Renaldo and Clara (1978)

User Rating:

6.1/10   

Director:

Bob Dylan

Writers:

Bob Dylan (writer)
Sam Shepard (writer)

Release Date:

25 January 1978 (USA)

Genre:

Drama

Plot:

This epic is a mass amalgamation of three separate film-types that is, contrary to popular opinion, coherent and a unified whole...

Plot Keywords:

Bob Dylan | Musician | Concert Tour | Folk Singer | Singer Songwriter

Awards:

1 win

Cast

Bob Dylan	...	Renaldo
Sara Dylan	...	Clara
Joan Baez	...	Woman in White
Ronnie Hawkins	...	Bob Dylan
Jack Elliott	...	Longheno de Castro
Harry Dean Stanton	...	Lafkezio
Bob Neuwirth	...	The Masked Tortilla
Allen Ginsberg	...	The Father
Mel Howard	...	Ungatz
David Mansfield	...	The Son
Jack Baran	...	The Truck Driver
Helena Kallianiotes	...	Herself
Rubin 'Hurricane' Carter	...	Himself
Anne Waldman	...	Sister of Mercy
T-Bone Burnett	...	The Inner Voice
Larry 'Ratso' Sloman	...	Newspaper Man (as Larry Sloman)
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Ronee Blakley	...	Mrs. Dylan
David Blue	...	Himself
Roberta Flack	...	Guest Artist
Arlo Guthrie	...	Mandolin Player
Roger McGuinn	...	Himself
Denise Mercedes
Joni Mitchell	...	Herself
Scarlet Rivera
Luther Rix	...	The Drummer
Mick Ronson	...	Security Guard
Sam Shepard	...	Rodeo
J. Steven Soles		(as Steven Soles)
Rob Stoner
Linda Thomases
Ruth Tyrangel
Howie Wyeth
Peter Orlovsky	...	(uncredited)

Directed by
Bob Dylan

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Bob Dylan		writer
Sam Shepard		writer

Produced by
Mel Howard	....	producer

Cinematography by
Howard Alk
Paul Goldsmith
Michael Levine
David Myers

Film Editing by
Howard Alk
Bob Dylan

Costume Design by
Linda Thomases

Production Management
Michael Ahern	....	production manager
Jack Baran	....	production manager
Greg Ramsay	....	assistant production manager
Herb Robinson	....	production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Jacques Levy	....	assistant director

Sound Department
Gary C. Bourgeois	....	sound re-recording mixer
Les Fresholtz	....	sound re-recording mixer
Steve Gagné	....	sound
Petur Hliddal	....	sound recordist
L.A. Johnson	....	sound recordist
Gregory Malozzi	....	sound
Michael Minkler	....	sound re-recording mixer
Bruce Nyznik	....	sound editor
Arthur Piantadosi	....	sound re-recording mixer
Arthur Rosato	....	sound
Peter Thilaye	....	sound editor

Music Department
Dan Wallin	....	music mixer: re-mixed original multi-tracks

Production Companies

• Lombard Street Films

Distributors

• Circuit Films

Special Effects

• Cinema Research

Runtime:

292 min (original version) | UK:235 min | 122 min (re-cut)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

USA:R

Filming Locations:

Alabama, USA

Company:

Lombard Street Films

Trivia:

When the film was originally released, its screenings were extremely limited. The film received very many condemning reviews and many theaters refused the screenings. The film was cut from its original four-hour length to a two-hour length, and what was left was mostly concert footage. This version was shown in more theaters than the original director's cut. The original four-hour cut would appear on European television some time later, on Channel 4.

Quotes:

The Truck Driver: Why are you so much in a hurry? Is the law after you?
Renaldo: I am the law!

Movie Connections:

Featured in Bob Dylan: Change on the Tracks (2008) (V)

Soundtrack:

I Shall Be Released

Does not seem like a professional job, but sure worth seeing.

The impression I had after seeing this film, was that Bob Dylan made a film thinking it would be easier than what it turned out to be. As Dylan is my favorite musician, poet, singer, whatever... I enjoyed every minute of the film. Sometimes you have the feeling that the result is the same as if an amateur would take a digital camera on the road to film the concerts and the musicians, and also try to put in a bit of philosophy. Ronnie Hawkins and Ronee Blackley pretend to be Dylan and wife, and they have a great fight. Sara Dylan is Clara and Bob is Renaldo, and Dylan is divided between Sara and Joan Baez. Allen Ginsberg joins them on the trip and recites some poetry, goes together with Bob to visit Jack Kerouac's grave, and also lets a woman read his hand. "You had two marriages" she says to him. "Yes, kind of.." he replies. There is a musician who keeps saying to his girlfriend "I won't let you come in between me and my music". Dylan is great when he sings "Knockin' on Heaven's Door" changing the melody, and also "Tangled up in Blue". Joan Baez is charming, looks beautiful and has quite a voice. She sings "Blowin in the Wind" with Bob. They all go to visit Rubin Carter in jail and many people are interviewed on the street about their opinion of what happened to Carter. There is no doubt that somebody like Martin Scorcese could have done better, but still, just to be able to be together with this fantastic group for a couple of hours is worth seeing this film.