''No Direction Home: Bob Dylan'' is a 2005

documentary film A documentary film (often described simply as a documentary) is a nonfiction Film, motion picture intended to "document reality, primarily for instruction, education or maintaining a Recorded history, historical record". The American author and ...

directed by

Martin Scorsese Martin Charles Scorsese ( , ; born November17, 1942) is an American filmmaker. One of the major figures of the New Hollywood era, he has received List of awards and nominations received by Martin Scorsese, many accolades, including an Academ ...

that traces the life of

Bob Dylan Bob Dylan (legally Robert Dylan; born Robert Allen Zimmerman, May 24, 1941) is an American singer-songwriter. Described as one of the greatest songwriters of all time, Dylan has been a major figure in popular culture over his nearly 70-year ...

, and his impact on 20th-century American popular music and culture. The film focuses on the period between Dylan's arrival in New York in January 1961 and his "retirement" from touring following his motorcycle accident in July 1966. This period encapsulates Dylan's rise to fame as a

folk singer Folk music is a music genre that includes traditional folk music and the contemporary genre that evolved from the former during the 20th-century folk revival. Some types of folk music may be called world music. Traditional folk music has b ...

and songwriter where he became the center of a cultural and musical upheaval, and continues through the electric controversy surrounding his move to a rock style of music. The title of the film is taken from the lyrics of Dylan's 1965 single "

Like a Rolling Stone "Like a Rolling Stone" is a song by the American singer-songwriter Bob Dylan, released on July 20, 1965, by Columbia Records. Its confrontational lyrics originated in an extended piece of verse Dylan wrote in June 1965, when he returned exhauste ...

Production and content

The film was first broadcast on

television Television (TV) is a telecommunication medium for transmitting moving images and sound. Additionally, the term can refer to a physical television set rather than the medium of transmission. Television is a mass medium for advertising, ...

in both the United States (as part of the '' American Masters'' series on PBS) and the United Kingdom (as part of the ''

Arena An arena is a large enclosed venue, often circular or oval-shaped, designed to showcase theatre, Music, musical performances or Sport, sporting events. It comprises a large open space surrounded on most or all sides by tiered seating for specta ...

'' series on

BBC Two BBC Two is a British free-to-air Public service broadcasting in the United Kingdom, public broadcast television channel owned and operated by the BBC. It is the corporation's second flagship channel, and it covers a wide range of subject matte ...

) on September 26–27, 2005. A DVD version of the film and accompanying

soundtrack album A soundtrack album is any album that incorporates music directly recorded from the soundtrack of a particular feature film or television show. The first such album to be commercially released was Walt Disney's ''Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs ( ...

('' The Bootleg Series Vol. 7: No Direction Home: The Soundtrack'') were released that same month. The project began to take shape in 1995 when Dylan's manager, Jeff Rosen, began scheduling interviews with Dylan's friends and associates. Among those interviewed were poet Allen Ginsberg and folk musician Dave Van Ronk, both of whom died before the film was completed. Dylan's old girlfriend Suze Rotolo also granted a rare interview, and she later told ''

Rolling Stone ''Rolling Stone'' is an American monthly magazine that focuses on music, politics, and popular culture. It was founded in San Francisco, California, in 1967 by Jann Wenner and the music critic Ralph J. Gleason. The magazine was first known fo ...

'' that she was very pleased with the project's results. Dylan himself also sat for ten hours in a relaxed and open conversation with Rosen in 2000. Other interviews with those who knew him at the time include

Joan Baez Joan Chandos Baez (, ; born January 9, 1941) is an American singer, songwriter, musician, and activist. Her contemporary folk music often includes songs of protest and social justice. Baez has performed publicly for over 60 years, releasing mo ...

Pete Seeger Peter Seeger (May 3, 1919 – January 27, 2014) was an American singer, songwriter, musician, and social activist. He was a fixture on nationwide radio in the 1940s and had a string of hit records in the early 1950s as a member of The Weav ...

, Liam Clancy, Maria Muldaur,

Peter Yarrow Peter Yarrow (May 31, 1938 – January 7, 2025) was an American singer and songwriter who found fame as a member of the 1960s folk music, folk trio Peter, Paul and Mary along with Paul Stookey and Mary Travers. Yarrow co-wrote (with Lenny Lipton ...

, John Cohen, singer Mavis Staples, artist Bob Neuwirth, guitarist/organist Al Kooper, promoters such as Harold Leventhal and Tom Nelson, record industry A&R reps, promoters and executives Izzy Young, Mitch Miller, John Hammond, Artie Mogul, and filmmaker D. A. Pennebaker. According to ''Rolling Stone'', an unnamed source close to the project claimed that Dylan had no involvement with the project apart from the interview, saying that " ylanhas no interest in this . . . Bob truly does not look back." However, work on the first installment of Dylan's autobiography, '' Chronicles: Volume One'', did overlap production of the project, though it is unclear how much, if any, influence ''Chronicles'' may have had on ''No Direction Home''. Though raw material was being gathered for the project, Rosen needed someone to edit and shape it into a quality motion picture, and celebrated filmmaker

was approached to direct the documentary planned from the project. Scorsese eventually agreed and came aboard in 2001. In the meantime, Dylan's offices gathered hundreds of hours of historical film footage dating from the time covered in ''No Direction Home''. These included a scratchy recording of Dylan's high school rock band, his 1965

screen test A screen test is a method of determining the suitability of an actor or actress for performing on film or in a particular role. It is typically a secondary or later stage in the audition process. The performer is generally given a scene, or sel ...

for

Andy Warhol Andy Warhol (;''Random House Webster's Unabridged Dictionary''"Warhol" born Andrew Warhola Jr.; August 6, 1928 – February 22, 1987) was an American visual artist, film director and producer. A leading figure in the pop art movement, Warhol ...

, and newly discovered footage of the famous Manchester Free Trade Hall concert from May 17, 1966, when an angry fan called out "Judas!" just before Dylan and the Hawks performed "Like a Rolling Stone". Shot by D. A. Pennebaker, the onstage color footage was found in 2004 in a pile of water-damaged film recovered from Dylan's vault. The cover photo on the DVD package, by Barry Feinstein, shows Dylan standing in front of the Aust Ferry terminal in

Gloucestershire Gloucestershire ( , ; abbreviated Glos.) is a Ceremonial counties of England, ceremonial county in South West England. It is bordered by Herefordshire to the north-west, Worcestershire to the north, Warwickshire to the north-east, Oxfordshire ...

, England, in May 1966, shortly before the opening of the Severn Bridge which replaced the ferry.

Critical reception

The film received positive reviews from film critics, as review aggregate website

Rotten Tomatoes Rotten Tomatoes is an American review aggregator, review-aggregation website for film and television. The company was launched in August 1998 by three undergraduate students at the University of California, Berkeley: Senh Duong, Patrick Y. Lee ...

reported that 88% of critics gave the film positive reviews, based on 14 reviews.

Roger Ebert Roger Joseph Ebert ( ; June 18, 1942 – April 4, 2013) was an American Film criticism, film critic, film historian, journalist, essayist, screenwriter and author. He wrote for the ''Chicago Sun-Times'' from 1967 until his death in 2013. Eber ...

of the ''

Chicago Sun-Times The ''Chicago Sun-Times'' is a daily nonprofit newspaper published in Chicago, Illinois, United States. Since 2022, it is the flagship paper of Chicago Public Media, and has long held the second largest circulation among Chicago newspaper ...

'' gave the film four out of a possible four stars, stating that it "creates a portrait that is deep, sympathetic, perceptive and yet finally leaves Dylan shrouded in mystery, which is where he properly lives". In ''

The Guardian ''The Guardian'' is a British daily newspaper. It was founded in Manchester in 1821 as ''The Manchester Guardian'' and changed its name in 1959, followed by a move to London. Along with its sister paper, ''The Guardian Weekly'', ''The Guardi ...

'', Sam Wollaston wrote: "It's wonderful, a remarkable knitting together of a lot of tangled strands into a thing of sense and beauty. Maybe it will help to convert the unconvinced. Dylanites meanwhile will treasure it, while singing along." On December 19, 2024, ''

Screen Rant ''Screen Rant'' is an entertainment website that offers news in the fields of television, films, video games, and comic books. It is owned by Valnet, parent of publications including Comic Book Resources, Collider, MovieWeb and XDA Developers. ...

'' released an article describing the documentary as, "Dylan’s unmatched place in 20th-century American popular music into perspective hat’sdigestible to a newcomer." The article later added that the film "painted a vivid portrait of the artist while still maintaining his mysterious appeal."

Accolades

The film received a

Peabody Award The George Foster Peabody Awards (or simply Peabody Awards or the Peabodys) program, named for the American businessman and philanthropist George Foster Peabody, George Peabody, honor what are described as the most powerful, enlightening, and in ...

in April 2006 and a Columbia-duPont Award in January 2007, and Martin Scorsese received a

Grammy Award The Grammy Awards, stylized as GRAMMY, and often referred to as The Grammys, are awards presented by The Recording Academy of the United States to recognize outstanding achievements in music. They are regarded by many as the most prestigious ...

in direction for best long-form video.

Legacy

The documentary, describing the 1960 New York folk scene, served as an inspiration to

Justin Timberlake Justin Randall Timberlake (born January 31, 1981) is an American singer, songwriter, actor, record producer, and dancer. Dubbed the "Honorific nicknames in popular music, Prince of Pop", ''Billboard (magazine), Billboard'' honored him as the b ...

for his part in the

Coen brothers Joel Coen and Ethan Coen, together known as the Coen brothers (), are an American filmmaking duo. Their films span many genres and styles, which they frequently subvert or parody. Among their most acclaimed works are '' Blood Simple'' (198 ...

' related drama '' Inside Llewyn Davis'' (2013). Scorsese would make a second documentary on Dylan fourteen years later, '' Rolling Thunder Revue: A Bob Dylan Story by Martin Scorsese'' (2019), this time chronicling his 1975

Rolling Thunder Revue The Rolling Thunder Revue was a 1975–76 concert tour by American singer-songwriter Bob Dylan with numerous musicians and collaborators. The purpose of the tour was to allow Dylan, who was a major recording artist and concert performer, to play ...

concert tour.

Soundtrack

Part I

* Bob Dylan (live) – "

" * Gene Vincent and the Blue Caps *

Hank Williams Hiram "Hank" Williams (September 17, 1923 – January 1, 1953) was an American singer, songwriter, and musician. An early pioneer of country music, he is regarded as one of the most significant and influential musicians of the 20th century. W ...

* Muddy Waters * Bob Dylan – " Tambourine Man" * Bobby Vee * John Jacob Niles * Odetta *

The Clancy Brothers The Clancy Brothers were an influential Irish folk music group that developed initially as a part of the American folk music revival. Most popular during the 1960s, they were famed for their Aran jumpers and are widely credited with popularisi ...

Woody Guthrie Woodrow Wilson Guthrie (; July 14, 1912 – October 3, 1967) was an American singer, songwriter, and composer widely considered to be one of the most significant figures in American folk music. His work focused on themes of American Left, A ...

– John Henry's Hammer *Woody Guthrie – " They Laid Jesus Christ in His Grave" *Bob Dylan (live) – " Leopard-Skin Pill-Box Hat" *

– "What You Gonna Call Your Pretty Little Baby" *Ken Jacobs – "Star Spangled Death" * Maria Muldaur * New Lost City Ramblers *Bob Dylan – " Desolation Row" * Brother John Sellers *

Peter La Farge Peter La Farge (born Oliver Albee La Farge; April 30, 1931 – October 27, 1965) was an American singer–songwriter. Early life and education Born Oliver Albee La Farge in 1931 to Oliver La Farge, a Pulitzer Prize-winning novelist and anthropol ...

Cisco Houston Gilbert Vandine "Cisco" Houston (August 18, 1918 – April 29, 1961) was an American folk singer and songwriter, who is closely associated with Woody Guthrie due to their extensive history of traveling and recording together. Houston was a reg ...

* Dave Van Ronk * Liam Clancy *Bob Dylan (cover) – " Man of Constant Sorrow" *Bob Dylan – " Song to Woody" *

Johnny Mathis John Royce Mathis (born September 30, 1935) is an American singer. Starting his 69-year career with singles of standard (music), standard music, Mathis is one of the best-selling recording artists of the 20th century and became highly popular as ...

Harry Belafonte Harry Belafonte ( ; born Harold George Bellanfanti Jr.; March 1, 1927 – April 25, 2023) was an American singer, actor, and civil rights activist who popularized calypso music with international audiences in the 1950s and 1960s. Belafonte ...

*Bob Dylan (cover) – " Baby, Let Me Follow You Down" by Erich Von Schmidt *Bob Dylan (cover) – " House of the Rising Sun" *

*Bob Dylan – " Let Me Die in My Footsteps" *Bob Dylan – " Blowin' in the Wind" *Bob Dylan – "

Don't Think Twice, It's All Right "Don't Think Twice, It's All Right" is a song written by Bob Dylan in 1962 and released the following year on his album '' The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan'' and as the B-side of the single " Blowin' in the Wind". The song has been covered by several ot ...

" *Bob Dylan – "

A Hard Rain's a-Gonna Fall "A Hard Rain's a-Gonna Fall" is a song written by American musician and Nobel laureate Bob Dylan in the summer of 1962 and recorded later that year for his second studio album, '' The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan'' (1963). Its lyrical structure is based ...

" *Bob Dylan – " Ballad of a Thin Man" *Bob Dylan – " Masters of War" *Bob Dylan – " Oxford Town" * Florence Reece – " Which Side Are You On?" * Leadbelly - " Goodnight, Irene" *

The Weavers The Weavers were an American folk music quartet based in the Greenwich Village area of New York City originally consisting of Lee Hays, Pete Seeger, Ronnie Gilbert, and Fred Hellerman. Founded in 1948, the group sang traditional folk songs from ...

– " Goodnight, Irene" *Pete Seeger – " If I Had a Hammer" *Bob Dylan – " With God on Our Side" *Bob Dylan – " When the Ship Comes In" *

Johnny Cash John R. Cash (born J. R. Cash; February 26, 1932 – September 12, 2003) was an American singer-songwriter. Most of his music contains themes of sorrow, moral tribulation, and redemption, especially songs from the later stages of his career. ...

– "

I Walk the Line "I Walk the Line" is a song written and recorded in 1956 by Johnny Cash. After moderate chart success, it soon became Cash's first #1 hit on the ''Billboard'' country chart, and eventually crossed over to the pop charts, reaching #19 on the Bil ...

" *

Howlin' Wolf Chester Arthur Burnett (June 10, 1910January 10, 1976), better known by his stage name Howlin' Wolf, was an American blues singer, guitarist and harmonica player. He was at the forefront of transforming acoustic Delta blues into electric Chica ...

*Bob Dylan – " Only a Pawn in Their Game" *Joan Baez & Bob Dylan (duet) – "With God on Our Side" *Joan Baez (cover) – "With God on Our Side" by Bob Dylan *Bob Dylan (from '' Dont Look Back'') – " Subterranean Homesick Blues"

Part II

* Bob Dylan (live in London) – " Just Like Tom Thumb's Blues" *

Peter, Paul and Mary Peter, Paul and Mary were an American Contemporary folk music, folk group formed in New York City in 1961 during the American folk music revival. The trio consisted of Peter Yarrow (guitar, tenor vocals), Paul Stookey (guitar, baritone vocals), ...

(cover) – " Blowin' in the Wind" by Bob Dylan * Bob Dylan and Joan Baez (live at the

March on Washington The March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom (commonly known as the March on Washington or the Great March on Washington) was held in Washington, D.C., on August 28, 1963. The purpose of the march was to advocate for the civil and economic rig ...

) – " When the Ship Comes In" *Bob Dylan – "

" *Bob Dylan – " Chimes of Freedom Flashing" *Bob Dylan (Newport 1964) – " All I Really Want to Do" *

(cover) – "

" by Bob Dylan *Bob Dylan (Newport 1964) – " Mr. Tambourine Man" *Bob Dylan – " It's Alright, Ma (I'm Only Bleeding)" *Bob Dylan – " Gates of Eden" *Bob Dylan and Joan Baez (duet) – "

It Ain't Me Babe "It Ain't Me Babe" is a song by Bob Dylan that originally appeared on his fourth album '' Another Side of Bob Dylan'', which was released in 1964 by Columbia Records. According to music critic Oliver Trager, this song, along with others on the al ...

" *Joan Baez (cover) – " With God on Our Side" by Bob Dylan *Bob Dylan (from documentary '' Dont Look Back'') – " Subterranean Homesick Blues" *Bob Dylan – " Ain't Gonna Work on Maggie's Farm" *Bob Dylan – " Bob Dylan's 115th Dream" *Bob Dylan – " Love Minus Zero/No Limit" *Joan Baez (live backstage) – " Percy's Song" *Joan Baez (live for the interviewer with acoustic guitar) – " Love Is Just a Four-Letter Word" *Bob Dylan (studio version with Al Kooper on organ) – "

" *Peter Paul & Mary *Bob Dylan (Live at Newport 1965, electric with the Bloomfield Blues Band) – " Maggie's Farm" *Bob Dylan (Live at Newport 1965, electric with the Bloomfield Blues Band) – "Like a Rolling Stone" *Bob Dylan (Acoustic encore – Live at Newport 1965) – "

It's All Over Now, Baby Blue "It's All Over Now, Baby Blue" is a song written and performed by Bob Dylan and featured on his '' Bringing It All Back Home'' album, released on March 22, 1965, by Columbia Records. The song was recorded on January 15, 1965, with Dylan's acous ...

" *Bob Dylan – "

Highway 61 Revisited ''Highway 61 Revisited'' is the sixth studio album by the American singer-songwriter Bob Dylan, released on August 30, 1965, by Columbia Records. Dylan continued the musical approach of his previous album ''Bringing It All Back Home'' (1965), usi ...

" *Bob Dylan – " Ballad of a Thin Man" *Bob Dylan – " Desolation Row" *Bob Dylan – " It Takes a Lot to Laugh, It Takes a Train to Cry" *Bob Dylan and the Band (live in London) – " Just Like Tom Thumb's Blues" *Bob Dylan and the Band (live in London) – "Tell Me, Momma" *Johnny Cash and Bob Dylan (backstage cover) – "Whiporwhill ( So Lonesome I Could Cry)" by Hank Williams *Bob Dylan – " Visions of Johanna" *Bob Dylan (live) – "Like a Rolling Stone"

Credits

References

External links

* * * {{Authority control 2005 films 2005 documentary films 2000s American films 2000s British films American Masters films BBC television documentaries Films about Bob Dylan Films directed by Martin Scorsese Films produced by Martin Scorsese Grammy Award for Best Long Form Music Video Peabody Award–winning broadcasts Rockumentaries British musical documentary films Grammy Award for Best Music Film winners Alfred I. duPont–Columbia University Award winners