Mr. Dynamite - The Rise of James Brown (2014)
April 27, 2014
Music, Documentary
1h 55m


James Brown changed the face of American music forever. Abandoned by his parents at an early age, James Brown was a self-made man who became one of the most influential artists of the 20th century, not just through his music, but also as a social activist. Charting his journey from rhythm and blues to funk, MR. DYNAMITE: THE RISE OF JAMES BROWN features rare and previously unseen footage, photographs and interviews, chronicling the musical ascension of “the hardest working man in show business,” from his first hit, “Please, Please, Please,” in 1956, to his iconic performances at the Apollo Theater, the T.A.M.I. Show, the Paris Olympia and more.
Cast & Crew
- Director
- Alex Gibney
- Self (archive footage) James Brown
- Self Bootsy Collins
- Self Chuck D
- Self Mick Jagger
- Self Questlove
- Self Bobby Byrd
- Self Melvin Parker
- Self Maceo Parker
Recommendations
Keywords
- dancing
- rags to riches
- rhythm and blues (r&b)
- funk music
- soul music
- african american
- black music