A classic Beatles film and a documentary about Gore Vidal open July 4 at the Mary Riepma Ross Media Arts Center.

Both films, “A Hard Day’s Night” and “Gore Vidal: The United States of Amnesia,” play through July 10.

“A Hard Day’s Night” is a rock-and-roll classic that features the Beatles playing slapstick versions of themselves. Filmed a month after John, Paul, George and Ringo exploded onto the U.S. music scene with a 1964 Ed Sullivan Show appearance, “A Hard Day’s Night” includes a slew of iconic pop anthems and is a precursor to the modern music video.

Directed by Richard Lester, “A Hard Day’s Night” is opening on July 4 in theaters across the country. The film has been restored with a new soundtrack remixed and remastered by record producer Giles Martin at Abbey Road Studios.

A movie talk about “A Hard Day’s Night” will be held at 2:30 p.m. July 6, following the 1 p.m. screening of the film. The talk is free and open to the public. Admission to the screening is at regular Ross prices.

Movie talk panelists are: Scott Anderson, Hixson-Lied Professor of Trombone; Tery Daly, a self-confessed Beatles freak and local performer; and L. Kent Wolgamott, entertainment reporter at the Lincoln Journal Star.

“Gore Vidal: The United States of Amnesia” is an up close and personal documentary of the controversial, brilliant and entertaining 20th-century thinker. The film charts the late scribe’s artistic achievements and often celebrity-filled social life. However, the emphasis is on Vidal’s parallel persona that highlighted U.S. social injustices and political corruptions.

For more information, including show times, go to http://www.theross.org or call 402-472-5353.