The Last Waltz (1978)

A film account and presentation of the final concert of The Band.

Director:

Martin Scorsese

Writer:

Mardik Martin (treatment)

Stars:

Robbie Robertson, Neil Young, Van Morrison

2 wins & 3 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
The Band	...	Themselves
Rick Danko	...	Himself - Bass & Violin & Vocal (as The Band)
Robbie Robertson	...	Himself - The Band: Lead Guitar & Vocal
Richard Manuel	...	Himself - Piano / Keyboards / Drums / Vocal (as The Band)
Levon Helm	...	Himself - Drums / Mandolin / Vocal (as The Band)
Garth Hudson	...	Himself - Organ / Accordion / Saxophone / Synthesizers (as The Band)
Eric Clapton	...	Himself - Performer
Neil Diamond	...	Himself - Performer
Bob Dylan	...	Himself - Performer
Joni Mitchell	...	Herself - Performer
Neil Young	...	Himself - Performer
Emmylou Harris	...	Herself - Performer
Ringo Starr	...	Himself - Performer
Paul Butterfield	...	Himself - Performer
Dr. John	...	Himself - Performer

Storyline

Thanksgiving, 1976, San Francisco's Winterland: the Band performs its last concert after 16 years on the road. Some numbers they do alone, some songs include guest artists from Ronnie Hawkins (their first boss, when they were the Hawks) to Bob Dylan (their last, when as his backup and as a solo group, they came into their own). Scorsese's camera explores the interactions onstage in the making of music. Offstage, he interviews the Band's five members, focusing on the nature of life on the road. The friendships, the harmonies, the hijinks, and the wear and tear add up to a last waltz.

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Plot Keywords:

band | interview | concert film | final concert | guitar | 

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Taglines:

It Started as a Concert. It Became a Celebration. Now it's a Legend. [theatrical re-release]

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Genres:

Documentary | Music

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Certificate:

PG

Details

Official Sites:

MGM

Country:

USA

Language:

English Middle English

Release Date:

26 April 1978 (USA)

Also Known As:

El último vals

Filming Locations:

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios - 10202 W. Washington Blvd., Culver City, California, USA

Box Office

Opening Weekend:

$16,151 (USA) (5 April 2002)

Gross:

$321,952 (USA) (24 May 2002)

Company Credits

Production Co:

FM Productions, Last Waltz Inc.

Technical Specs

Runtime:

117 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Guitarist Robbie Robertson's microphone is off through most of the show. He is seen singing at full strength, but no vocal from his microphone ends up in the film. (When Neil Young is singing the first verse of "Helpless," Robertson can be seen in the background mistakenly launching into the chorus as Young continues the verse. The words sung by Robertson are unheard despite the nearby microphone, and bassist Rick Danko can be seen telling Robertson he came in too soon.)

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Goofs

During Garth Hudson's solo in the song "Stagefright", the entire song cuts forward approximately 25 seconds.

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Quotes

Neil Young: [walking on stage] Hey, Rob, thanks for letting me do this.
Robbie Robertson: Shit! Are you kidding?

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Crazy Credits

At the beginning of the film it just says: "THIS FILM SHOULD BE PLAYED LOUD!"

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Connections

Referenced in XIX Winter Olympics Opening Ceremony (2002)

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Soundtracks

"Helpless"
Performed by Neil Young with The Band

User Reviews

Glare of the Spotlight

This movie was only a name to me until I saw it last year. Immediately, I was riveted by everything about it. I've always been a casual fan of The Band, and of Levon Helm in particular. However, I'd never been bowled over by Bob Dylan, except as a songwriter, so much of The Band's work remained unknown to me as well. I wouldn't say I've become a rabid fan, but I am much more interested in their work, now.

It's a Scorsese film--how could it not be beautifully photographed, but Scorsese managed a difficult feat: he keeps himself out of the movie, except as interviewer during those sequences. This is not really Scorese's vision of a rock concert. It happened mostly organically, certainly with mistakes, gaffes and grit. This is part of its charm.

There are better singers than the guys in The Band, but few better musicians. This can be illustrated with Robbie Robertson in the Clapton song: Clapton's guitar strap comes off and Robertson, with one beat, picks right up on the solo. It looked planned, but wasn't. Joni Mitchell was notoriously hard to back up, due to her original guitar tuning, and ragged song phrasing, but bassist Rick Danko fills in every space with intricate bass figuring.

Perhaps we have become too accustomed to the overwrought, over-hyped, overproduced, overexposed, shiny gack that passes for popular music to appreciate the raw, the imperfect, the sheer humanness of this music. Scorsese shows it all. The guys in The Band were largely worn out and sometimes strung out in the interviews. They are tired, scrawny, empty-eyed from the excesses of the road. Rick Danko is hovering on the ragged edge, as his band is dissolved, and he says his goal is to "keep busy." Richard Manuel looks lost as he says "I just want to break even." These are two musicians who desperately needed the music, but who were murdered by the road. We see their bleak destinies in their eyes in this film.

It is bittersweet certainly, but also a moment in time, crystallized into something great by the music, the love of friends, the willingness of the director to simply stand back and allow the music to happen. It also reminds us what good music used to sound like and makes me wish could exist again.