Video: 'THE CONCERT FOR BANGLADESH' (13 clips)

(Thursday, March 23, 1972, evening EST) — Former Beatle John Lennon and his wife, Yoko Ono, along with Pete Bennett, singer Phil Ochs and record producer Phil Spector attended the world premiere of The Concert for Bangladesh film, featuring fellow ex-Beatle George Harrison, this evening at the DeMille theater on 7th Avenue near the intersection of W. 47th St. and Broadway.

Directed by Saul Swimmer, the film also features performances by Ravi Shankar, ex-Beatle Ringo Starr, Bob Dylan, Eric Clapton, Billy Preston, Leon Russell, and the band Badfinger, as filmed Aug. 1, 1971, at Madison Square Garden in New York City.

Unfortunately due to his recent car accident, Harrison was unable to attend tonight’s premiere and remained in England.

The film was the final part of Harrison’s “pioneering” aid project for the people of former East Pakistan, following his “Bangla Desh” charity single, the UNICEF benefit concerts, and a triple live album of the event credited to “George Harrison and Friends.”

The Concert for Bangladesh was produced by The Beatles’ Apple Films; after delays caused by problems with inadequate footage from the event, it opened in U.S. cinemas in the spring of 1972.

The first public showing of the film was scheduled for earlier today, starting at 10:00 a.m. EST.