Charles T
In 1971, George Harrison and Friends staged one of the first benefit concerts ever at Madison Square Garden. The concert alone raised almost a quarter of a million dollars to combat poverty and starvation in Bangladesh, and the ensuing live album also generated funds. The concert was filmed, blown up to 70mm and shown in stereo, also contributing to the cause. George Harrison had some very highly regarded friends. The film itself, directed by Saul Swimmer, does not provide much information about what exactly we are benefiting in Bangladesh. There is a brief opening press conference, and heartbreaking footage of the starvation that was occurring half way around the world, but the film makers (Harrison co-produced the film) jump immediately into the music. All of the performers played for free, with some flying long distances to take part in the event. Harrison also co-produced the music with Phil Spector, whose Wall of Sound touch is brought into a live format. The superband here is huge. George Harrison is the main player, with Eric Clapton and Jesse Ed Davis on guitar. Piano features Leon Russell, bass is Klaus Voorman, and the drummers are Ringo Starr and Jim Keltner playing at the same time. The acoustic guitars are made up of the rock group Badfinger, and Billy Preston plays organ and provides vocals. Bob Dylan uses some of the musicians for his stripped-down set. There are half a dozen back-up singers, and a brass section consisting of the Hollywood Horn Players featuring Jim Horn.
The first few minutes of the film are very odd, and very rewarding. Ravi Shankar and Ustad Ali Akbar Khan come out to play native Asian Indian instruments sitar and sarod. Harrison begs for patience, Shankar begs for more patience, the audience applauds the tuning of the instruments, and then Shankar and his small group of three other musicians launch into a song entitled "Bangla Dhun" that stops everyone in their tracks. The sitar and sarod look like giant banjos with tumors on them, but the sound produced, along with another stringed instrument and small bongo-looking drums, is dramatic and listenable. It reminded me of a very good film soundtrack. The audience showed their appreciation, and then Harrison took the stage.
The band starts with "Wah-Wah" before tearing through "My Sweet Lord." Spiritual songs continue with "Awaiting on You All," which suffers from awkward camera shots of Harrison and Starr on the same stage ("look, two of the Beatles!"). Billy Preston does "That's the Way God Planned It," a hopeful and uplifting song punctuated by Preston's spontaneous dancing. Ringo Starr vocalizes in a huge sounding "It Don't Come Easy," and then Harrison and Leon Russell team on "Beware of Darkness," a depressing tune that sounds a bit like a James Bond theme. After the band is introduced, Harrison does the classic rock radio staple "Where My Guitar Gently Weeps." Russell helms a strange combination of the bluesy "Young Blood," book ended by "Jumpin' Jack Flash." After this section, the purely acoustic version of "Here Comes the Sun" was welcome. Bob Dylan comes out, and Russell and Harrison back him with Starr on tambourine. "A Hard Rain's A-Gonna Fall" comes from a much darker stage as the rest of the super group takes a break. Dylan uses the harmonica with "It Takes a Lot to Laugh, It Takes a Train to Cry"- long title, but a good short song. The group does a nice version of "Blowin' in the Wind," and then Harrison and Russell do backing vocals on "Just Like a Woman." Everyone returns for "Something," and the band encores with "Bangla Desh," a strong song interspersed with more too brief footage of the suffering going on in Bangladesh.
Because this type of event had not been filmed before, "The Concert for Bangladesh" does have a few problems. One of them is NOT the running time. This comes in at under one hundred minutes, and is the perfect running time for fans and non-fans alike. The physical appearance of the 1971 era performers is kind of funny as the long hair and beards make everyone look about twenty years older than they were. The majority of the songs are recognizable, as are the names of the band. I was not thrilled with the way the songs were often ended with footage of the audience. The audience footage was obviously shot after the lights went up and attendees were leaving. Going from the darkened stage to the lighted audience was jarring enough, but the audience members are obviously leaving as well, which sends the wrong message to the film's audience. You can spot some film cameramen here and there during the concert, edited together from two shows, but they don't distract from this kind of talent. "The Concert for Bangladesh" is also as well known for its behind-the-scenes fights over things like the album's distribution, and Clapton's questionable performance, which I did not think was as bad as some have written. This came out years before Live Aid, and while the super group era seems to be over now, this concert serves as a nice reminder of what rock stars used to do- play their music and release their albums to a waiting public. No reality shows, no hip-hop or rap, just good music.
Rated 4/5 Stars •
Rated 4 out of 5 stars
09/27/23
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Audience Member
Greatest concert film ever!
Rated 5/5 Stars •
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
02/12/23
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Audience Member
Captivating and heartfelt. The only downside: short play time.
Rated 4/5 Stars •
Rated 4 out of 5 stars
02/23/23
Full Review
Audience Member
In all honesty, I can't really remember specifically what the situation was that the event documented here was a benefit concert for (some sort of social or political turmoil or maybe a disaster or something), and even though it pains me to admit that, I need to be honest and say that the concert overshadowed the purpose, and I'm sure I'm not the only one who feels that way.
But on the other hand, since this was a concert for a good cause, instead of just being something that was filmed for the hell of it, it at least gives some deeper meaning to things, even if the tragedy remains hazy and the music doesn't. I mean, let's look at the lineup here: George Harrison, Bob Dylan, Eric Clapton, Billy Preston, Ravi Shankar, Leon Russell, and a bunch of others. Even if this event didn't raise much money (though I'm sure it did), it's one of the greatest events in the history of rock music, and we're lucky somebody decided ot film it.
It came out before The Last Waltz, but it doesn't get the same acclaim as that one did. Maybe it's because this one didn't have the cinematic touch of a master like Scorsese. It certainly can't be because that one had better music, because this one's got some absolutely brilliant tunes as well, and stuff that a wider range of people would be familair with, to boot. Both films have some of the same people involved, but like I said, this one doesn't have a master like Scorsese invovled, so the focus is mostly on the music and the cause (though it's been forgotten), so it's presentation isn't quite as amazing.
It's still very much a well done show though, even if it is cinematically underwhelming. Again, that wasn't the point. I do enjoy this film, but as excellent as the tunes are, this is a rather forgettable piece of work. Like I said, I can't even remember what this was specifically a benefit show for. I'm giving it very high marks, but that's mostly due to my fandom for some of the people involved. The film hasn't become the culturasl touchstone it should have, but if you ignore that this was for a good cause, you still have a rocking show to fall back on. I think you should give it a shot, but don't expect much more than a typical concert film, even if it did have great intentions behind it.
Rated 4.5/5 Stars •
Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars
02/09/23
Full Review
Audience Member
Any self-respecting Beatles -err- Music fan should see this. Besides all of George's fresh solo songs, you get to see possibly the only live concert footage of the Quiet One with Ringo playing "While My Guitar Gently Weeps" and "Something". Billy Preston and Leon Russel both steal the show during their songs. It's awesome to see Clapton in his prime. A rare appearance from Bob Dylan during this time period.
Rated 5/5 Stars •
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
01/25/23
Full Review
eric b
Well, "Bangladesh" isn't much as a piece of filmmaking -- little beyond a concert movie. No interviews, and only a brief flash of backstage action at the start. The oversized, Southern-boogie band dates much of the music, and we're also forced to revisit that ghastly, early-'70s transition when the colorful clothes were gone and "Planet of the Apes" seemed to be the major influence on men's (lack of) grooming. Scrawny George Harrison's hair and beard probably weighed as much as the entire rest of his body. That said, there are some fine musical moments. The opening Ravi Shankar set is arguably too long, but Indian sitar drones are more engrossing when one can see the musicians plucking their instruments with such obvious fire and discipline. Harrison's acoustic version of "Here Comes the Sun" (with Badfinger's tragic Pete Ham on second guitar) is exquisite, and Bob Dylan's set -- particularly "Just Like a Woman" -- is a spectacular reminder of his former skills as a singer.
Odd that Eric Clapton's guitar solo in "While My Guitar Gently Weeps" is shockingly feeble compared with his epic work on the original studio track. Perhaps it was the sound man's fault.
Rated 3.5/5 Stars •
Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars
03/31/23
Full Review
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