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What the Hell Happened to Blood, Sweat & Tears?

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2:18

What the Hell Happened to Blood, Sweat & Tears?

Released Mar 24, 2023

1h 52m

Documentary

Music

History

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

81%

Tomatometer

16 Reviews

Popcornmeter

Fewer than 50 Ratings

Blood, Sweat & Tears, known for hits such as "Spinning Wheel", "You've Made Me So Very Happy", and "And When I Die", headlined the legendary Woodstock Festival and won multiple Grammy Awards, most notably 1970's win for Album Of The Year, besting The Beatles' "Abbey Road" and "Johnny Cash at San Quinten." This is the incredible never-before-told story about a top rock band that was unknowingly embroiled in a political rat’s nest involving the U.S. State Department, the Nixon White House and a controversial concert tour of Yugoslavia, Romania and Poland, countries that were behind what was then known as the Iron Curtain. As a result, they found themselves in the crossfire of a polarized America, as divided then as it is now.

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Donald Liebenson

Chicago Reader

It’s a long overdue vindication for the band.

May 17, 2023

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Michael Rechtshaffen

Los Angeles Times

The documentary raises some interesting if ultimately unanswerable questions as it compellingly inhabits its very specific place in time.

Apr 1, 2023

Full Review

Owen Gleiberman

Variety

A singular piece of rock history, even if hardly anyone knows about it. I didn’t know about it, but now that I’ve seen the film I’d call it essential.

Mar 28, 2023

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Michael Talbot-Haynes

Film Threat

Every segment feeds into the next seamlessly, so it never drops momentum. You also get to feast upon several choice live performances by Blood, Sweat and Tears.

Rated: 9.5/10

Feb 28, 2024

Full Review

Richard Propes

TheIndependentCritic.com

An engaging and impossible to ignore documentary.

Rated: 3.0/4.0

Feb 17, 2024

Full Review

Carla Hay

Culture Mix

This documentary is a fascinating look into a rock band vilified by left wingers and right wingers because the band did a tour of Communist countries to promote cultural amity. It's a cautionary tale of how good intentions can be twisted for agendas.

Aug 27, 2023

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Robert E

Absolutely remarkable documentary about a beloved band from my era. Most of so had no idea how and why they fell off the face of the Earth. They, through no fault of their own, became political pawns and it cost them a shortened career.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

01/18/25

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John Scheinfeld

Director

Blood, Sweat & Tears

Self

John Scheinfeld

Screenwriter

Dave Harding

Producer

Peter S. Lynch II

Producer

John Scheinfeld

Producer

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What the Hell Happened to Blood, Sweat & Tears?: Trailer 1

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Synopsis

Blood, Sweat & Tears, known for hits such as "Spinning Wheel", "You've Made Me So Very Happy", and "And When I Die", headlined the legendary Woodstock Festival and won multiple Grammy Awards, most notably 1970's win for Album Of The Year, besting The Beatles' "Abbey Road" and "Johnny Cash at San Quinten." This is the incredible never-before-told story about a top rock band that was unknowingly embroiled in a political rat’s nest involving the U.S. State Department, the Nixon White House and a controversial concert tour of Yugoslavia, Romania and Poland, countries that were behind what was then known as the Iron Curtain. As a result, they found themselves in the crossfire of a polarized America, as divided then as it is now.

Director: John Scheinfeld
Producer: Dave Harding, Peter S. Lynch II, John Scheinfeld
Screenwriter: John Scheinfeld
Distributor: Abramorama
Production Co: Jesse James Films
Genre: Documentary, Music, History
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Mar 24, 2023, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Feb 27, 2024
Runtime: 1h 52m

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