In many ways this movie is director Robert Elfstrom's response to
Don't Look Back. Like that film, this documentary follows its subject with a camera and simply shows what he does on and offstage. The biggest difference the difference between Johnny Cash at this time and Bob Dylan at the time of
Don't Look Back. Bob was tired of constantly being asked questions about the deep meaning of his songs and being viewed as a voice of a generation. He simply wanted to play music and be left alone when he wasn't. Because of this he developed a snarky persona that is present through the whole film. Johnny Cash on the other hand was at one of the happiest moments of life. After years of drug abuse and erratic behavior tearing away everyone who loved him, he had turned back to God and found peace and comfort there. The Johnny Cash we see here is very different from the one we would have seen a couple years earlier. We see him at peace and enjoying his soundings and what he is doing. As such this is a far more tranquil movie with a completely different appeal than
Don't Look Back despite very similar filmmaking styles. We see Johnny help out a new coming singer, enjoy the company of his fans, hike in nature, stand up for social causes and play music.
Of course the music here is fantastic. Unlike
Don't Look Back, we get to see the whole songs being performed here, which is a delight. This was John at the peak of his career and he has never sounded better. As well as Johnny we get to see him perform a duet with (appropriately) Bob Dylan as well as a brief performance by rock and roll great Carl Perkins (who by this time had become a regular part of John's live performances) with his biggest hit,
Blue Suede Shoes.
John got along well with director Robert Elfstorm and when he produced the movie
Gospel Road (1973), he picked Robert as the director.
This may not quite measure up to
Don't Look Back, but is a very enjoyable movie in its own right.
-Michael J. Ruhland
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