DVD Movie Rating for: The Last Waltz

Rating for The Last Waltz: 3 out of 5 stars

Movie Plot of: The Last Waltz

Martin Scorsese chronicles a legendary night in rock history, as an unparalled lineup of rock superstars--including Bob Dylan, Eric Clapton, Neil Young, Joni Mitchell and Van Morrison-- take the stage for "The Band's" 1978 final concert

DVD Production Details of: The Last Waltz

Director: Martin Scorsese
Producer: Robbie Robertson

Format: Color, Widescreen, Dolby

Aspect Ratio(s): 1.85:1

Audio Encoding: Dolby Digital 5.1, Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo

Studio: MGM

DVD Release Date: May 7, 2002

Run Time: 117

DVD Extra Bonus Features

Available subtitles: English, Spanish, French
Available Audio Tracks: English (Dolby Digital 5.1), English (Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo)
Commentary by Robbie Robertson and Martin Scorsese
New 5.1 audio remix and new transfer
Featurette: "Revisiting The Last Waltz"
Archival outtakes: Jam 2
Photo gallery
8-page booklet written by Robbie Robertson

Cast of the movie: The Last Waltz

Bands and performers on the Last Waltz

• Paul Butterfield
• Eric Clapton
• Rick Danko
• Neil Diamond
• Dr. John
• Bob Dylan
• Lawrence Ferlinghetti
• Emmylou Harris
• Ronnie Hawkins
• Levon Helm
• Garth Hudson
• Howard Johnson
• Richard Manuel
• Michael McClure
• Joni Mitchell
• Van Morrison
• Pinetop Perkins plays piano with Muddy Waters
• Robbie Robertson
• Martin Scorsese
• Roebuck 'Pops' Staples
• Ringo Starr
• Muddy Waters
• Ron Wood
• Neil Young
• Bill Graham at edge of stage

Songs performed on the Last Waltz including the guest performers

• "Don't Do It"
• "Up on Cripple Creek"
• "The Shape I'm In"
• "Who Do You Love" (Ronnie Hawkins)
• "It Makes No Difference"
• "Such a Night" (Dr. John)
• "Helpless" (Neil Young)
• "Stagefright"
• "The Weight" (The Staples)
• "The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down"
• "Dry Your Eyes" (Neil Diamond)
• "Coyote" (Joni Mitchell)
• "Mystery Train" (Paul Butterfield)
• "Mannish Boy" (Muddy Waters)
• "Further on up the Road" (Eric Clapton)
• "Sip the Wine"
• "Evangeline" (Emmylou Harris)
• "Genetic Method"
• "Ophelia"
• "Caravan" (Van Morrison)
• "Forever Young" (Bob Dylan)
• "Baby Let Me Follow You Down" (Bob Dylan)
• "I Shall Be Released" ("Everybody" & Ringo Starr & Ron Wood)
• "Theme from The Last Waltz"

Photo Gallery of the movie: The Last Waltz

Click on one of the thumbnails to see the full size high quality photos, posters and wallpapers of The Last Waltz

Reviews of the movie: The Last Waltz

The Band became known to a wider audience outside the "chitlin circuit" down South when a little folk singer named Bob Dylan decided to electrify his sound. Though the reception was not always friendly, they persevered and eventually put out their first album, Music From Big Pink in 1968. Members Rick Danko, Levon Helm (Coal Miner's Daughter, The Right Stuff), Garth Hudson, Richard Manuel, and Robbie Robertson (composer for The Color of Money and Any Given Sunday), began playing for huge crowds, culminating in 600,000 people at Watkin's Glen.

When the decision was made in 1976 to bring The Band to a close (though it has continued to exist in various forms since that time), it was decided to play their final gig at Bill Graham's Winterland in San Francisco, where they had performed their first show as The Band in 1969. To make this more than your average farewell performance, they called upon mentors, friends, and musical influences to join them on stage during a marathon concert that lasted from about 9:00PM until nearly 2:30AM.

Ronnie Hawkins and Bob Dylan were obvious choices, having guided the members of The Band in their early years, but The Band also called upon friend Eric Clapton for his British blues, neighbor Van Morrison for his soulful singing, Chicago blues representatives Muddy Waters and Paul Butterfield, folk musicians Neil Young and Joni Mitchell, New Orleans sound from Dr. John, Neil Diamond, Beatle Ringo Starr, Ron Wood (of the Rolling Stones), and Stephen Stills (of Crosby, Stills and Nash) for their contributions as well. Now do you see why it was a marathon that has produced its own four-CD set?

With the array of talent lined up, the feeling that this event should be documented led Robbie Robertson to meet with Martin Scorsese (Mean Streets, Raging Bull, Casino), who was in the middle of filming New York, New York at the time. As a fan of The Band's music and with his experience as assistant director of Woodstock, Martin Scorsese decided to make The Last Waltz over a long Thanksgiving weekend break in the hairy production schedule of New York, New York.

Martin Scorsese attacked his new project with enthusiasm, pulling in cinematographer pals Michael Chapman (The Last Detail, Taxi Driver, The Fugitive), Vilmos Zsigmond (Deliverance, Close Encounters of the Third Kind, The Two Jakes), and László Kovács (Easy Rider, Five Easy Pieces, Ghostbusters) as well as production designer Boris Leven (West Side Story, The Sound Of Music, Fletch). Though criticized at the time as an overblown, pretentious production, by modern standards The Last Waltz hardly seems overdone in light of the lavish overproduction of modern music videos and films.

The criticism of The Last Waltz as being overdone is curious. For all of the production, organization, and attention to detail that went into The Last Waltz, this is a concert film concerned primarily with the artists and their music, and not slick production values. These are rough-hewn musicians, concerned less with their appearance than their art, for what else explains Bob Dylan's white pimp hat, among the many odd fashion choices and un-coiffed hair. (However, a serene Joni Mitchell and a fetching Emmylou Harris are exceptions to this rule.) All of the performers are having a great time, which shows in the passion of their performances, though Neil Young in particular seems to have indulged in backstage pharmaceuticals to excess. A cool, heartfelt Joni Mitchell (singing "Coyote"), The Band's rendition of "The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down," and Dr. John's "Such a Night" are highlights of mine, but none can compare with the heart-stopping, blues dripping from every pore, command performance of "Mannish Boy" by Muddy Waters.

Although Martin Scorsese briefly considered shooting The Last Waltz as simply an archival film in 16mm, he wisely made the move to 35mm and thus we have a beautiful concert film brought to disc in anamorphic video. Though filmed over 25 years ago, the quality of the picture is quite good with a lush, theatrical look that is decently crisp and almost totally clean. The only significant drawback is film grain that becomes conspicuous at times.

The new 5.1 mix is an improvement over the original remastered stereo surround track, but don't expect it to be on par with modern concert films. The musicians are nicely spread out over the front soundstage, with their instruments and voices heard distinctly and beautifully. The subwoofer plays a low-key but useful supporting role and the rear surrounds fill in some of the concert but primarily inject the buzz of the audience. The interview segments are far quieter than the concert, so you may find yourself boosting and lowering your volume throughout The Last Waltz.

The extra content is a decent package. The "Filmmaker and the Musician" commentary between director Martin Scorsese and Band member/producer Robbie Robertson is a fairly standard track with insight, production details, anecdotes, and the like. "The Band and Others" track has a "strong language" warning (though I don't think it hardly gets to R-rated territory), and in a nice touch it offers the option of identifying text for the numerous participants. A journalist, a fan/writer, The Band's tour manager, an associate producer, Band members, The Last Waltz guests, and others make up the army of contributors. It is disappointing only in that I expected more of an insight into what really happened behind The Last Waltz, given the resentment of Robbie Robertson's "rock-god" complex, Levon Helm's strong desire not to break up The Band, drug usage behind the scenes, and other matters. This track is a lot tamer than I would have guessed from my brief research for this review.

The archival outtake "Jam 2" is a 12-minute segment of informal jamming amongst various participants that took place late in the marathon concert, which was remixed into 5.1 but is strangely presented in full frame. The featurette is a twenty-two minute glimpse into the band and the genesis of The Last Waltz, primarily though the participation of Robbie Robertson and Martin Scorsese. Completing the content is a well documented photo gallery, the original theatrical trailer and a TV spot for The Last Waltz, and an eight page booklet written by Robbie Robertson.