Bob Dylan, Emmylou Harris, Eric Clapton

Martin Scorsese chronicles the most legendary night in rock history, as an unparalleled lineup of rock superstars -- including Bob Dylan, Eric Clapton, Neil Young, Joni Mitchell and Van Morrison -- ta...( read more  read more... )ke the stage for "The Band's" 1976 farewell concert.

Flixster Users

92% liked it

3,147 ratings

Critics

97% liked it

38 critics

R, 1 hr. 57 min.

Directed by: Martin Scorsese

Release Date: January 1, 1978

Invite friends to see

DVD Release Date: May 7, 2002

Stats: 920 reviews

Get movie widget Recommend it Add to Favorites

Your Rating



clear rating

Flixster Reviews (920)


  • May 26, 2009
    one of the best music feature lengths out there. loved seeing neil young and have now also been introduced to robbie robertson as a guitarist. it's a bit late these days but i'll have to look out for any of his work. very much enjoyed eric clapton almost axe dueling with him on s...( read more)tage, oh, and can't forget muddy waters performance
  • March 9, 2009
    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 more)oy 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.
  • March 23, 2008
    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 more)op (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.
  • September 3, 2007
    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 more)gs, 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...
  • May 24, 2007
    Really good...didn't know about 'The Band' as much as I thought until I watched this amazing film.
  • November 3, 2009
    The best music movie I've ever seen. The end of the beat generation? Some changes? San Francisco... The last song of the concert "Don't Do It" comes the first song of the movie. It's deep.
  • September 28, 2009
    One of the best Music Documentaries ever made - If not the Best - with a genius of Music Superstars - and not forgetting ''The Band'' ! What a night this must have been for anyone lucky enough to have had the honour to be at this concert!!
  • September 4, 2009
    "Such a Night" thats all you have to say.
  • June 26, 2009
    GREATEST ROCKUMENTARY EVER MADE !
  • June 18, 2009
    This is what you do when your band wants to call it a day. document it and do a farewell show with all your best friends. Classic and this is Canadian.

Critic Reviews


April 19, 2002
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times

A revealing document of a time. full review

View more The Last Waltz reviews at RottenTomatoes.com

Comments


  • RickyxCuiit
    May 30, 2007
    I luvv u guys!! u started rawk n roll!! I luvv u rick danko RIP & Uu 2 richard manuel =) u guuys make my day

    Robbie Robertson i am ur luvver lol



    lots of luvv!!
    <33 Jamiee

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)

Official Trailer

More Like This


Click a thumb to vote on that suggestion, or add your own suggestions.

  • Festival Express
    Festival Express (33%)
  • Down from the Mountain
    Down from the Mountain (0%)
  • Shine a Light
    Shine a Light (60%)
  • Let It Be
    Let It Be (38%)

Theater Showtimes & TV Listings


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 »

Recent News


No recent headlines. Got one?

Most Popular Skin


No skins yet. Interested in creating one?