The Concert for Bangladesh (1972)

The first benefit rock concert when major musicians performed to raise humanitarian relief funds for the refugees of Bangladesh of 1971 war.

Director:

Saul Swimmer

Stars:

George Harrison, Bob Dylan, Ravi Shankar

1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
George Harrison	...	Himself
Bob Dylan	...	Himself
Ravi Shankar	...	Himself
Ringo Starr	...	Himself
Eric Clapton	...	Himself
Leon Russell	...	Himself
Billy Preston	...	Himself
Klaus Voormann	...	Himself
Jim Keltner	...	Himself
Pete Ham	...	Himself (as Badfinger)
Tom Evans	...	Himself (as Badfinger)
Mike Gibbins	...	Himself (as Badfinger)
Joey Molland	...	Himself (as Badfinger)
Jesse Ed Davis	...	Himself
Jim Horn	...	Himself

Storyline

Ex-Beatle George Harrison organized this spectacular concert on August 1, 1971 at New York's Madison Square Garden to help and aid the people from Bangladesh with all the money raised destined to that cause. Along with Harrison the concert features Eric Clapton, Ringo Starr, Billy Preston, Leon Rusell, Klaus Voormann and an Indian music section by Ravi Shankar and a set by the legendary Bob Dylan.

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Plot Keywords:

hare krishna | new york city | drug | guitarist | guitar | 

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Taglines:

Now in 70mm and 6 track stereophonic sound you can experience it, hear it, live it as never before.

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Genres:

Documentary | Music

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Certificate:

G

Details

Official Sites:

Official site

Country:

USA UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

31 May 1972 (France)

Also Known As:

Concerto para Bangladesh

Filming Locations:

Felt Forum, Madison Square Garden - 4 Pennsylvania Plaza, Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Apple Corps, Twentieth Century Fox, U.S. Committee for UNICEF

Technical Specs

Sound Mix:

70 mm 6-Track

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Eric Clapton missed rehearsals, because he was suffering from heroin withdrawal the week of the show. His performance was described by some critics as "well below par". This was one of Clapton's last appearances for two years, as he battled his addiction.

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Goofs

In between 'Blowin' in the Wind' and 'Just Like a Woman', Bob Dylan attaches his capo to the second fret of his guitar. George Harrison then leans over to speak to Leon Russell, but immediately in the next shot, Dylan's guitar is capoed on the fourth fret and George is back in his regular position. (This is most likely due to the deletion of another Dylan song, 'Mr. Tambourine Man', which was played with a capo on the 2nd fret and is included on the film's soundtrack album.)

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Connections

Featured in The Concert for Bangladesh: The Original Artwork (2005)

User Reviews

A fantastic concert

This is the first large-scale benefit gig of its kind ever attempted in the world and there are many things about it that set it apart from Live Aid and Live 8- both great events in their own right but different. The Concert for Bangladesh has a much more intimate feel, and it seems to grasp the optimism of the 1960s at a time when the optimism seemed to be dying out. The atmosphere is also more of a band atmosphere, rather heaps of bands one after the other, which I prefer. In fact, in many ways it would be preferable to compare this to the Last Waltz- another live show with a continuous band with guests coming on and off.

But to say that this has a 'band' atmosphere doesn't do justice to the musicians who turned up at the last minute to perform- Eric Clapton, Ringo Starr, Bob Dylan, Billy Preston, Leon Russell, Ravi Shankar as well as Geoge Harrisson all lend their talents to the cause and make it a truly unforgettable night.

Highlights are many, and if anything it's the tightness of the concert that makes it so good. If Live Aid and Live 8 have a fault it is that it has a few songs ( and bands ) that lie in the periphery of mediocrity. The Concert for Bangladesh though is a tight 100 minute set with the best of George Harrisson's songwriting there for all to see.

Overall the concert for Bangladesh gives the quiet Beatle the chance to really strut his stuff for a good cause, and as he jams with Clapton on While my Guitar Gently Weeps or reassures with Here Comes the Sun or is pouring his heart out with Something or is singing with Dylan on Just Like a Woman or is writing a real protest song in Bangla Desh it makes you wonder if he was really given his due in the Fab Four.