Made in 1964 merely to take advantage of widespread Beatlemania in England, A Hard Day's Night was quickly recognized as a brilliant piece of filmmaking. This two-disc collector's edition backs up that judgement. Thanks in no small part to director Richard Lester's genius, the movie's as fresh and innovative today as it seemed upon release, with sharp writing from Alun Owen, hilarious gags, and excellent acting from non-Beatles and Beatles alike. The music's not bad either. The film's all the more remarkable for being shot quickly on a modest budget.

The production of this collector's edition DVD set probably cost as much as the movie itself back in 1964. More than just a fully enhanced digital version of A Hard Day's Night, it features extensive interviews with practically anyone still living who worked on the movie, from child actor David Janson to United Artists studio executive David Picker. More than two hours of material provide fascinating perspective on the making of the movie and the aura surrounding it. The thoroughness of the bonus material further expands the legend of this clever little film and provides insight as to what life was like for the Beatles during this exciting time. --Adem Tepedelen