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Overview

A film about the first benefit rock concert when major musicians performed to raise relief funds for the poor of Bangladesh. The Concert for Bangladesh was a pair of benefit concerts organised by former Beatles guitarist George Harrison and Indian sitar player Ravi Shankar. The shows were held at 2:30 and 8:00 pm on Sunday, 1 August 1971, at Madison Square Garden in New York City, to raise international awareness of, and fund relief for refugees from East Pakistan, following the Bangladesh Liberation War-related genocide.

Top Billed Cast

  1. Cast 1

    George Harrison

    Self

  2. Cast 1

    Ringo Starr

    Self

  3. Cast 1

    Eric Clapton

    Self

  4. Cast 1

    Ravi Shankar

    Self

  5. Cast 1

    Bob Dylan

    Self

  6. Cast 1

    Billy Preston

    Self

  7. Cast 1

    Leon Russell

    Self

  8. Cast 1

    Klaus Voormann

    Self

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 heartb...