Saul Swimmer, 70; directed ‘Concert for Bangladesh’ film
Saul Swimmer, 70, who directed the concert film organized by former Beatle George Harrison and sitarist Ravi Shankar to benefit refugees in Bangladesh, died March 3 of heart failure in Miami.
Held in 1971 in New York’s Madison Square Garden, “The Concert for Bangladesh” featured Harrison and Ringo Starr the year after the Beatles broke up. Eric Clapton and Bob Dylan also played in the benefit. The movie raised money for UNICEF relief efforts for millions of refugees of floods, famine and civil war in Bangladesh.
“The Concert for Bangladesh” was the second movie Swimmer was involved with featuring members of the Beatles. He is also listed as a co-producer on “Let It Be” (1970).
His credits include the rock documentary “Queen: We Will Rock You” (1982) and “Bob Marley and Friends” (2005) as well.
A native of Uniontown, Pa., Swimmer earned his bachelor’s degree at Carnegie Mellon University. He began directing movies in his early 20s.
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