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Bang! The Bert Berns Story

Play trailer 2:01 Poster for Bang! The Bert Berns Story 2017 1h 34m Documentary Music Play Trailer Watchlist
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100% Tomatometer 13 Reviews 83% Popcornmeter 250+ Ratings
Interviews and rare performance footage offer insight into the life and career of 1960s songwriter and record producer Bert Berns.

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Bang! The Bert Berns Story

Critics Reviews

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Mick LaSalle San Francisco Chronicle The story itself is arresting, and if that's all "Bang" offered, that would be enough. But "Bang" does more. Rated: 4/4 May 10, 2017 Full Review Leonard Maltin leonardmaltin.com Bang! is brimming with anecdotes from the people who knew Berns best. Bert Berns may not be a household name, but once you see this documentary you won't listen to his songs without thinking of the man behind those chart-toppers. May 5, 2017 Full Review Noel Murray Los Angeles Times [The] impressive lineup of interview subjects properly tells the story of a man whose contributions to popular music have been largely unheralded. May 4, 2017 Full Review Sean Mulvihill FanboyNation.com As documentaries go, Bang! is fairly by the numbers but comes to life when the artists that performed for Berns share their stories on this eccentric and unique figure. Rated: 3/5 Oct 31, 2018 Full Review Rick Kisonak Seven Days (VT) The filmmakers do a highly entertaining and engaging job of introducing the world to a musical pioneer whose work it already knows by heart. Rated: 4/5 Jun 9, 2017 Full Review Sherilyn Connelly SF Weekly Bang! The Bert Berns Story isn't one of the more essential boomer-nostalgia docs, but it hits the target more often than not. May 11, 2017 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Audience Member local college showed this on a week night, thought a few people would show, but they filled the room. Bert Berns is a very interesting character that worked with seemingly every musical icon of the '60s. I came away from the film with a much better appreciation of 1960s New York and the way in which R&B evolved into Rock and Roll. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 01/17/23 Full Review Audience Member Don't know when I've been more bummed to have a film end. This is like a combination of "The Sopranos," "Hairspray," and maybe a Terri Gross interview -- or name your favorite (highly intelligent) interviewer. Fast-paced, full of surprises, great interviews... I literally moaned in disappointment when the last frame finished, I wanted at least half an hour more. And to judge from the response of the others in the packed theatre (Mill Valley, CA film festival -- just across the Golden Gate Bridge from SAn Francisco, so a very hip, very sophisticated crowd, including a lot of musicians and people who worked in the rock industry) -- I wasn't the only person who wanted to see more - more! more! GREAT FILM -- you won't regret renting it! Rated 5 out of 5 stars 02/08/23 Full Review Audience Member excellent documentary of a music giant & genius ! Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 02/15/23 Full Review Audience Member Near perfect biopic. Great interviews and candid reflections on a man behind some songs that are truly classics. Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 01/19/23 Full Review Audience Member Interesting topic, informative, but not a great movie. Starts with a dry narrative and never gets much better. On par with the average cable TV music channel documentary. Rated 2 out of 5 stars 01/19/23 Full Review Audience Member Incredible movie with Paul McCartney and Keith Richards praising this guy who wrote Twist and Shout, Piece of my Heart, I Want Candy, Cry Baby....list goes on and on! I LOVED this movie. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 01/22/23 Full Review Read all reviews
Bang! The Bert Berns Story

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Cast & Crew

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Brett Berns

Director

Bob Sarles

Director

Steven Van Zandt

Narrator

Paul McCartney

Self

Keith Richards

Self

Van Morrison

Self

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Bang! The Bert Berns Story

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Bang! The Bert Berns Story

A scene from "Bang! The Bert Berns Story." A scene from "Bang! The Bert Berns Story." Bang! The Bert Berns Story (2016) Bang! The Bert Berns Story (2016) Bang! The Bert Berns Story (2016) Bang! The Bert Berns Story (2016) Bang! The Bert Berns Story (2016) View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis Interviews and rare performance footage offer insight into the life and career of 1960s songwriter and record producer Bert Berns.
Director
Brett Berns, Bob Sarles
Producer
Brooks Arthur, Brett Berns, Cassandra Berns, Michael B. Borofsky, Leo Feroleto, Christina Keating, Michael Perlman, Araby Patch
Screenwriter
Joel Selvin
Distributor
Abramorama
Production Co
HCTN
Genre
Documentary, Music
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Apr 26, 2017, Limited
Release Date (Streaming)
Nov 5, 2017
Box Office (Gross USA)
$59.3K
Runtime
1h 34m
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