My next Oscar Best Song snub is probably the most baffling of the whole list, given the popular and critical success of both the band and the movie.
And really, how could the Academy of Motion Pictures pass up the opportunity to invite John, Paul, George and Ringo to the ball?
But alas, not one song from my favorite Beatles album managed to score an Oscar nomination.
‘A Hard Day’s Night’ – A Hard Day’s Night
It’s tempting to think of A Hard Day’s Night (the album) as something other than the soundtrack to A Hard Day’s Night (the film). But that’s exactly what it was, and as such should have earned a nomination at least for the title track.
In fact, the Academy would have been well within its rights to make this category a five-way face-off between Beatles songs, with additional nominations for ‘I Should Have Known Better,’ ‘If I Fell,’ ‘Can’t Buy Me Love,’ ‘And I Love Her’ and ‘I’m Happy Just to Dance With You.’
Maybe all the votes cancelled each other out and left Lennon and McCartney off of the ballot completely.
The film did receive two Oscar nominations, for Best Original Screenplay and Best Adaptation Score (a category that has since been eliminated), with the latter nod going to George Martin.
This was the same year as the Goldfinger snub, which I covered in this post. The winner was ‘Chim Chim Cher-ee’ from Mary Poppins.
And I’ve been working like a dog
It’s been a hard day’s night
I should be sleeping like a log
But when I get home to you
I find the things that you do
Will make me feel alright
You know I work all day
To get you money to buy you things
And it’s worth it just to hear you say
You’re going to give me everything
So why on earth should I moan
Because when I get you alone
You know I feel ok
When I’m home everything seems to be right
When I’m home feeling you holding me tight, tight, yeh
It’s been a hard day’s night
And I’ve been working like a dog
It’s been a hard day’s night
I should be sleeping like a log
But when I get home to you
I find the things that you do
Will make me feel alright
Aw!
So why on earth should I moan
Because when I get you alone
You know I feel ok
When I’m home everything seems to be right
When I’m home feeling you holding me tight, tight, yeh
It’s been a hard day’s night
And I’ve been working like a dog
It’s been a hard day’s night
I should be sleeping like a log
But when I get home to you
I find the things that you do
Will make me feel alright
You know I feel alright
You know I feel alright
Meet Me In Montauk 
Amy and I were discussing this snub the other day, anticipating your inclusion of this on your list. Amy opined that perhaps the Academy viewed the Beatles films as akin to long form music videos and at her than real movies, as compared to Elvis’ films, which were attempting to be real, though rather crappy, movies. The fact, however, that Hard Day’s Night received Oscar consideration in other categories seems to refute Amy’s theory. And, as with the Elvis snub, the Academy was batshit crazy not to cease the opportunity to have the Fab Four perform at the Oscars!
I am speechless that Chim Chim Cher-ee won over the Beatles, but at least it wasn’t “You Light Up My Life” 😦
Nuts… just nuts. This whole theme week has reminded me why the Oscars are basically just a testament to whichever studio has the most persuasive ad agency! 😦 For your consideration… NOMINATE THE BEST FRACKING SONGS FOR THE BEST ORIGINAL SONG CATEGORY – Consider that!!!