More than 35 years after its release, A Hard Day's Night is still not only one of the funniest music films ever made -- it's one of the funniest films ever made, period.

So witty, so sharp, so charming, so self-deprecating and so far ahead of its time, The Beatles' first foray into moviemaking is a classic comedy with appeal that stretches far beyond that of Beatlemania.

Directed by Richard Lester (who was also behind the lens for their followup, Help!) and masterfully written by Alun Owen (whose screenplay was nominated for an Oscar), A Hard Day's Night is little more than a series of comic bits sandwiched between music video-style song treatments.

Stringing everything together is a wafer-thin plot that finds the boys in mid-phenomenon getting ready to perform live on an English television program, while attempting to find time to enjoy their fame as well as look after Paul McCartney's troublemaking but "very clean" grandfather (played with relish by actor Wilfred Brambell).

It's actually much like a British Marx Brothers film, with Groucho, Chico, Harpo and Zeppo effortlessly replaced by John, Paul, George and Ringo.

The film's dialogue -- tailor-made by Owen to suit each Beatle's speech pattern and personality -- is relentlessly quick and clever.

Deliciously droll puns and one-liners zing by at breakneck pace, interrupted only by screaming girls and the songs.

But, after getting past how natural the Liverpool lads' acting is and how much fun they appear to be having, perhaps what's most impressive about A Hard Day's Night is how self-aware The Beatles were.

It's incredible to see -- especially with how young they were -- the band members' abilities to parody their popularity, themselves and their individual public personas: Lennon the incorrigible (his bathtub and mistaken identity scenes are priceless), McCartney the suave, Harrison the reserved, and Ringo ... well, poor Ringo.

If you've never seen this timeless musical romp, now's your chance. The Uptown has a fully restored print with a digitally remastered soundtrack, and you can catch it in all of its big-screen glory.

(This film is rated PG)

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