Don't Look Back [DVD] [1967] [Region 1] [US Import] [NTSC]

 

 

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D. A. Pennebaker's candid documentary covers some great moments from Bob Dylan's '65 England Tour. Instead of lots of concert footage we get behind-the-scenes activity such as the mad dash from the venue to the car, or the more relaxed moments in the hotel room where key figures from the folk scene and Dylan's people hang out.

The film starts with the iconic Subterranean Homesick Blues sequence which has since been labelled the first ever music video, it's a great introduction and establishes Dylan as a playful wordsmith, his playfulness continues during the film as he seems to entertain himself during interviews with the press. His whimsical responses in press conferences seem to bemuse, amuse, and frustrate the press who seem desperate to sum up Dylan and his 'message' in one simple phrase but won't give them the sound-bites they are so desperate to jot down. Dylan comes across as an artist at the top of his game but the documentary doesn't exist as sycophantic hero-worship, if anything he is sometimes a bit detached and his chemistry with those around him is often a bit cold apart from the odd moment of great humour. Dylan's relationship with Joan Baez was on the wane and that's apparent here, though they sing together and spend time in close company there's none of the cheeky smiles or warmth which you see in archive footage from before this time.

Negotiations over the rates for TV appearances, a tired Bob Dylan taking his glasses off to rub his eyes as he travels by train, and interviewers asking the same questions demonstrate how a major tour is often not just about the music, and the moments where Dylan is on stage are pure magic - it's him and the music. His black clothes, big hair and black glasses look incredible in black and white, he has great screen presence and seems to ooze poetry, even when he seems almost cruel by challenging those around him you can sense the frustration of a free spirit caught up in his own corporate machine. This Blu-Ray disc looks marginally better than DVD but part of the charm of this documentary is the on-the-fly look of a small handheld camera un-intrusively capturing private scenes - you don't expect lots of revealing detail in glorious Hi-Def so don't feel disappointed when it's not there! There aren't too many bonus features but is here is worth watching. A recent interview with Pennebaker and music critic (and old friend it seems) Greil Marcus only goes on for twenty minutes but covers all aspects of the film, from the opening sequence and aspects of the film which seem to be hostile Dylan's contemporary Donovan. It's an honest discussion between the two, especially over the Donovan-bashing and Pennebaker candidly admits that it was used to show how great Dylan was in comparison at the time when Donovan was still establishing himself. They talk about Bob Dylan the poet and how the film works because it is unremarkable in its "realness", explaining why some scenes where included.

In a nutshell: There may be no revelations here, there are no major insights and no analysis, but the film doesn't set out to do any of those things. What it does offer is a privileged insight beyond the TV recordings and into the hotel rooms where amongst moments of genius there are arguments and intense jibes.

This documentary starring Bob,Joan Baez and others is revealing indeed.Although trough most of the film I had the feeling that in this case what you see is not entirely what you get.
What this docu. does is portray Dylan in the worst possible way...you see him in interviews and on the road , most of the time being a complete prat.When Joan Baez is in the film,Bob barely pays any attention to her and never recognizes that she is even there.This strikes me as a bit odd because the two have worked together on many occasions and reportedly had quite a long time affair.After seeing the film Dylan himself said in an interview that the film included a lot of materiel that was filmed when he himself had no idea that the camera was rolling.
Ofcourse this doesn't excuse his behavior but it does show the intentions of the director I think.Nonetheless this documentary gives you a realistic peek into the world of one of the greatest musicians of all time and the atmosphere of being on tour in the sixties.All in all this is a must see for any Dylan fan.If you wanna see what the forever young prince of folk-rock was like back then I reccomend it.There are also a lot of funny moments with baby-faced bob (sometimes on the edge of rudeness).
I give it a four out of five due to the fact that this was made when there was no MTV,no Big Brother and still comes out as being ten times better then all of the modern "reality show"
nonsense that is on TV nowadays.

This is one of my favorite films of all time.
Certainly THE best 'rock and roll' documentary ever done.
The Maysle Brothers seemed to instinctively know exactly what to focus on even though Dylan was such a new artist in the US and brand new to the UK.
The scenes with Donovan (my, but doesn't he blow his own trumpet loudly these days?!?) are revealing and priceless.
I've owned this film on videocassette, on 'bootleg', 'official' and 'deluxe' DVDs, and am now interested in buying the Blu-Ray edition.
Can anybody tell me what the pros and cons are, please?
Quality? Extras (I can only hope!)?
Anybody???

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5.0 out of 5 stars wat a documentry film!!!
very entertaining! all fly on the wall style! really funny at times expecially when he makes us british look so stupid!! Read more

Published on 29 Feb 2004 by M. Snell

4.0 out of 5 stars unbelievably entertaing
no words i could ever dream of saying would justify the thought behind this,well put together and masterfully produced dvd. a sheer pleasure to own and a forever classic. Read more

Published on 1 Jun 2003 by fergal lalor

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