The documentary Say Amen, Somebody is George T. Nierenberg’s exuberant, funny, and deeply moving celebration of 20th-century American gospel music and African American history. With unrivaled access to the movement’s luminaries, Thomas Dorsey, and Mother Willie Mae Ford Smith, Nierenberg masterfully records their fascinating stories alongside earth-shaking, show-stopping performances by the Barrett Sisters, the O’Neal Twins, and others. The film also features cinematography by the legendary Edward Lachman and Don Lenzer.
Originally released in 1982, the film earned $1.1 million in theaters during its initial run.
