Bob Dylan’s Electric Moment in Film Challenges Historical Narratives
The film A Complete Unknown explores Bob Dylan’s transition to rock, highlighting the complexities of his Newport Folk Festival performance.
Bob Dylan, Newport Folk Festival, Timothée Chalamet, Edward Norton, 1965, Music History
Newport: James Mangold’s film, A Complete Unknown, dives into Bob Dylan’s shift from folk to rock. It features Timothée Chalamet as Dylan, with Monica Barbaro and Edward Norton rounding out the cast. The film captures that iconic 1965 moment at the Newport Folk Festival when Dylan went electric.
When Dylan hit New York from Minnesota, folk music was booming. But at Newport, he took the stage with an electric guitar, sparking a mix of cheers and boos. It was a clash between traditional folk and the new rock vibe.
Elijah Wald, who wrote Dylan Goes Electric!, points out that the usual narrative paints Dylan as the hero of youth, while the booing crowd is seen as stuck in the past. But he suggests another view: maybe the audience was trying to protect the idealism of folk music, feeling Dylan was shutting them out.
Some stories say Pete Seeger was upset about Dylan’s electric set, but he clarified that it was the sound quality he was frustrated with, not the music itself. He even joked about wanting to cut the cables to fix it!
In A Complete Unknown, you can see that while Dylan and Seeger were heading in different musical directions, there was still mutual respect. Edward Norton, who stars in the film, emphasizes that historical narratives can be overly simplistic. He believes that just because people are moving apart doesn’t mean they’re at odds.
Norton appreciates how the film captures the complexity of those times, showing that you can respect someone’s artistry while choosing a different path. It’s all about understanding the messy emotions behind those decisions.
The film really shines in its portrayal of the 1965 Newport Folk Festival, showcasing all the conflicting views and feelings. A Complete Unknown is definitely worth a watch!
A Complete Unknown is now in theatres.