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In February of 1964, the Sunday variety show of Ed Sullivan (Will Jordan) is a madhouse — The Beatles have landed in America and are going to perform. Converging on Manhattan are thousands of brain-addled Beatles fans, crowding the streets around both the CBS TV theater and the Beatles’ hotel.

The film follows closely six teenagers from New Jersey who head to the Big Apple a day before The Beatles are scheduled to perform at Carnegie Hall. Rosie (Wendy Jo Sperber) is obsessed with the band and literally throws herself out of the car when her friends refuse to stop so that she can make a phone call to a local radio station that is giving away free tickets to anyone that can answer their trivia questions. Janis (Susan Kendall Newman) hates the band and is planning to protest outside their hotel. Grace (Theresa Saldana) wants to interview the band and then use the material to further her journalistic career. Pam (Allen) hasn't had much time to think about the band because she is getting married. Tony (Bobby DiCicco) is just looking for a brawl. Larry (Marc McClure) is the driver, though he does not have a driver's license yet.

Director: Robert Zemeckis
Cast: Nancy Allen, Bobby Di Cicco, Marc McClure
Country: USA
Genre: Comedy, Music, Romance

BD50, DVD9 | 1080p AVC, NTSC | 01:39:17 | 43.5 Gb, 7.40 Gb + 3% rec
Language: English
Subtitles: English

Extras:

• Audio commentary from 2004 featuring Zemeckis and Gale - in this vintage audio commentary, director and cowriter Bob Zemeckis and cowriter Bob Gale address in great detail the production history of I Wanna Hold Your Hand, some of the key locations where the film was shot (none of the footage that is seen in the film was shot in New York City), some of the issues that the unions created at the time, interesting lensing choices, the scoring/music and various other Beatles references that can be spotted throughout the film, the finale, etc. The commentary was recorded in 2004, and initially appeared on Universal's DVD release of the film.

• Allen and McClure - in this brand new video program, actors Nancy Allen and Marc McClure recall their work with Bob Zemeckis during the shooting of I Wanna Hold Your Hand, their interactions with the rest of the cast members, the real Beatlemania and its socio-cultural impact on America, etc. There are also some hilarious comments about the notorious sequence where Allen makes love to the bass in the hotel room, as well as additional observations about Zemeckis' working methods and illustrious career. The program was produced for Criterion in the 2018. In English, not subtitled. (23 min, 1080p).

• Spielberg, Zemeckis, and Gale - in this new video program, executive producer Steven Spielberg, director/cowriter Bob Zemeckis, and cowriter Bob Gale explain how the original idea for I Wanna Hold Your Hand came to exist and how it was developed to become a film, and discuss the production process as well as some of its unique themes. Also, there are interesting comments about some specific lensing choices and Spielberg's mentoring of Zemeckis and Gale in the old days. The program was produced for Criterion in 2018. In English, not subtitled. (42 min, 1080p).

• Short Films - presented here are two short films that Bob Zemeckis made while a student at the University of Southern California's School of Cinematic Art. The second, A Filed of Honor, was apparently inspired by Stanley Kubrick and his 'rebellious' work.
-- The Lift (1972) - in English, not subtitled. (8 min, 1080p).
-- A Field of Honor (1973) - in English, not subtitled. (15 min, 1080p).

• Radio Spots - presented here are multiple radio spots for I Wanna Hold Your Hand. In English, not subtitled. (6 min, 1080p).

• Trailer - a vintage U.S. trailer for I Wanna Hold Your Hand. In 1.33:1 ratio. In English, not subtitled. (2 min, 1080i).