8 Bob Dylan Movies to Remember on His 70th Birthday

I would have bought a card, but Bob Dylan's 70th birthday snuck up on me before I could get to Hallmark. They grow up so fast! Nevertheless, we can honor the iconic singer/songwriter with a few quick glimpses back at his feature-film history:

1. Dont Look Back (1967)

D.A. Pennebaker's documentary, which chronicled Dylan's 1965 tour of the UK, remains the standard-bearer of Dylan on film and would come to influence four decades of both rock-docs and musicians -- not to mention provide the definitive glimpse of Dylan at the height of his insolent power:

2. Eat the Document (1972)

Pennebaker also filmed Dylan's notorious 1966 European tour, which Dylan himself eventually edited to make this weird, woozy doc. It was essentially made for TV but never aired, and it remains a bootleg-only curio to this day. One can only hope Dylan's 70th birthday festivities can rival the blotto fun he had in this immortal car ride with a vexed John Lennon:

3. Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid (1973)

Sam Peckinpah reportedly had never heard of Dylan before he was recommended to write music for Peckinpah's 1973 Western, the last of his unofficial genre trilogy that also included Ride the High Country and The Wild Bunch. It's a memorable score for a famously troubled production, including a little ditty called "Knockin' on Heaven's Door" -- just the right tune for Slim Pickens's slow, gutshot demise.

Bonus: Dylan co-starred in Pat Garrett as well, playing the knife-wielding Alias. See if you can spot him in the final scene:

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Comments

  • vivelgel says:

    Renaldo and Clara was unwatchable, and I didn't like I'm Not There, but Don't Look Back's a classic, and No Direction Home the best documentary of a cultural icon available.

  • benjamin says:

    I actually liked I'm Not There. I thought Cate Blanchett was great and just thought it was an interesting concept for a film.

  • peter g obranovich says:

    does anyone remember the 1970 movie featuring dylan and the james gang ?
    it was billed as the first psychodelic western. it also had several other recording stars. driving me crazy for a year now trying to find out the title so I get obtain a copy. hope to hear from someone
    thanks

  • nana says:

    1973 pat garrett and billy the kid

  • I sat through the entire 4 hours of Renaldo and Clara and I didn't even get a lousy t shirt!