Product Details

• Format: Color, DVD, NTSC
• Language: English (PCM Stereo)
• Subtitles: None
• Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only. Read more about DVD formats.)
  
• Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
• Number of discs: 1
• Rated: NR (Not Rated)
• Studio: Chrome Dreams
• DVD Release Date: June 10, 2008
• Run Time: 120 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B0016GLZ42
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #174,394 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Editorial Reviews

This film reviews the years from late-1978 to the release of 1989's Oh Mercy - an album that was seen by many as a huge return to form. This period of Dylan's life and career is one of the most controversial, fascinating and misunderstood of all. With the aid of rare Dylan footage, live and studio versions of the most pivotal songs, exclusive interviews with his closest allies from that time, contributions from Dylan experts, biographers and other commentators and many other features, this film provides the most detailed document of the 1980s according to Bob Dylan, ever made. Featured interviewees include: Shot of Love producer Chuck Plotkin; the same album's first engineer Toby Scott; chief engineer on Infidels and Empire Burlesque, Josh Abbey; Daniel Lanois' assistant producer for Oh Mercy, Malcolm Burn; first engineer on Oh Mercy, Mark Howard; music collaborator and lead guitarist on Empire Burlesque, Ted Perlman; legendary Jamaican rhythm partners who featured on Infidels, Sly and Robbie; Guitarist and bandleader for Empire Burlesque and Knocked Out Loaded, Ira Ingber - and many others...

Bonus Materials:
Full Contributor Biographies
The Dylan Gospel Interviews - Bob Dylan in conversation during his most fervent phase of Christianity - with commentary by Derek Barker.
Beyond DVD section

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars No Pot-O-Gold, July 6, 2008

By 

Martin R. Rose "Above Average Listener" (Tinley Park, Illinois) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Bob Dylan: 1978-1989 - Both Ends of the Rainbow (DVD)

Although this disk explains the period of Dylan's life that took him and his listeners down unexpected paths, it lacks any commentary from him and any actual performances other than those you've seen already. It does give insight to the performer's plight with his convictions and the vicious attacks by critics. It also includes some interesting commentary by producers who explain their adaptations to Dylan's unique recording styles. Especially with the Shot of Love album.
If you expect footage of live performances, there is no pot-o-gold here!

11 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A documentary of Dylan's most controversial decade, July 14, 2008

By 

Michael Dalton (Eureka, CA United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Bob Dylan: 1978-1989 - Both Ends of the Rainbow (DVD)

Bob Dylan 1978-1989 Both Ends of the Rainbow is the third Dylan documentary in the series produced by UK-based Chrome Dreams. The first two are now part of a limited edition set titled Bob Dylan: The Golden Years 1962-1978. If you like documentaries and are a Dylan fan, you can't go wrong by adding both of these to your DVD collection. It doesn't get much better than this.

The DVD starts with extensive commentary on one of the most fascinating and controversial periods in Dylan's career. It encompasses the period marked by the three recordings that made Dylan's new Christian faith evident: Slow Train Coming (1979), Saved (1980) and Shot of Love (1981).

If Dylan's emergence as an icon for the counter-culture in 1965 divided the hip from the unhip, his declaration of the gospel on Slow Train Coming divided the saved from the damned. Many saw this as a betrayal. Slow Train Coming went platinum, but his next two Christian recordings charted poorly in the US, which reflected the disenchantment of some of his fans. The opinion of a record storeowner that I spoke with during that time probably reflected the views of many Dylan fans. He liked the music but didn't like the message. There was nothing subtle about it, and it was too much for many fans to handle.

What remains a mystery is where Dylan stands in relation to his faith today. One person reiterates that he has never renounced it. Dylan has chosen to keep this subject out of the limelight.

The film shows what a difficult time the eighties were for Dylan and other aging rock stars. MTV, disco and DJs took music in a new direction less favorable to rock. Dylan struggled to be successful in his recordings and performances.

Infidels (1983) was a departure from the Christian trilogy that preceded it. Dylan was once again becoming more subtle and poetic. Empire Burlesque (1985), Knocked Out Loaded (1986) and Down in the Groove (1988) charted poorly, but they contained standout tracks that are now revered as classics. The release of Oh Mercy (1989) was seen as a return to form.

The DVD feels a little long at 127 minutes, but the depth of analysis is excellent. It even provides a perspective on the politics of the time. The performance clips and appearances are brief but noteworthy, punctuating some of the highs and lows of Dylan's career.

One of the highlights is a short segment of Dylan performing "Maggie's Farm" with Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers. It makes you wish you could see the whole song, but this is a biography and documentary.

I think the producer gets the content right. Full performances are outside the scope of this independent review and critique. One interesting bonus is an audio interview of Dylan when he was in the most fervent phase of his Christianity.

This is a must-have for fans and anyone interested in Dylan's music and career.

14 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars ...roll away the stone..., May 29, 2008

By 

rocky-o "...jazzville skyline..." - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Bob Dylan: 1978-1989 - Both Ends of the Rainbow (DVD)

like the previous two 'isis' documentaries, "tales from the golden age" and "after the crash", this new one continues to travel down the long, illustrious career of bob dylan, with great interviews and insights into what made him who he is, and what he is...
this film takes over just when dylan was hitting, what is essentially, his 'trinity trilogy', the albums that truly displayed his christianity...
that's not to say that he didn't ever display his faith before (as many 'fans' seem to think...)
no, quite the contrary...on all his albums prior to, and preceeding, this period, you can find themes that deal with the spiritual side that are illuminated throughout this period...
from the brilliant "slow train coming" album to "saved" and finally "shot of love", dylan pressed his soul out on his sleeve, concerned with hearts, rather than the charts...
the fans and critics that obviously never understood him turned away at this point, but those who found it a natural flow stayed with him to present day...and this documentary continues that flow up to the "oh mercy" years, which only suggests that there will be even more great documentaries to follow...thank God...