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Bob Dylan, Joni Mitchell, Neil Diamond, Emmylou Harris, Van Morrison ... see more see more... , Eric Clapton , Ringo Starr , Neil Young , Ronnie Wood , Muddy Waters , The Staple Singers , Dr. John , Ronnie Hawkins , Paul Butterfield , The Band , Rick Danko , Levon Helm , Roebuck "Pops" Staples , Robbie Robertson , Garth Hudson , Richard Manuel

Martin Scorsese's documentary of the 1976 final performance of the legendary Sixties rock group The Band is at once a show featuring some of the greatest rock performers of their generation and a bitt... read more read more...ersweet look back at an era that was just beginning to fade. As Scorsese guides the group through interview segments discussing their 15 years together, these relatively young men sound like battle-weary survivors. But The Band were in splendid form for this show, and their multiple guest stars pulled out all the stops, especially Muddy Waters, whose "Mannish Boy" is so powerful it nearly burns a hole in the screen; Van Morrison, with a rousing performance of "Caravan;" and Bob Dylan, whose "Baby Let Me Follow You Down" displays the brilliant cockiness of his barnstorming days with this band. The all-star camera crew and superb stereo sound mix create what is considered to be of the best-looking and sounding rock films ever (as the opening credit says, play this movie loud!), and two studio-shot sequences with Emmylou Harris and The Staple Singers stand on their own. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

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92% liked it

12,658 ratings

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43 critics

PG, 1 hr. 57 min.

Directed by: Martin Scorsese

Release Date: April 12, 2002

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DVD Release Date: May 7, 2002

Stats: 1,039 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (1,039)

  • cosmo313
    December 9, 2011
    cosmo313
    Thursday November 25th, 1976: Thanksgiving Day. On that night, one of the most momentous events in music history took place. For on that night, The Band decided to call it a day as a group and have a farewell concert at the Winterland in San Francisco to mark the occasion. They b... read morerought along with them some of their friends, influences, and collaborators. Martin Scorsese was brought along to document the occasion. This film, released two years later is the result.

    Well, not to diminish the impact, but it's only part of the result. All in all, the full uncut concert was five hours long. Man, I'd kill to see all of it. Too bad I'll probably never get the chance. Anyway, let's get on with it shall we. The guests musicians who all show up for varying lengths to jam include, among others: Joni Mitchell, Bob Dylan, Neil Diamond, Van Morrison, Dr. John, Neil Young, and Eric Clapton. Even poets like Michael McClure and Lawrence Ferlinghetti show up to perform. I think it's pretty fair and obvious to say that obviously Robbie and Co. were familiar with the phrase "if you're gonna go out, go out with a bang".

    Not only is this an epic and brilliant concert, it's just a wonderful celebration of an interesting period of music during an even more interesting time for both music and society. The mid 70s were a curious time, and this film really helps capture the essence. All of these people onstage love msuic, but you can just tell they're all weary and burnt out, and in need of revitilization. If you only jsut listen to this great music, you can't tell it, but seeing it being performed, you can just tell that there's a lot of pain, frustration, and bitterness going on.Interspersed between the footage are typical interview/documentary type footage with help provide further insight into the msuic, the people, and the times, and it too, like the stage stuff, though great, is very bittersweet.

    You'd think that because I am a huge fan of Scorsese, a fan of 60s and 70s rock music (thus a fan of most people that are featured here), and have both a scholarly and general interest in the 70s that I probably would have already seen this movie lke 100 times by now. Surprisingly no. For whatever reason, I didn't get around to this until now. Obviously I'm happy I finally did it, but still, I can't help but feel like I'm less complete for having waited so long.

    Don't be like me and make that mistake. Go out and see this film as soon as you can. It's got great music, is fascinating to watch, and is shot and directed superbly. It easily earns all the acclaim it gets about being one of (if not the) finest concert film ever made.
  • fb1664868775
    October 28, 2011
    fb1664868775
    A great document of a great band.
  • 76Majikat
    November 23, 2010
    76Majikat
    Martin Scorsese directs this part interview, part live show with members of ?The Band? on their last gig together after 18 years on the road.

    An impressive musical line up offers performances from Bob Dylan, Eric Clapton, Neil Young, Van Morrison etc etc.

    For those who enj... read moreoy this era of music and the atmosphere of live singers who are some of the best musicians of our time, this footage really is a treat to see. The quality of performances are exceptional and I?ve no doubt that this will be one to play over and over.
  • harrycaul
    March 23, 2008
    harrycaul
    Even with their final concert recorded for posterity in Scorsese's seminal film, The Band have still somehow managed to fade into relative obscurity: adored by the music cognoscenti, but hardly a household name. In their day, however, they were hugely influential, championed by p... read moreop (George Harrison), blues (Eric Clapton) and folk musicians (Fairport Convention) alike for their rustic approach. The awesome line-up of "The Last Waltz" attests to their genre-straddling influence and the respect of their peers; I doubt whether The Beatles could have got the likes of Dylan, Neil Young, Muddy Waters, Joni Mitchell, Eric Clapton and Van Morrison together in the same place. Highlights are numerous, but my absolute favourite moment (look out for it) is when Clapton's guitar strap falls off at the end of his first solo, and a lightning quick Robbie Robertson takes the lead while he sorts himself out. I'd love to know whether Clapton's low-key contribution was an act of modest deference, because there is no doubt that Robertson blows him off the stage. I have two criticisms: 1) the wonderful Richard Manuel, The Band's most distinctive, most soulful vocalist, is shamefully underrepresented, and 2) there's an unmistakable whiff of pretension about the interview inserts, which Rob Reiner (Marty DiBergi) pricelessly spoofed in "This Is Spinal Tap". If you don't like the music, you won't get much out of this film; if you do, chances are you'll love it.
  • mjgildea
    September 3, 2007
    mjgildea
    The songs were 50/50 for me as I've heard maybe 5 Band songs before seeing this, so I didn't have too much in the expectations dept. Some I absolutely loved and others I absolutely hated. I love Bob Dylan, but I hated him here. There wasn't enough interview footage in between son... read moregs, but it's a tough call when you're filming one of the biggest nights in rock history. Not Scorsese's most defining work, but he wasn't exactly the star here...
  • webalina
    May 23, 2007
    webalina
    Pretty decent, but I'm not a really a fan of The Band.
  • KLFilmmaker
    September 9, 2007
    KLFilmmaker
    Great concert doc. Scorsese does it right and scores some great footage.
  • placeinthesun455
    April 19, 2012
    placeinthesun455
    I can't speak much to the documentary bits....Scorsese isn't asking very interesting questions and the guys don't have much interesting to say. as a concert film, though, this is simply outstanding. fantastic music from The Band and an awe-inspiring cast of guest stars. seeing ... read moreBob Dylan, Van Morrison, and Robbie Robertson singing into one microphone was really a beautiful thing. overall a film that's musically outstanding and cinematically pretty blah.
  • jhmrbones67
    April 11, 2011
    jhmrbones67
    Classic band concert movies with great interviews but only slight thing wrong is one song puts me to sleep which i do not like.
  • shawnmiller2
    November 15, 2010
    shawnmiller2
    Amazing...they just don't make bands like this anymore...

    What a collection of talent on stage during the course of this concert...

    Liked how Scorcese interspersed the concert footage with the interview and set pieces...well done...

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Critic Reviews

Janet Maslin
May 20, 2003
Janet Maslin, New York Times

There is a dazzling array of talent on display here, and the film surely has its memorable moments. But it articulates so little of the end-of-an-era feeling it hints at. Full Review

Michael Wilmington
July 20, 2002
Michael Wilmington, Chicago Tribune

The greatest rock concert movie ever made -- and maybe the best rock movie, period. Full Review

Bill Wyman
June 15, 2002
Bill Wyman, Salon.com

The Last Waltz is our best insight to a moment when the giants of the previous decade raged against time, in the shadow of an age that changed them all inalterably. Full Review

Terry Lawson
April 26, 2002
Terry Lawson, Detroit Free Press

This is one of the great movie experiences. Full Review

Peter Rainer
April 21, 2002
Peter Rainer, New York Magazine

Seeing The Last Waltz again after many years is like revisiting an old passion and realizing the heat is still there. Full Review

Richard Harrington
April 19, 2002
Richard Harrington, Washington Post

Still sounds powerful, vibrant, imaginative and adventurous.

David Segal
April 19, 2002
David Segal, Washington Post

It's a joy to hear again the scruffy, rough-hewn music of the Band.

Geoff Pevere
April 19, 2002
Geoff Pevere, Toronto Star

The Last Waltz seems more than ever an act of musical mourning. Full Review

Roger Ebert
April 19, 2002
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times

A revealing document of a time. Full Review

Carrie Rickey
April 18, 2002
Carrie Rickey, Philadelphia Inquirer

It reinvigorates and refreshes while giving the audience a microphone's-eye-view of legendary rockers.

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    • Neil Diamond: You'll have a tough time following that.
    • Bob Dylan: What do I have to do, fall asleep?
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The Last Waltz Trivia

  • What band's final public performance in 1976 at San Fransisco's famed Winterland Ballroom is documented in the 1978 film The Last Waltz?  Answer »
  • Which of the following Martin Scorsese films is actually a documentary?  Answer »
  • Who directed "Boxcar Bertha", "Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore", "New York, New York", "Kundun", "The Last Waltz" and "The Age of Innocence"?  Answer »
  • The Bands the last Waltz took place during a US holiday, what was it  Answer »
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