Bob Dylan: Dont Look Back (1967)

Documentary covering Bob Dylan's 1965 tour of England, which includes appearances by Joan Baez and Donovan.

Director:

D.A. Pennebaker

Writer:

D.A. Pennebaker

Stars:

Bob Dylan, Albert Grossman, Bob Neuwirth

4 wins & 2 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview:
Bob Dylan	...	Self
Albert Grossman	...	Self
Bob Neuwirth	...	Self
Joan Baez	...	Self
Alan Price	...	Self
Tito Burns	...	Self
Donovan	...	Self
Derroll Adams	...	Self
Jones Alk	...	Self
Howard Alk	...	Self

Storyline

Portrait of the artist as a young man. In spring, 1965, Bob Dylan, 23, a pixyish troubador, spends three weeks in England. Pennebaker's camera follows him from airport to hall, from hotel room to public house, from conversation to concert. Joan Baez and Donovan, among others, are on hand. It's the period when Dylan is shifting from acoustic to electric, a transition that not all fans, including Baez, applaud. From the opening sequence of Dylan holding up words to the soundtrack's "Subterranean Homesick Blues," Dylan is playful and enigmatic.

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Plot Keywords:

tour | hotel | music fan | guitarist | limousine | 

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Genres:

Documentary | Music

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Certificate:

Not Rated

Did You Know?

Trivia

In the opening scene Allen Ginsberg appears behind Bob Dylan as he flips the note cards.

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Quotes

Bob Dylan: [singing] You must leave now, take what you need, you think will last, But whatever you wish to keep, you better grab it fast, Yonder stands your orphan with his gun, Crying like a fire in the sun, Look out, the saints are coming through, And it's all over now, baby blue...

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Connections

Spoofed in The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson: Episode #7.20 (2010)

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Soundtracks

Don't Think Twice, It's Alright
(uncredited)
Written by Bob Dylan
Performed by Bob Dylan

User Reviews

Check out the DVD if you have the opportunity

If you're a Bob Dylan fan, do yourself a favor and rent the DVD version of "Don't Look Back." It includes an optional audio track of commentary from director D.A. Pennebaker and Bob Neuwirth, Dylan's pal and "tour manager" who was along for the ride on the '65 tour of England this film documents. Their thoughts are interesting, often insightful, occasionally hilarious and shed some light on the movie's more esoteric moments. For example, I never realized the extended hotel room scene of Dylan playing the piano was Bob actually _writing_ a piece of music. You'll probably learn something even if you've read all the books (Benson, Heylin, etc.). Oh, and it turns out Albert Grossman _loves_ the way he's portrayed in the movie, according to Pennebaker. Plus there's a fun alternate version of the "Subterranean Homesick Blues" video (which, for the kids out there, was copied in the '80s by INXS for their "Mediate" video) that was shot in a park somewhere, in which Dylan has even less control of the cards than he does in the final cut. Ginsberg is in the background of this one, too.

Details

Official Sites:

Artistic License Films

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

24 February 1968 (Sweden)

Also Known As:

Don't Look Back

Filming Locations:

Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Tyne & Wear, England, UK

Box Office

Gross USA:

$27,158

Company Credits

Production Co:

Leacock-Pennebaker

Technical Specs

Runtime:

96 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1