This is a lot more than just a funny film with the Beatles, though it is that. Bringing together influences ranging from the BBC’s Goon Show to the Marx Brothers and the razzle-dazzle cutting of TV commercials, Richard Lester invented a style of film editing that expressed the consciousness just emerging from the culture that made (and then embraced) the Beatles. As it follows the adventures of John, Paul, George, and Ringo, A Hard Day’s Night perfectly captures the spirit of the times—and, of course, the music is fantastic.