DVD Review: Bob Dylan - Don't Look Back (1965 Tour Deluxe Edition)

By Jeff Swindoll Apr 11, 2007, 15:25 GMT

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 ...more

In 1965 documentarian D.A. Pennebaker was given access to Bob Dylan’s British tour and created one of the most influential rock documentaries.  Docudrama has re-released the documentary in an extremely nice set with great bonus features and packaging.

From the back of the box:
“Bob Dylan Don’t Look Back – 65 Tour Deluxe Edition is the ultimate look at Bob Dylan’s concert tour in the England of 1965 – one of the most intimate profiles of the artist ever filmed.  This definitive set includes the remastered classic film by D.A. Pennebaker, a brand-new hour-long look at Dylan, and the original 168-page companion book to the film.  More than just a concert film, Don’t Look Back is a window into the spirit of the 60s, and one of the poet-musicians whose words and songs defined it.”

Pennebaker’s documentary is simply one of the classics of the genre as is Bob Dylan.  You may not have seen the documentary but you’ve surely seen the “music video” of Dylan performing Subterranean Homesick Blues.  You may recall that Dylan has cue cards of the lyrics that he drops as the song goes on.  This song was aped by INXS in 1987 with their song “Meditate.”  Pennebaker seems to have been given unprecedented access to Dylan and he captures “fly on the wall” moments.  I particularly enjoyed it when the English hotel manager ever so politely tries to throw Dylan and his entourage out of the hotel and his manager gives the fellow a tongue lashing. 

Disc one contains Don’t Look Back and has been newly digitally remastered.  Perhaps reason enough to buy the set.  Special features include five additional uncut audio tracks, a commentary by D.A. Pennebaker and tour road manager Bob Neuwirth, an alternate version of the Subterranean Homesick Blues cue card sequence, the theatrical trailer, Pennebaker filmography, Dylan discography, and cast and crew biographies.

Disc two contains Bob Dylan 65 Revisited.  In 2005, Pennebaker went back and made this documentary from over 20 hours of never-before-seen footage from leftovers from his tour with Dylan.  This documentary contains a new commentary with Pennebaker and Neuwirth. 

If the discs were not enough Docudrama has produced a nice packaging to house the whole affair.  The oversized box is heavy, made of sturdy material, and gives you the feeling that you’re wisely spending your money.  The box contains a reproduction of the 1968 companion book that features the transcription of the film and over 200 photos.  The 168 page book also features a new introduction by Pennebaker.  There’s also a flipbook that recreates the iconic Subterranean Homesick Blues cue card sequence. 

Fans of Dylan or rock documentaries will want to add this one to their collections.  Those that already own it might want to consider upgrading for the new transfer.  The hefty package makes you feel that it’s money well spent.  Docudrama has produced a fine package that deserves a place in everyone’s collection.

Bob Dylan - Don't Look Back (1965 Tour Deluxe Edition) is now available at Amazon. It is available for pre-order at AmazonUK for an April 30th release. Visit the DVD database for more information.