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

[SkyAntoine]

Extremely excited about this above all titles announced. A very historic film with some excellent supplements.

[popcorntreect]

One of the more brilliant rock docs I've seen. If anyone remembers Cate Blanchett's terrific performance as Dylan in "I'm Not There" - it's based on him in this film.

[beatnikslacker]

eh hem.. you know if you happen to have gotten the old 2 disk version of this from docurama a few years ago, amazon trade in credit for it is $29.40. (more if you still have it sealed).

just throwing that out there before the criterion comes out and its value goes to hell.

I know how im paying for my criterion now

[RobertLuketic]

Very curious about this release. Big fan of Dylan.

[Telstar]

Originally Posted by beatnikslacker

eh hem.. you know if you happen to have gotten the old 2 disk version of this from docurama a few years ago, amazon trade in credit for it is $29.40. (more if you still have it sealed).

Already plummeted to $14 and change. Amazon is evil.

[Bates_Motel]

Originally Posted by Telstar

Already plummeted to $14 and change. Amazon is evil.

It's now worth .66 cents.

[beatnikslacker]

Originally Posted by Telstar

Already plummeted to $14 and change. Amazon is evil.

Originally Posted by Bates_Motel

It's now worth .66 cents.

crazy. glad I locked that in earlier.

[Illy Scorsese]

Bob Dylan's entry into the Criterion Collection?

As a Dylan super fan, this will be mine, Day 1, even though I already own the Docudrama Blu-Ray.

4K Restoration/Transfer? Plus some very intriguing new extras to go along with the already great Special Features?

[bipbop13]

Criterion isn't going to have all the bells & whistles that the Docurama DVD & book set had. I'll be keeping that even after I get the Criterion.

[Telstar]

Originally Posted by bipbop13

Criterion isn't going to have all the bells & whistles that the Docurama DVD & book set had. I'll be keeping that even after I get the Criterion.

Yeah, me too. For me, it sounds like the Docurama book is going to be a more valuable addition than most (or possibly all) of the new extras on the Criterion. I'm somewhat interested in the Pennebaker short films and the doc on his methods and evolution, but frankly I'd have much preferred some supplemental material that focused more specifically on Dylan himself. I mean, I guess including Eat the Document was a bit too much to hope for, but surely they could have dug up something juicy other than a Patti Smith interview and all that stuff recycled from No Direction Home.

[monorail91]

Looks like this will be a digipak?

Based on the Barnes & Noble email that went out, and looking at this case vs. other digipaks & standard cases:

[SkyAntoine]

Criterion is making ground to meet their digipak quota for 2015. I prefer more randomness when displaying on the shelf, but nice to see these big sellers (Mulholland, Dylan, Apu) get a little special Criterion treatment.

[Illy Scorsese]

Yeah, there are full packaging picks over at Criterion Forum... It looks fantastic.

















If you were crazy enough to buy the 18CD Collector's Edition of Dylan's latest "Bootleg Series" release "Vol. 12: The Cutting Edge 1965-1966", which I did, one of the things that came with the Set was a strip of 10 film cells from an Original Release Print of "Don't Look Back" from 1967!

Unfortunately my film cells were all of the side of Donovan's face right after he sang his song and was asking Dylan to play "It's All Over Now, Baby Blue". But still, it's cool to have a piece of film history.

[goodnitesteve]

Some nice soul was able to send me the 18 disc. I bought the vinyl edition.

As for Dont Look Back, I bought the single disc back in the day and then the two disc box set, which has some physical extras. However, I will be updating to this bluray. Between this and Inside Llewyn Davis next year (That disc features a 1961 documentary about the Washington Square Park protest, which Dylan was at!), I'll have my fill of art house folk singer folklore. I can't wait to see some of the unseen footage here. I don't know what else they'd have after 65 revisited.

Maybe we'll get Eat the Document and Renaldo and Clara in the Criterion someday. They're important in Dylan fandom, and Criterion has gone more obscure in the past.

[ckt]

Has anyone watched theirs yet?

[Lord Summerisle]

Originally Posted by ckt

Has anyone watched theirs yet?

I haven't watched the whole thing yet, but I popped in the disc for a little preview and I'd have to say that it's a revelation. Considering that the film was shot fifty years ago on the fly with 16mm cameras, it looks damn good. Hard to imagine it looking better.

I had the old dvd version and this blu-ray is a massive improvement. I can't compare it to the Docurama blu-ray as I never saw that version. My biggest problem with the dvd was the lack of subtitles. Audio quality was not great and there were no subs so I could hardly understand the talking. That is thoroughly rectified here. I can't help you with regards to sound quality as I don't have a sound system.

I will say that this disc is a must-own for any Dylan fan, but I hardly need to say that.

[ckt]

Cool. I bought it while home for Thanksgiving but wanted to wait 'til I got home to check it out. Looking forward to it now. Thanks

[GxyExpress999]

Finally arrived from BN.COM

[shane01]

I saw clips of this in high school and saw No Direction Home, so I picked this up as a casual Dylan fan and absolutely loved it. Great style and tone.