New HBO documentary examining the life of James Brown premieres at Apollo Theater

Hundreds of James Brown’s fans eagerly lined up outside the Apollo Theater Nov.12 to view a free screening of Mr. Dynamite: The Rise and Fall of James Brown, the 2014 HBO documentary about the Godfather of Soul. It was the first time that the film, produced by Mick Jagger, and directed by Alex Gibney, had been shown in a theater.

Brown performed at the Apollo more than 200 times over the course of his career and is known for recording his best- selling Live at the Apollo album at the peak of his fame in 1962.

Gibney, in a panel discussion after the screening, said that he didn’t want to make a standard biopic and knew that “the sound of the music would drive the film.”

“The biggest thing of all was knowing that we wanted music front and center, with the intertwining of music and politics, and bringing the band center stage,” Gibney said.

Harry Weinger, a special consultant to the film and Grammy Award winning producer, moderated the question-and-answer discussion.

Film editor Geeta Gandbhir said a tremendous amount of research went into the project.

“I mean obviously it’s a challenge, because James Brown, particularly the early part of his life, was not well documented so there was a struggle to find photos and to find everything that was necessary. But honestly when you get down to it, we really could have had a three hour film. . .it was a challenge to make it two hours and I think really one of the hardest things was not just to let the music play, ” Gandbhir said.

The two-hour film includes hundreds of old never-before-seen photographs and footage from Brown’s performances at the Apollo and TV appearances on programs like the Ed Sullivan Show and the film The T.A.M.I. Show. It also includes interviews with Mick Jagger, the Rev. Al Sharpton, and Brown’s his former band mates from the Famous Flames, among others.

It revolved mostly around how Brown and other black artists created and defined soul music and also delved into how Brown used his music to make political statements.

When asked his impression of the film, hip hop journalist and activist Harry Allen, who was on the panel, mentioned that he had seen it before but he loved the energy from the Apollo audience. “One thing that keeps coming home to me is the privilege of being able to see James Brown move and perform, and how that’s not a given because there is so much black history that is gone, that was never documented, never recorded, never kept, Allen said.

The fourth panel member was Michael Veal, a professor of Music, African-American Studies, and American Studies at Yale University, whose commentary was featured in the film.

“It’s an honor for me to be here and to contribute to the legacy of James Brown, who I think changed American music and American culture irrevocably, as well as all the other musicians who worked with him and the musicians who participated in that whole generation of very proactive political and cultural music,” he said.

The excitement from the audience was alive and well, with people cheering and clapping at numerous points during the film, especially those of Brown performing. Several audience members expressed their enthusiasm when presented with the opportunity to ask the panelists questions.  One woman said, “I’m truly elated, I’m here in New York for my birthday from San Francisco and I’m just happy to be here.”

Mr. Dynamite: The Rise and Fall of James Brown is available on DVD and includes several bonus features.