Bob Dylanis an artist with such a profound influence on the development of American culture throughout the 20th century that to pin down his entire existence with just one film would be impossible. Although many of Dylan’s songs are used regularly in recent films and television shows, he’s a compelling screen presence in his own right, having appeared in such peculiar projects asMasked and AnonymousandPat Garrett & Billy the Kidthat have subsequently become cult classics. AlthoughJames MangoldandTimothee Chalemetare the latest toattempt a straightforward biopic with this fall’sA Complete Unknown,the best film about Dylan’s rise to prominence is the 1967 documentaryDon’t Look Back.
DirectorD.A. Pennebakermay not be a name that more casual film fans are familiar with, but he’s arguably one of the most influential forces inthe popular depiction of musical artists over the last half-century. Between creating the modern pop showcase inMonterey Pop, showingDavid Bowiein his element withZiggy Stardust and the Spiders From Mars, and many concert films for such artists asChuck Berry, Jerry Lee Lewis, Alice Cooper, Otis Redding, andLittle Richardamong others, Pennebaker has helped to expose the joy of live performances to a wide audience. However,Don’t Look Backisn’t just a great excuse to listen to some of Dylan’s best songs, but a chance to see him during the moment he truly became the legend he’s known as today.
Don’t Look Back
What Is ‘Don’t Look Back’ About?
Don’t Look Backspends a few weeks in Dylan’s life as he completes his 1965 concert tour in England, the first international campaign of his career. While Dylan’s work was already popular stateside, the notion of mounting a series of international adventures was a significant risk; Dylan’s music was largely based on American folklore and may not have the same appeal to British listeners. Dylan is also hindered by his ongoing rivalry withThe Beatles, whose popularity is only growing thanks to therecent release of their quasi-mockumentaryA Hard Day’s Night.Don’t Look Backis perhaps the last moment in Dylan’s career when he needed to “prove” anything to anyone; after the tour’s completion, he essentially had a blank check for the rest of his life.
Don’t Look Backshows a time in Dylan’s life when he was more vulnerable, temperamental, and ambitious,as the desire to impress overseas pundits led him to make a series of erratic choices.Don’t Look Backwas certainly a novelty at the time of its release because of the limited coverage of these types of pop icons. In an era before music videos were popularized by MTV, concerts were regularly released on home video, or the news media spent excessive time dedicated to the everyday activities of celebrities, the personal footage of Dylan inDon’t Look Backwas a novelty. ConsideringDylan himself is often unsparingly witty, and occasionally quite combative,Don’t Look Backsucceeds in simply exposing his unique personality to those who only associate him with the beautiful wordplay in his greatest songs.
‘Don’t Look Back’ Isn’t a Standard Music Documentary
Today, streaming services like Netflix and Amazon Prime are filled withconstant recaps and videos of recent concerts,but these “films” all suffer from the same issue; they will ultimately never capture the same experience as watching the show. However,Don’t Look Backshows behind-the-scenes footage of Dylan’s recording sessions and experimentationsthat a normal concert film wouldn’t have been able to incorporate. In one of the most memorable scenes, Dylan andJoan Baezsit in a hotel room singing songs together, including “Percy’s Song,” “Love Is Just A Four-Letter Word,” and “Sally Go ‘Round The World.” Their performance is the type of “spur of the moment,” unfiltered moment that would never have happened on stage, which is whyDon’t Look Backwas such a unique window into Dylan’s private life. The ability to capture history as it is unfolding is something that can only occur if there is trust between Dylan and Pennebaker.
Don’t Look Backis also a novelty in that it does not attempt to “sand off” the rough edges of Dylan’s personality.While the instant success of his music has certainly given him the right to have confidence, there are moments where Dylan’s ego supersedes his raw talent; in perhaps the film’s most infamous scene, Dylan taunts a media correspondent from theTimeswho mistakes the terminology of “pop” and “folk” music. While it may be tough for Dylan’s fans to see that he’s capable of acting out, the level of intimacy the film earns makes his more endearing moments feel more authentic and not just like a manufactured image made to appease his agents. The film shows how active Dylan was in the social rights movements of the 1960s, including his work at a Voters’ Registration Rally singing “Only A Pawn In Their Game.” This blend of genuinely informative moments with pure, unadulterated exhilaration is a quality thatfew documentaries have been able to attain.
‘Don’t Look Back’ Created the Cultural Enigma of Bob Dylan
Considering that it was one of the first times his work was showcased on the silver screen,Don’t Look Backoffers an uncalculated depiction of Dylan, as he would subsequently become more enigmatic with his public appearances. While Dylan would delve into the entirety of his career withMartin Scorsesewiththe masterful documentaryNo Direction Home: Bob Dylan, it still largely relied upon talking heads to explain away any nuances or controversies.
Don’t Look Backwas also highly influential in creating the iconography of Dylan,which became synonymous with his public appearances. An iconic shot of Dylan holding the lyrics to “Subterranean Homesick Blues” wasrecreated inTodd Haynes’ clever biopicI’m Not There, in whichChristian Bale, Heath Ledger, Cate Blanchett, andRichard Gereall play various facets of his personality. Thus far, it appears thatA Complete Unknownincludes similar homages by tackling the same period in Dylan’s career thatDon’t Look Backdid.
