Renaldo and Clara (1978)

This epic is a mass amalgamation of three separate film-types that is, contrary to popular opinion, coherent and a unified whole. Bob Dylan is shown in concert, often masked, during the ... See full summary »

Director:

Bob Dylan

Writers:

Bob Dylan, Sam Shepard

Stars:

Bob Dylan, Sara Dylan, Joan Baez

2 wins.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Bob Dylan	...	Renaldo
Sara Dylan	...	Clara
Joan Baez	...	Woman in White
Ronnie Hawkins	...	Bob Dylan
Jack Elliott	...	Longheno de Castro
Harry Dean Stanton	...	Lafkezio
Bob Neuwirth	...	The Masked Tortilla
Allen Ginsberg	...	The Father
Mel Howard	...	Ungatz
David Mansfield	...	The Son
Jack Baran	...	The Truck Driver
Helena Kallianiotes	...	Herself
Rubin 'Hurricane' Carter	...	Himself
Anne Waldman	...	Sister of Mercy
T Bone Burnett	...	The Inner Voice (as T-Bone Burnett)

Storyline

This epic is a mass amalgamation of three separate film-types that is, contrary to popular opinion, coherent and a unified whole. Bob Dylan is shown in concert, often masked, during the Rolling Thunder Revue. The film also features documentary footage, including Ruben "Hurricane" Carter's struggle against the forces that have imprisoned him. The third element is fictional "role-playing" footage with Bob Dylan in the guise of guitar-strumming Renaldo and his wife Sara as his companion Clara. Ronnie Hawkins takes on the role of Bob Dylan in these sequences. The film includes footage of a visit to the grave of Jack Kerouac, an Allen Ginsberg poetry reading and various friends and acquaintances, namely David Blue (playing pinball by a swimming pool), discussing experiences on the road.

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Plot Keywords:

plagiarism | written and directed by cast member | concert tour | singer songwriter | musician | 

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Genres:

Drama

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Certificate:

R

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

25 January 1978 (USA)

Also Known As:

Renaldo e Clara

Filming Locations:

Alabama, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Lombard Street Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

292 min (original) 122 min (re-cut)

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color (Metrocolor)

Did You Know?

Trivia

When the film was originally released, its screenings were extremely limited. The film received very many condemning reviews and many theaters refused the screenings. The film was cut from its original four-hour length to a two-hour length, and what was left was mostly concert footage. This version was shown in more theaters than the original director's cut. The original four-hour cut would appear on European television some time later, on Channel 4.

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Quotes

The Truck Driver: Why are you so much in a hurry? Is the law after you?
Renaldo: I am the law!

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Crazy Credits

The opening credits end with a title card reading "A Film by BOB DYLAN" directed after he is credited as writer and director. The closing credits are divided in three sections, separated by wide time gaps, played over a different artist, soul singer Hal Frazier, performing "In The Morning", a song written by Barry Gibb.

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Alternate Versions

Originally released at 292 minutes (yes, that's almost five hours!). After dismal box office returns, Dylan shortened the film to 122 minutes removing almost all of the narrative storyline and leaving mostly concert footage.

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Connections

References The Wizard of Oz (1939)

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Soundtracks

Ballad in Plain D
Written by Bob Dylan
Performed by Gordon Lightfoot

User Reviews

Does not seem like a professional job, but sure worth seeing.

The impression I had after seeing this film, was that Bob Dylan made a film thinking it would be easier than what it turned out to be. As Dylan is my favorite musician, poet, singer, whatever... I enjoyed every minute of the film. Sometimes you have the feeling that the result is the same as if an amateur would take a digital camera on the road to film the concerts and the musicians, and also try to put in a bit of philosophy. Ronnie Hawkins and Ronee Blackley pretend to be Dylan and wife, and they have a great fight. Sara Dylan is Clara and Bob is Renaldo, and Dylan is divided between Sara and Joan Baez. Allen Ginsberg joins them on the trip and recites some poetry, goes together with Bob to visit Jack Kerouac's grave, and also lets a woman read his hand. "You had two marriages" she says to him. "Yes, kind of.." he replies. There is a musician who keeps saying to his girlfriend "I won't let you come in between me and my music". Dylan is great when he sings "Knockin' on Heaven's Door" changing the melody, and also "Tangled up in Blue". Joan Baez is charming, looks beautiful and has quite a voice. She sings "Blowin in the Wind" with Bob. They all go to visit Rubin Carter in jail and many people are interviewed on the street about their opinion of what happened to Carter. There is no doubt that somebody like Martin Scorcese could have done better, but still, just to be able to be together with this fantastic group for a couple of hours is worth seeing this film.