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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 05/10/2017
4/4
The story itself is arresting, and if that's all "Bang" offered, that would be enough. But "Bang" does more. Go to Full Review
Leonard Maltin leonardmaltin.com 05/05/2017
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. Go to Full Review
Noel Murray Los Angeles Times 05/04/2017
[The] impressive lineup of interview subjects properly tells the story of a man whose contributions to popular music have been largely unheralded. Go to Full Review
Sean Mulvihill FanboyNation.com 10/31/2018
3/5
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. Go to Full Review
Rick Kisonak Seven Days (VT) 06/09/2017
4/5
The filmmakers do a highly entertaining and engaging job of introducing the world to a musical pioneer whose work it already knows by heart. Go to Full Review
Sherilyn Connelly SF Weekly 05/11/2017
Bang! The Bert Berns Story isn't one of the more essential boomer-nostalgia docs, but it hits the target more often than not. Go to Full Review
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Audience Reviews

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01/19/2018 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. See more 11/02/2017 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! See more 06/24/2017 excellent documentary of a music giant & genius ! See more 05/21/2017 Near perfect biopic. Great interviews and candid reflections on a man behind some songs that are truly classics. See more 05/19/2017 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. See more 05/02/2017 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. See more Read all reviews
Bang! The Bert Berns Story

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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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