The film was an instant success when it was first screened at the height of Beatlemania in 1964.

The pictures and sound have been carefully restored and the 1999 version will include footage not previously seen.

The new scenes were initially shot by a second cameraman hired to gather material for publicity purposes.

The film was a humourous documentary-style "day In the life" of The Beatles shot in black and white featuring many of their famous songs but without a great deal of plot.

In the opening scene, the people chasing The Beatles onto the train were real fans and a young Phil Collins features in a TV studio audience.

Ringo's phrase

The title song was actually written after the film was made and it was named at the end of a long recording session.

Ringo said: "It's been a hard day's ...". He then realised it was already night so he ended the statement, "night".

The phrase caught on and became the title for the film.

Los Angeles-based producer Walter Shenson said: "There's a whole generation of young people who never saw it. This is a good time to put the picture out."

He said the black and white negatives had been restored and the sound recorded digitally to improve the quality.

"It really is a wonderful film to look at."

The film will be rereleased by Miramax Films in March.

It cost about £300,000 to make and the writing and the directing received Oscar nominations.

Rights to the film, for which the surviving Beatles still receive royalties, reverted to Shenson in 1979.

"The Beatles and I share the income - not that they need it," Mr Shenson said.