The year is 1964 and Beatlemania is in full swing. The biggest band on the planet are about to make their big screen debut. The film is A Hard Day’s Night, a seminal piece of filmmaking that shows The Beatles as they’ve never been seen before.

To celebrate its 50th Anniversary, the film will be presented in a new 4k digital restoration approved by director Richard Lester, with three audio options – a monoaural soundtrack in addition to newly created stereo and 5.1 surround mixes supervised by sound producer Giles Martin at Abbey Road Studios. The film will be in cinemas from 4 July 2014 on video-on-demand and available to download from 4 July, followed by a special edition Blu-ray and special edition two-disc DVD set released on 21 July 2014, both of which come with a host of brand new special features courtesy of Second Sight Films.

A Hard Day's Night will have an extended run at BFI Southbank from 4th July 2014, with a special preview and talk with director Richard Lester on 3rd July 2014. The UK theatrical release will be handled by Metrodome Distribution.

Director Richard lester used his experience working on television advertisements, combined with slapstick comedy, a nod to the FrenchNovelle Vague and a documentary style, and alongside screenwriter Alan Owen created a unique and innovative film that went on to influence a whole generation of music videos and films.

A Hard Day's Night follows a 'typical' day in the life of the Fab Four as they try to make it to their big show. As the title track roles we see John, Paul, George and Ringo mobbed by a group of fervent fans as they catch a train to London along with their manager Norm (Norman Rossington), his assistant Shake (John Junkin) and Paul's troublesome grandfather (Wilfred Bramble, best known for his role as Albert Steptoe in Steptoe and Son). A series of comical escapades follow, with Grandfather bribing a butler for his clothes to go into a casino, Ringo leaving the band to go solo and ending up in a police station, and John's disagreements with a disgruntled TV producer (Victor Spinetti). Will the boys make it in time for their big concert?

This is all set to a superb soundtrack of classic Beatles tracks, including I Should Have Known Better, And I Love Her, Tell Me Why, If I Fell and Can't Buy Me Love, and features a standout supporting cast that includes comedienne Anna Quayle, cartoonist Bob Godfrey, TV host Robin Day, dancer Lionel Blair, Harrison's future wife Patti Boyd, and director Lester himself.

A Hard Day's Night will be released on UK VOD on 4th July 2014, and DVD and Blu-ray on 21st July 2014, all from Second Sight. The RRP will be £15.99 for the DVD, £19.99 for the Blu-ray.

Bonus features will include:

• In Their Own Voices – a new piece combining 1964 interviews with The Beatles with behind-the-scenes photos and footage

• You Can't Do That: The Making of A Hard Day's Night – a documentary by producer Walter Shenson including an outtake performance by The Beatles

• Things They Said Today – A documentary about the film featuring director Richard Lester, music producer George Martin, screenwriter Alan Owen and cinematographer Gilbert Taylor

• Picturewise – a new piece about Richard Lester's early work featuring a new audio interview with the director

• Anatomy of a Style – a new piece on Richard Lester's methods

• New interview with Mark Lewisohn