DVD Review: Bob Dylan's Don't Look Back Box Set

This month, New Video Group re-released D.A. Pennebaker's documentary which followed Bob Dylan's 1965 tour of England. It captures a very young Dylan (23) at his peak. His peak of... being Dylan. When not on stage, he seems to be a remarkably difficult person to deal with. Petulant is the word I am looking for. That could just be the editing, but I don't think it was. See, Dylan hated press and the patronizing questions fed to a numb public. It is some of these scenes that make the movie magic. There is a scene where Dylan just tears into a Time reporter, and I can only imagine the poor guy quit that very evening.

Though Dylan took Pennebaker with him, and gave him all access, it is said that Dylan tried to block the film from being released. It isn't a flattering tale, but it is fascinating and revealing. The performances are amazing. Just a young Dylan with an acoustic guitar and a microphone playing for super-polite English audiences, all in black and white. Dylan's girlfriend at the time tags along, the beautiful siren Joan Baez, and we get to hear her sing a dash too.

This movie was released on DVD years ago, but it wasn' an exciting transfer that used the powers of the DVD for good. Even for the biggest Dylan fan, it wasn't worth buying. Luckily, for me at least, this is a grand re-issue. It is a 'box set' of the coolest packaging job ever. You get the original film, several extras, and an entire extra disc of left-out performances. There must be about twenty uncut live hall performances that really showcase the songwriter. In addition, the screenplay of the film is included, and a flip book that shows Dylan going through the cue card motions of 'Subterranean Homesick Blues'.

I am extremely happy with this release. It is more than just great music from the original, but its packaged as a beautiful keepsake as well. As someone who collects everything up to 1965, this is one of the crown jewels of my collection. It is a perfect companion piece to No Direction Home. I wonder why Dylan worked so hard to never let us behind the curtain, but we are finally there.

Article Author: Lono

Lono rambles on about everything at his home page I am Correct and more specifically about music here at the Phantom Blog . He lives in Colorado, and pretends he doesn't care what you think... but I think we both know he secretly does.

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