Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers: Runnin' Down a Dream

A long documentary about the history of a rock band. The narrative begins in Florida. A group of young men are making music in Gainesville; no work, no money, and the only way out of town is to find a record company. The band drives to California. The first album does not take in America. It takes in Britain, and the band comes back from there. The documentary then covers thirty years in order: the legal fight with a record company, the struggle over the price of an album, splits inside the band, a studio fire and the death of one of its members. Among those speaking are the members, producers and musicians they worked with: Jeff Lynne, Stevie Nicks, Rick Rubin, George Harrison and accounts of the tour with Bob Dylan. What sets the production apart is its length. It runs over four hours and does not shy from detail: studio recordings, rehearsal footage and concert material from the archive are used at length. The narrative does not glorify the band; the disputes and the period of addiction are covered too. Peter Bogdanovich directed. It was shown on television in two parts and then released in its long version. A comprehensive source for anyone interested in music documentary and the history of American rock. For a viewer wanting something short, it is long and was not built to be watched in one sitting.