Hard Day's Anniversary For Beatles

Paul McCartney celebrated the 40th anniversary of the Beatles movie "A Hard Day's Night" at a private screening.

McCartney was reunited Tuesday with the surviving cast and crew of the 1964 film, which shows the Beatles navigating a series of adventures as they prepare for a TV appearance.

The film, which was completely staged and followed a fictional storyline, nonetheless had an excited yet documentary-like feeling of swooping in on the private lives of the young superstars.

It was also and perhaps most notably, a precursor of today's music videos - an unheard-of format at the time.

"A Hard Day's Night" was an instant success upon release, bringing the young Liverpool natives - McCartney, John Lennon, George Harrison and Ringo Starr - even greater fame.

The film was released internationally this week on DVD, with additional rare footage of the foursome.

McCartney, 62, said he hadn't seen the movie since its release.

"Yes, it takes me back. It's great seeing it again," he said, adding that "it's very sad that George and John aren't around to see it."

Lennon was gunned down outside his New York City apartment building in 1980. Harrison died of cancer in 2001.

McCartney enjoyed the black-and-white film tribute to 1960s Beatlemania with his 36-year-old wife, Heather.

"Heather has never seen it full-length. We have just seen bits and pieces," he said.

The film features 12 Beatles hits, including "Can't Buy Me Love," "She Loves You" and "A Hard Day's Night."

It was directed by Richard Lester, whose many other film credits include the Beatles' 1965 follow-up hit, "Help!"; "Superman II"; and Superman III.