Beatles Signed Photograph - Signed for an Assistant Director on 'A Hard Day’s Night'

Amazing Dezo Hoffman portrait of the Beatles, signed in 1964 for an assistant director on A Hard Day's Night

Ends On 4/9

Now At:  $10,454 (12 bids)

Next Bid:  $11,500

Estimate: $30000+

The 30 Minute Rule begins April 9 at 7:00 PM EDT. An Initial Bid Must Be Placed By April 9 at 6:00 PM EDT To Participate After 6:00 PM EDT

Server Time: 3/22/2025 07:00:18 PM EDT
Sell a Similar Item?
Refer Collections and Get Paid

Description

Amazing Dezo Hoffman portrait of the Beatles, signed in 1964 for an assistant director on A Hard Day's Night

Vintage matte-finish 9.5 x 7.25 photo of the Beatles in their famous collarless suits by Dezo Hoffman, signed and inscribed in blue and red ink, "John Lennon," "Best wishes, Paul McCartney," "To Geoff, best wishes from George Harrison," and "Geoff, Best Wishes from the Beatles, Ringo Starr." In fine condition, with some unobtrusive light creasing.

The consignor reports that these autographs were obtained by the previous vendor's brother, Alec, who in 1964 was asked to work as 2nd Assistant Director on 'A Hard Day's Night,' a musical comedy directed by Richard Lester and featuring The Beatles. In the vendor's own words: 'Shooting started in early March ’64 at Twickenham Studios. Originally, as no name had been given to the film, all scripts were simply titled, 'The Beatles.' It wasn’t until Ringo came in one day and said, 'It’s been a hard day’s night,' that Dick Lester decided that 'A Hard Day’s Night' should be the title for the film. One of the many jobs of a 2nd Assistant Director is to make sure the stars of a movie are happy and to make sure they are on the set when required. Consequently, my brother got to know John, Paul, George and Ringo better than some of the other technicians.

When not working on films, he was a professional drummer and used to try to teach some jazz drum rudiments to Ringo in the canteen during lunch breaks at Twickenham Studios, but Ringo had his own style and jazz wasn’t his thing! It was subsequently Ringo who signed his signature on the photograph first, with my brother’s red pen. He also signed: ‘To Geoff, Best wishes from the Beatles.’ Paul McCartney, being the main spokesman for the band, liaised with Alec a lot and would phone our home phone number in the evenings (much to my Mum’s annoyance) if there was any problems. I got to speak to him a couple of times. Paul then signed the photo, and then George. John, being much more aloof than the others, was the last one to sign the photo, when they were well into the seven-week shoot, which was finished towards the end of April ’64. My brother also helped make a 'short' which was used to promote the main feature movie called 'Follow The Beatles.' It was a manic, frenetic time and the unit needed as much stamina as the Beatles to get all of Dick Lester’s ideas to work. So, by the end of the shoot, this eleven year old kid was presented with a full set of The Beatles autographs, much to the envy of our neighbours and my equally Beatles-obsessed school mates.'

Auction Info

  • Auction Title: Fine Autographs and Artifacts Featuring Civil War and Abraham Lincoln
  • Dates: March 14, 2025 - April 09, 2025





This item is Pre-Certified by Real
Buy a third-party letter of authenticity for $750.00

*This item has been pre-certified by a trusted third-party authentication service, and by placing a bid on this item, you agree to accept the opinion of this authentication service. If you wish to have an opinion rendered by a different authenticator of your choosing, you must do so prior to your placing of any bid. RR Auction is not responsible for differing opinions submitted 30 days after the date of the sale.

mgctlbxN$MZP mgctlbxV$5.3.7 mgctlbxL$M