Richard Lester

Directing

Richard Lester

Born 1932-01-19 · Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.

Richard Lester (born 19 January 1932)  is an American-born British-based film director notable for his work with The Beatles in the 1960s and his work on the Superman film series in the 1980s.

Acting credits

The Beatles: Eight Days a Week - The Touring Years poster
7.5

The Beatles stormed through Europe's music scene in 1963, and, in 1964, they conquered America. Their groundbreaking world tours changed global youth culture forever and, arguably, invented mass entertainment as we know it today. All the while, the group were composing and recording a series of extraordinarily successful singles and albums. However the relentless pressure of such unprecedented fame, that in 1966 became uncontrollable turmoil, led to the decision to stop touring. In the ensuing years The Beatles were then free to focus on a series of albums that changed the face of recorded music.

The Beatles: Eight Days a Week - The Touring Years

2016

Filmmakers in Action poster
7.2

What is the state of cinema and what being a filmmaker means? What are the measures taken to protect authors' copyright? What is their legal status in different countries? (Sequel to “Filmmakers vs. Tycoons.”)

Filmmakers in Action

2006

Butch and Sundance: The Early Days poster
5.0

Before the adventures that made them legends, they were charming mastermind Robert Leroy Parker, alias Butch Cassidy, and crack-shot outlaw Harry Alonzo Longabaugh, soon to be known as The Sundance Kid. This is the 'prequel' of how they met, their first clumsy robberies, the heroic dangers that abound them together, the secret that nearly tore them apart, and the impossible train heist that made them notorious for life. Saddle up and ride with the showdowns, shootouts, bad guys and good times in the days before the fame when fun was the name of the game.

Butch and Sundance: The Early Days

1979

The Making of 'Superman III' poster
6.8

This documentary treats movie fans to a behind-the-scenes look at the making of Superman III, a more comical take on the superhero story in which the Man of Steel takes on a supercomputer and its bumbling programmer. Included are interviews with the cast and crew who share their experiences from making the film, as well as disscuss the efforts that went into it.

The Making of 'Superman III'

1985

A Turnip Head's Guide To The British Cinema poster
NR

Documentary presenting Alan Parker’s view of British cinema with comments from Richard Lester and others and location report from King’s Lynn on the making of Hugh Hudson’s Revolution, starring Al Pacino, Donald Sutherland, and Nastassja Kinski.

A Turnip Head's Guide To The British Cinema

1986

THE BEATLES in HELP! poster
6.5

30 minute documentary about the making of the film Help! with Richard Lester, the cast and crew. Includes exclusive behind the scenes footage of The Beatles on set.

THE BEATLES in HELP!

2007

The Making of 'Superman II' poster
7.6

Documentary about the making of the sequel to Superman.

The Making of 'Superman II'

1983

Richard Lester! poster
7.0

A tribute to Richard Lester, Philadelphia-born filmmaker who moved to England to direct the modern classics "A Hard Day's Night," "Petulia," and "Help!"

Richard Lester!

1998

You Can't Do That! The Making of 'A Hard Day's Night' poster
8.0

Thirty years after A Hard Day's Night, its producer, director, writer and others describe its making. United Artists Records came to Walter Shenson, asking him to produce a movie so UA could issue a soundtrack album. Shenson signed Lester to direct, and they got the Beatles to agree to star. Shenson sent Owen to Dublin to spend time with the Fab Four; from this came a script built around their being prisoners of their own success. Phil Collins, himself an extra on A Hard Day's Night, hosts this examination of a seminal film: what was ad-libbed, why was it a hit, what was its influence on other movies, and how did it define the way the public viewed each Beatle for years to come?

You Can't Do That! The Making of 'A Hard Day's Night'

1995

La route poster
8.0

Mercadet, a young man, and Morin, a forty-something, meet in a brothel in India. They team up to continue their journey together. Along the way, they will meet various people.

La route

1975

Petulia: The Uncommon Movie poster
NR

A short featurette on the making of "Petulia"

Petulia: The Uncommon Movie

1968

Best Sellers or: Peter Sellers and 'Dr. Strangelove' poster
5.8

Documentary about actor Peter Sellers and one of his most memorable film roles.

Best Sellers or: Peter Sellers and 'Dr. Strangelove'

2004

The Unknown Peter Sellers poster
8.2

Documentary about the life and career of a comic genius, Peter Sellers.

The Unknown Peter Sellers

2000

Spike Milligan: Love, Light and Peace poster
NR

A very personal portrait of the truly unique comedy genius of Spike Milligan, as told in his own words and featuring exclusive home movie footage. With contributions from those who worked with him, lived with him and were inspired by him.

Spike Milligan: Love, Light and Peace

2014

The Running Jumping & Standing Still Film poster
5.6

A short film without any direct action designed more as an experiment, with disjointed comic scenes with no common thread.

The Running Jumping & Standing Still Film

1959

Things They Said Today poster
7.0

A documentary on the making of the Beatles' 1964 film "A Hard Day's Night," featuring director Richard Lester, music producer George Martin, screenwriter Alun Owen, and cinematographer Gilbert Taylor.

Things They Said Today

2002

Spike poster
10.0

Spike personally tells the story of his life from India, World War II to The Goons and his Q series

Spike

1996

Behind the camera

Superman II poster
6.8

Three Kryptonian criminals led by General Zod team up with Lex Luthor to conquer Earth, forcing a depowered Superman to regain his strength and stop them.

Superman II

1980

Superman III poster
5.5

Aiming to defeat the Man of Steel, wealthy executive Ross Webster hires bumbling but brilliant Gus Gorman to develop synthetic kryptonite, which yields some unexpected psychological effects. Between rekindling romance with his high school sweetheart and saving himself, Superman must contend with a powerful supercomputer.

Superman III

1983

A Hard Day's Night poster
7.3

Capturing John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr in their electrifying element, 'A Hard Day's Night' is a wildly irreverent journey through this pastiche of a day in the life of The Beatles during 1964. The band have to use all their guile and wit to avoid the pursuing fans and press to reach their scheduled television performance, in spite of Paul's troublemaking grandfather and Ringo's arrest.

A Hard Day's Night

1964

The Three Musketeers poster
6.7

In 17th century France, young D'Artagnan wants to join the King's Musketeers, but instead befriends three legendary musketeers—Athos, Porthos, and Aramis—and together, they become embroiled in the political intrigue surrounding King Louis XIII and his adversaries, particularly the powerful Cardinal Richelieu.

The Three Musketeers

1973

Robin and Marian poster
6.3

Robin Hood, aging none too gracefully, returns exhausted from the Crusades to woo and win Maid Marian one last time.

Robin and Marian

1976

The Ritz poster
6.0

To escape from a mobster, businessman Gaetano Proclo orders a cab driver to take him to a place where he can't be found. Unfortunately for Gaetano, the place turns out to be a gay bathhouse.

The Ritz

1976

Juggernaut poster
6.3

A terrorist demands a huge ransom in exchange for information on how to disarm the seven bombs he has planted aboard a trans-Atlantic cruise ship. Inspired by real events.

Juggernaut

1974

The Four Musketeers poster
6.5

The Four Musketeers defend the queen and her dressmaker from Cardinal Richelieu and Milady de Winter.

The Four Musketeers

1974

A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum poster
6.1

A wily slave must unite a virgin courtesan and his young smitten master to earn his freedom.

A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum

1966

Finders Keepers poster
5.5

On the run from the police and a female roller derby team, scam artist Michael Rangeloff steals a coffin and boards a train, pretending to be a soldier bringing home a dead war buddy. He gets more than he bargained for from the train and the coffin.

Finders Keepers

1984

Petulia poster
6.0

Dr. Archie Bollen is having a midlife crisis. He's just divorced his wife and is establishing a new life for himself. One night, he catches the eye of Petulia Danner, a charming, free-spirited young woman. Petulia's vibrant personality hides her fear of her abusive husband, David, whose father is a powerful society figure. As Petulia and Archie's feelings for each other grow, they must decide what it is they truly want.

Petulia

1968

The Return of the Musketeers poster
6.2

It's 1649: Mazarin hires the impoverished D'Artagnan to find the other musketeers: Cromwell has overthrown the English king, so Mazarin fears revolt, particularly from the popular Beaufort. Porthos, bored with riches and wanting a title, signs on, but Aramis, an abbé, and Athos, a brawler raising an intellectual son, assist Beaufort in secret. When they fail to halt Beaufort's escape from prison, the musketeers are expendable, and Mazarin sends them to London to rescue Charles I. They are also pursued by Justine, the avenging daughter of Milady de Winter, their enemy 20 years ago. They must escape England, avoid Justine, serve the Queen, and secure Beauford's political reforms.

The Return of the Musketeers

1989

Help! poster
6.9

An obscure Eastern cult that practices human sacrifice pursues Ringo after he unknowingly puts on a ceremonial ring (that, of course, won't come off). On top of that, a pair of mad scientists, members of Scotland Yard, and a beautiful but dead-eyed assassin all have their own plans for the Fab Four.

Help!

1965

Butch and Sundance: The Early Days poster
5.0

Before the adventures that made them legends, they were charming mastermind Robert Leroy Parker, alias Butch Cassidy, and crack-shot outlaw Harry Alonzo Longabaugh, soon to be known as The Sundance Kid. This is the 'prequel' of how they met, their first clumsy robberies, the heroic dangers that abound them together, the secret that nearly tore them apart, and the impossible train heist that made them notorious for life. Saddle up and ride with the showdowns, shootouts, bad guys and good times in the days before the fame when fun was the name of the game.

Butch and Sundance: The Early Days

1979

Cuba poster
5.5

A British mercenary arrives in pre-Revolution Cuba to help train the corrupt General Batista's army against Castro's guerrillas while he also romances a former lover now married to an unscrupulous plantation owner.

Cuba

1979

The Mouse on the Moon poster
6.3

Sequel to The Mouse that Roared; The Tiny Country of Grand Fenwick has a hot water problem in the castle. To get the money necessary to put in a new set of plumbing, they request foreign aid from the U.S. for Space Research. The Russians then send aid as well to show that they too are for the internationalization of space. While the grand Duke is dreaming of hot baths, their one scientist is slapping together a rocket. The U.S. and Soviets get wind of the impending launch and try and beat them to the moon.

The Mouse on the Moon

1963

The Bed Sitting Room poster
5.9

In the hazy aftermath of World War III, the fallout from a 'nuclear misunderstanding' is producing strange mutations amongst the survivors, and the noble Lord Fortnum finds himself transforming into a bed sitting room.

The Bed Sitting Room

1969

The Bed Sitting Room poster
5.9

In the hazy aftermath of World War III, the fallout from a 'nuclear misunderstanding' is producing strange mutations amongst the survivors, and the noble Lord Fortnum finds himself transforming into a bed sitting room.

The Bed Sitting Room

1969

The Knack... and How to Get It poster
6.0

A nebbish schoolteacher begs his smooth (and misogynistic) pal to teach him 'the knack' – how to score with women. Serendipitously, the men meet up with a new girl in town, as well as a friendly lunatic who can’t help but paint things white.

The Knack... and How to Get It

1965

How I Won the War poster
5.6

An inept British WWII commander leads his troops to a series of misadventures in North Africa and Europe.

How I Won the War

1967

How I Won the War poster
5.6

An inept British WWII commander leads his troops to a series of misadventures in North Africa and Europe.

How I Won the War

1967

Royal Flash poster
5.8

Cowardly rogue Harry Flashman's (Malcolm McDowell) schemes to gain entry to the royal circles of 19th-century Europe go nowhere until he meets a pair of devious nobles with their own agenda. At their urging, Flashman agrees to re-create himself as a bogus Prussian nobleman to woo a beautiful duchess. But the half-baked plan quickly comes unraveled, and he's soon on the run from several new enemies who are all calling for the rapscallion's head.

Royal Flash

1975

Paul McCartney's Get Back poster
8.6

Get Back is a 1991 concert film starring Paul McCartney that documents The Paul McCartney World Tour of 1989–1990. The film was directed by Richard Lester, in a return to his Beatles-related work, and was released by Carolco Pictures and New Line Cinema, through the Seven Arts joint venture.

Paul McCartney's Get Back

1991

It's Trad, Dad! poster
5.7

The hero and heroine want to popularize trad jazz in their town. Some older people feel displeased about trad jazz, and prevent their trying. The hero and heroine go to a London television studio to ask trad jazz musicians to perform in concert.

It's Trad, Dad!

1962