Timothée Chalamet stars as Bob Dylan in the highly-anticipated biopic A Complete Unknown, set to hit theaters on Dec. 25. The film follows Dylan’s journey in the New York City folk music scene of the 1960s, focusing on the years between 1961 and 1965 when he first rose to stardom. The story unfolds chronologically, exploring the pivotal figures who influenced Dylan, including musicians like Pete Seeger (played by Edward Norton) and his love interests Suze Russo (Elle Fanning) and Joan Baez (Monica Barbaro). A key moment in the film is Dylan’s controversial performance at the 1965 Newport Folk Festival, which divided the folk music community between those embracing electric guitars and those advocating for the acoustic sound. Despite the title, viewers may find that even with a deep knowledge of Dylan’s songs, they don’t come away fully understanding the enigmatic artist.
Elijah Wald, the author of ‘Dylan Goes Electric!: Newport, Seeger, Dylan, and the Night That Split the Sixties,’ notes, “He had become the voice of a generation by age 24.” TIME magazine interviewed experts to discuss the accuracy of the film’s portrayal of Dylan’s early career. Dylan made a name for himself by seizing opportunities in New York City’s music scene, with Michael Gray, author of ‘Song & Dance Man: The Art of Bob Dylan,’ highlighting how Dylan’s persistence led to a record deal with Columbia Records after a favorable review from music critic Robert Shelton. While Dylan’s debut album with Columbia received a lukewarm reception, it was his second album, ‘The Freewheelin’ Bob Dylan,’ that catapulted him to fame with hits like “Blowin’ in the Wind.”
Standout in the folk scene for his songwriting, Dylan received support from fellow musician Joan Baez, who introduced him at her concerts and covered his songs. The film depicts Dylan’s visits to folk legend Woody Guthrie in the hospital, a period where Pete Seeger may have also crossed paths with them, although the exact details remain unclear. The relationship between Seeger and Dylan in mentoring roles is a point of interest in the movie, underscoring the intertwining of their lives during this pivotal era.
The movie depicts a scene where Seeger is impressed by a young man’s musical talent and allows him to stay with his family, but this never actually happened. However, Seeger did help Dylan by providing him with many performance opportunities. The film portrays a moment when Dylan performs in front of a large crowd at a Pete Seeger hootenanny, where Seeger invited several young performers on stage. Actor Edward Norton portrays Pete Seeger in the movie “A Complete Unknown,” which explores the relationship between Johnny Cash and Dylan. Cash was indeed one of Dylan’s biggest fans and even sent him fan letters. Cash supported Dylan during pivotal moments, defending his early album with Columbia Records and covering several of Dylan’s songs.
The movie also delves into how the political movements of the 1960s influenced Dylan’s music. Dylan was unafraid to address political issues, and his early songs reflect the influence of the civil rights movement. For example, the lyrics of “Blowin’ in the Wind” touch on civil rights themes. Dylan’s song “Only a Pawn in Their Game” addresses the manipulation of poor whites in the context of civil rights issues. Dylan’s partner Suze Rotolo, a civil rights activist, appears on the cover of his album “The Freewheelin’ Bob Dylan.” The film depicts Rotolo discussing civil rights organizations with Dylan.
In another scene, the movie shows Al Kooper playing the organ in “Like a Rolling Stone,” despite originally being hired as a guitarist. Kooper improvised on the organ during the recording, leading to the iconic organ track in the song. The film also portrays Dylan getting booed at the Newport Folk Festival in 1965 for using an electric guitar instead of an acoustic one. In reality, the booing occurred after an awkward performance due to poor rehearsal and long breaks between songs. The audience’s reaction was a mix of disapproval for the electric sound and the abrupt ending of the set.
Why was Bob Dylan’s decision to go electric so controversial?
As Gray explains, the Newport Folk Festival, a prominent event in folk music, viewed electric music as distasteful, commercial, a betrayal of authenticity, while acoustic music was seen as pure and genuine. Organizers associated electric music with being cheap and akin to pop and rock-and-roll trash.
However, those who opposed Dylan’s move to go electric were actually in the minority. Many attendees were open and receptive to this change. According to Wald, Dylan’s popularity soared after he embraced electric music, and the infamous booing incidents at his performances became part of his legend. This reaction countered accusations that he was selling out and transitioning into a mainstream pop star.
For more information, contact Olivia B. Waxman at olivia.waxman@time.com.
