Dont Look Back (1967)

[Scottie]

Dont Look Back (The Criterion Collection) (1967)

Bob Dylan is captured on-screen as he never would be again in this groundbreaking film from D. A. Pennebaker. The legendary documentarian finds Dylan in London during his 1965 tour, which would be his last as an acoustic artist and marked a turning point in his career. In this wildly entertaining vision of one of the twentieth century’s greatest artists thrust into the spotlight, Dylan is surrounded by teen fans; gets into heated philosophical jousts with journalists; and kicks back with fellow musicians Joan Baez, Donovan, and Alan Price. Featuring some of Dylan’s most famous songs, including “Subterranean Homesick Blues,” “The Times They Are A-Changin’,” and “It’s All Over Now, Baby Blue,” Dont Look Back is a radically conceived and shot portrait of an American icon that has influenced decades of vérité behind-the-scenes documentaries.

DIRECTOR-APPROVED EDITION:

New, restored 4K digital transfer, approved by director D. A. Pennebaker, with newly restored monaural sound from the original quarter-inch magnetic masters, presented uncompressed on the Blu-ray
Audio commentary from 1999 featuring Pennebaker and tour manager Bob Neuwirth
65 Revisited, a 2006 documentary directed by Pennebaker and edited by Walker Lamond
Audio excerpt from an interview with Bob Dylan in the 2005 documentary No Direction Home, cut to previously unseen outtakes from Dont Look Back
New documentary about the evolution of Pennebaker’s filming style, from his 1950s avant-garde work to his ’60s musical documentaries, including an excerpt from the filmmaker’s footage of Dylan performing “Ballad of a Thin Man” during his 1966 electric tour
Daybreak Express (1953), Baby (1954), and Lambert & Co. (1964), three short films by Pennebaker
New conversation between Pennebaker and Neuwirth about their work together, from Dont Look Back through Monterey Pop (1967) and beyond
Snapshots from the Tour, a new piece featuring outtakes from Dont Look Back
New interview with musician Patti Smith about Dylan and the influence of Dont Look Back in her life
Conversation between music critic Greil Marcus and Pennebaker from 2010
Alternate version of the film’s “Subterranean Homesick Blues” cue card sequence
Five uncut audio tracks of Dylan songs from the film
Trailer
PLUS: An essay by critic and poet Robert Polito

New cover by Eric Skillman