Revisiting the lost Bob Dylan documentary set during the infamous electric tour of 1966 that, aside from some festival screenings in the early 1970s, has never had an official release.
Thanks very much for this. I just watched Eat... after reading your article, and maybe it was coming to it with low expectations based on everything I've read and heard about it, but I actually quite liked it much more than I was expecting to. Things like the car scene with John - I've watched the whole 20 minutes previously and agree it is cringingly stilted. However here it came across more as a quick-fire, quite funny Monty Python-ish skit. I wouldn't mind seeing a Peter Jackson-type refurb of the whole thing.
Hah, well I'm glad my criticisms made your experience better. Maybe I'll return to the film some day and see if my thoughts change.
I'd say that the second part of No Direction Home is Scorsese giving the EtD footage a refurb. Obviously, it's a more straightforward telling of the story but I can watch it repeatedly.
As with his records, Dylan wanted to control how he appeared to others on-screen from this point on, regardless of the results or public reception. From "Eat" we then naturally progress to the bizarre "Renaldo And Clara"...
Definitely an aspect of controlling his image, but I do also think that believed he could do to film what he had done to song (but this time without having any of the key skills or experience).
Thanks very much for this. I just watched Eat... after reading your article, and maybe it was coming to it with low expectations based on everything I've read and heard about it, but I actually quite liked it much more than I was expecting to. Things like the car scene with John - I've watched the whole 20 minutes previously and agree it is cringingly stilted. However here it came across more as a quick-fire, quite funny Monty Python-ish skit. I wouldn't mind seeing a Peter Jackson-type refurb of the whole thing.
Hah, well I'm glad my criticisms made your experience better. Maybe I'll return to the film some day and see if my thoughts change.
I'd say that the second part of No Direction Home is Scorsese giving the EtD footage a refurb. Obviously, it's a more straightforward telling of the story but I can watch it repeatedly.
It’s as if I made a video about me. Not even I’d want to watch it. In recent years has Dylan ever said anything about it.
Don't think so. I believe he tired of it pretty quickly and most of the editing was done by Howard Alk with help from Robbie Robertson.
Thanks.
Bob was living on the edge and I think, wanted to show us..https://johnnogowski.substack.com/p/the-strangeness-of-bob-dylans-eat?utm_source=publication-search
That edge comes across as a head-wrecking place to live. Guess he made his point.
I enjoyed your write-up - thanks for sharing.
As with his records, Dylan wanted to control how he appeared to others on-screen from this point on, regardless of the results or public reception. From "Eat" we then naturally progress to the bizarre "Renaldo And Clara"...
Definitely an aspect of controlling his image, but I do also think that believed he could do to film what he had done to song (but this time without having any of the key skills or experience).