Bang! The Bert Berns Story

Bert Berns, a kid growing up in the Bronx in the '30s and '40s, suffered rheumatic fever as a youngster, which damaged his heart and didn't give him hope for a long life. Stuck at home, he studied the piano and developed an ear for mambo music and rhythm and blues. It took several years for Berns to get his songwriting noticed, but he finally did manage a hit--"A Little Bit of Soap" by the Jarmels, penned under a pseudonym--which led to a staff job at Atlantic Records. Berns later wrote or co-wrote the hits "Twist and Shout", "Tell Him", "Hang on Sloopy", "I Want Candy", and many others, eventually gaining the partnerships needed to start his own label, Bang!, which signed a young Neil Diamond and Van Morrison. Exciting, family-produced music biz documentary doesn't shy away from Berns' mob affiliations and rocky relationships, with interviews by many of the musicians who either knew Bert Berns or benefited from his talent. *** from ****

An amazing talent who recognised talent and helped them reach their potential- ' Brown Eyed Girl ' by Van Morrison as an example! Taken young, but what a legacy and wonderful documentary with great music. Highly recommend this intriguing film!!!!!

I had the extreme pleasure and privilege of attending a preview of this film in Hartford, Connecticut December 17th, 2016. All I can say is "Wow!!" It held me mesmerized from beginning to end. This documentary is for anyone with an interest in R&B, soul, and pop music of the 1960s-- the top songwriters, producers, singers, and musicians of that era. It's also a comprehensive look at the inside workings of the music/record business--the deals made and broken, mob influence, struggles and successes. It contains amazing archival footage of NYC, and interviews with the top movers and shakers in the industry who entertainingly share their recollections from those days, and their memories of Bert Berns--a hip genius, a perfectionist, a man who dreamed big--whose body of work as writer and producer gave us some of the greatest musical moments from that time. Incredibly, he shot to the top of the charts and the industry in a short span of seven years, before passing away at the oh-so-young age of 38. There are many moments of laugh-out-loud humor, as well as pathos. And of course, the movie is filled with so much of Berns's wonderful music. It's a visual and aural feast for the senses.

Imagine a combination of "The Sopranos," "Hairspray," "Jailhouse Rock," and (name your favorite) interview show. I was on the edge of my seat the whole time -- this film is fast, slick, fascinating and full of surprising information -- often told by people like Van Morrison and 'Little Steven" van Zandt.

There were SO many surprises, so many incredible stories, so many rich details about what the music industry was like in the late 50s to mid-60s...and if you love the music -- you'll just be in heaven. The cliché "you'll laugh! you'll cry!" was literally true.

Never a dull moment -- it just flew by, layer building upon layer until it was -- over. Over.

I saw this screened as part of the Mill Valley International Film Festival -- and it looked like everyone else was glued to their seats and literally did not want to believe this had ended, we just wanted more.

Mill Valley is not some little burg -- it's an extremely wealthy, arty enclave located just across the Golden Gate Bridge from Mill Valley. Lotta famous musicians, lotta millionaires, very international and people who are highly sophisticated and know film (and art in general)

Bob Sarles -- who edited it with his wife, Christina -- was there. I think 95% of the audience in the big theater (in the neighboring town of Larkspur) stayed to hear the Q&A -- and those were equally fascinating.

Can't tell you how highly I recommend this film -- or how many people I've recommended it to who have thanked me.

GREAT entertainment -- and a really important piece of American musical history!

You know the music, now know the man who brought a lot of it to you. This documentary of Bert Berns is narrated by Steven Van Zandt and contains interviews and performances by the legends who sang on the songs Berns wrote or produced. Van Morrison, Paul McCartney, Ben E. King, and Solomon Burke are all featured in this documentary. This is a must see.