Rating summary

Movie		4.5
Video		5.0
Audio		5.0
Extras		5.0
Overall		5.0

Dont Look Back Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Dr. Svet Atanasov January 11, 2017

D.A. Pennebaker's "Dont Look Back" (1967) arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Criterion. The supplemental features on the disc include an original trailer for the film; archival audio commentary by director D.A. Pennebaker and artist Bob Neuwirth; exclusive new video interview with musician Patti Smith; filmed conversation between music journalist and cultural critic Greil Marcus and director D.A. Pennebaker; never-before-seen outtakes; additional performances recorded by Robert Van Dyke during Bob Dylan's 1965 tour; and a lot more. The release also arrives with a 38-page illustrated booklet featuring critic and poet Robert Polito's essay "Everybody Loves You For Your Black Eye", archival stills and photographs, and technical credits. In English, with optional English SDH subtitles for the main feature. Region-A "locked".

D.A. Pennebaker's classic documentary film Dont Look Back (1967) was first released on Blu-ray by Docurama Films in 2011. Criterion's recent Blu-ray release of the film is sourced from a new and very good 4K restoration and offers an extensive collection of new and archival supplemental features. To read a complete analysis of the film, please see Jeff Kauffman's review of the first release here.

Dont Look Back Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Presented in an aspect ratio of 1.33:1m, encoded with MPEG-4 AVC and granted a 1080p transfer, D.A. Pennebaker's Dont Look Back arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Criterion.

The following text appears inside the booklet provided with this Blu-ray release:

"This new digital transfer was created in 4K resolution on a Lasergraphics Director film scanner from the 16mm A/B original negative. Thousands of instances of dirt, debris, scratches, splices, and warps were manually removed using MTI's DRS, while Digital Vision's Phoenix was used for small dirt, grain, noise management, jitter, and flicker. The original monaural soundtrack was remastered at 24-bit from the original quarter-inch magnetic masters. Clicks, thumps, thumps, hiss, hum, and crackle were manually removed using Pro Tools HD, AudioCube's integrated workstation, and iZotope RX4.

Transfer supervisors: D.A. Pennebaker/Chris Hegedus, Lee Kline, Frazer Pennebaker.
Colorist: Jason Crump/Metropolis Post, New York."

If you have seen the previous Blu-ray release of this excellent film, there are two very big upgrades that you should notice now. The first is the improved density. The high-quality scan has ensured that grain is much better defined and exposed, and the larger your screen is, the easier it will be for you to see that depth and definition are superior. (Compare screencapture #14 and screencapture #8 from the review of the first release). The second is the improved and much better balanced grayscale. Indeed, on the previous release the blacks routinely appear elevated, giving the entire film a stronger contrasty appearance, but the effect has also produced some obvious crushing. On this release the overall image balance is unquestionably superior and there are many sequences where you should actually see more details. Fluidity is excellent, though the film obviously has a very unique raw documentary qualities that support some native fluctuations. For example, light could be over/underexposed, and as a result it can instantly impact grain exposure and have an effect on the highlights. There are no stability issues. Finally, all age-related imperfections have been carefully removed. The encoding is very good, though in a few areas some minor optimizations could have been made. My score is 4.75/5.00. (Note: This is a Region-A "locked" Blu-ray release. Therefore, you must have a native Region-A or Region-Free player in order to access its content).

Dont Look Back Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

There is only one standard audio track on this Blu-ray release: English LPCM 1.0. Optional English SDH subtitles are provided for the main feature.

The film has a very fluid sound design -- there are some minor dynamic and clarity fluctuations during some of the group sequences, natural sounds and noises are left unfiltered, and minor balance fluctuations during the live performances can be spotted. However, secondary age-related imperfections have been fully eliminated. Also, there are no digital imperfections, such as audio dropouts or distortions.

Dont Look Back Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Trailer - original trailer for Dont Look Back. In English, not subtitled. (3 min, 1080p).

• Commentary - this archival audio commentary features director D.A. Pennebaker and artist Bob Neuwirth. The bulk of the information that the two gentlemen share in the commentary is about the genesis of the project, the intent to create "a view into the life and style of an artist" rather than shoot a conventional documentary, Bob Dylan's attitude and his interactions with the press and his fans during his legendary tour, the various locations where footage was shot, etc. Thew commentary was recorded in 1999.
  
  1. The Scopitone
  2. Two art forms merge
  3. Bob and Joan
  4. "Playing chess with the filmmakers"
  5. Happenstance
  6. Avant-garde styles
  7. Equipment/Neuwirth as ally
  8. Edition decisions
  9. Surrounded by music
  10. The rock-and-roll lifestyle
  11. Distribution
  12. Dylan composes
  13. Preconcert jitters/Terry Ellis
  14 "Stephen and Stephen"
  15. Trespassing
  16. The film's center/"Going places"
  17. Night off
  18. Synched responses
  19. The harmonica crisis
  20. Lashing out against public media
  21. "One man, a guitar, and a harmonica"
  22. A need for an ending

• Dylan on Dont Look Back - presented here is an archival excerpt from an interview with Bob Dylan about Dont Look Back which was conducted by his manager, Jeff Rosen, in 2000. Bob Dylan quickly explains how the idea for the film came to exist and addresses its style. Also included with the interview is footage from the 1965 tour. In English, not subtitled. (4 min, 1080i).

• 65 Revisited - D.A. Pennebaker and Walker Lamond used various outtake from Dont Look Back to create this film in 2006. The bulk of the film shows additional performances by Bob Dylan from the 1965 tour.
  
  1. London, April 29
  2. Sheffield, April 30
  3. Liverpool, May 1
  4. Leicester, May 2
  5. The Savoy Hotel, London, May 4
  6. Birmingham, May 4
  7. Newcastle, May 6
  8. Manchester, May 7
  9. The Savoy Hotel, London, May 8
  10. Royal Albert Hall, London, May 9
  11. "Subterranean Homesick Blues"

• Greil Marcus and D.A. Pennebaker - in this filmed conversation, music journalist and cultural critic Greil Marcus and director D.A. Pennebaker discuss the shooting and editing of various sequences from Dont Look Back. The conversation was filmed in 2010. In English, not subtitled. (18 min, 1080i).

• "Subterranean Homesick Blues" - presented here is an alternate take of the famous opening sequence in Dont Look Back. This sequence, which is one of three that were done (with another version appearing in 65 Revisited which is included on this disc), was shot in the garden of the Savoy Hotel in London. It is worth mentioning that Allen Ginsberg once again steps in front of the camera. In English, not subtitled. (3 min, 1080p).

• Additional Audio Performances - presented here are five performances recorded by Robert Van Dyke during Bob Dylan's 1965 tour. These performances do not appear in the final version of Dont Look Back. They were remixed at Sterling Sound Studios in 1999.
  
  1. "It Ain't Me, Babe". (5 min, 1080p).
  2. "It's All Over Now, Baby Blue". (8 min, 1080p).
  3. "Love Minus Zero/No Limit". (6 min, 1080p).
  4. "The Lonesome Death of Hattie Carroll". (7 min, 1080p).
  5. "To Ramona". (5 min, 1080p).

• D.A. Pennebaker: A Look Back -
  
  1. It Starts with Music - in this new documentary, director D.A. Pennebaker and collaborators Jim Desmond, Nick Doob, and Chris Hegedus discuss the cultural and historical significance of Dont Look Back, as well as the evolution of D.A. Pennebaker's work and style. The documentary was produced by Criterion. In English, not subtitled. (30 min, 1080p).
  
  2. Daybreak Express - D.A. Pennebaker's shot this film, which was his first, in 1953 (though it was completed in 1957). It features music by jazz legend Duke Ellington. Also included is an archival introduction by the director. In English, not subtitled. (6 min, 1080p).
  
  3. Baby - D.A. Pennebaker directed this short film in 1954. He apparently credits it as the one that clarified his focus. In English, not subtitled. (6 min, 1080p).
  
  4. Lambert & Co. - D.A. Pennebaker directed this short film in 1964. The film chronicles the audition of a new group of singers before jazz vocalist Dave Lambert at RCA. In English, not subtitled. (14 min, 1080p).

• D.A. Pennebaker and Bob Neuwirth - presented here is a brand new conversation between D.A. Pennebaker and Bob Dylan's 1965 tour manager, Bob Neuwirth. After the tour the two gentlemen worked together on a number of different projects, and here they discuss some of their collaborations, including Dont Look Back. The conversation was filmed exclusively for Criterion. In English, not subtitled. (34 min, 1080p).

• Snapshots from the Tour - presented here are various never-before-seen outtakes from Dont Look Back. In English, not subtitled. (26 min, 1080p).

• Patti Smith - in this new video interview, musician Patti Smith discusses the tremendous impact Bob Dylan's music and Dont Look Back had on her performing style and career. The interview was conducted exclusively for Criterion in 2015. In English, not subtitled. (14 min, 1080p).

• Booklet - 38-page illustrated booklet featuring critic and poet Robert Polito's essay "Everybody Loves You For Your Black Eye", archival stills and photographs, and technical credits.

Dont Look Back Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

This classic film from acclaimed American documentarian D.A. Pennebaker was initially released on Blu-ray by Docurama Films. Criterion's Blu-ray release of the film is sourced from a recent and very good 4K restoration and offers an extensive collection of new and archival supplemental features. Frankly, even if Criterion would have released only the bonus content on a separate disc, it would have been a must-own release for anyone interested in Bob Dylan and his legacy. VERY HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.