The Last Waltz (1978)

98% of critics liked it
(43 reviews)
92% of users liked it
(12,680 ratings)

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 bittersweet look back at an era that was just beginning to fade. As Scorsese guides the group through… More 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 bittersweet 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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Rating, Runtime: PG, 1 hr. 57 min.
Directed By: Martin Scorsese
Genres: Musical & Performing Arts, Documentary

In Theaters: Apr 12, 2002 Limited
On DVD: May 7, 2002
Studio: MGM

Critic Reviews

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.
Michael Wilmington, Chicago Tribune
The greatest rock concert movie ever made -- and maybe the best rock movie, period.
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.
Terry Lawson, Detroit Free Press
This is one of the great movie experiences.
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.
Richard Harrington, Washington Post
Still sounds powerful, vibrant, imaginative and adventurous.
Philip French, Observer [UK]
This 1978 labour of love, one of the most immaculately filmed rock concerts, preserves for posterity the final appearance of the Band, the great group led by Robbie Robertson that had been on the road (often with Bob Dylan) for 16 years.
Peter Bradshaw, Guardian [UK]
A heady time capsule.
, Film4
An essential document of American music at its unbeatable best.
Rob Gonsalves, eFilmCritic.com
The filmmaking is superbly controlled yet spontaneously alive.
Rob Nelson, City Pages, Minneapolis/St. Paul
With all the powder that's said to have been tooted at the Band's 1976 "farewell" show, filmed by Martin Scorsese in his goodfella-against-the-helicopters period, you could make a line from Oak Street Cinema all the way to the mayor's office.
James Plath, Movie Metropolis
It's The Band's private Woodstock, and this Blu-ray release makes it all the more memorable.
Tom Huddleston, Time Out
It's arguably the most beautiful of rock movies, while the musical highlights - 'The Weight' with the Staples Singers, Van Morrison's firebolt 'Caravan', every Levon Helm vocal - still astound.
David Nusair, Reel Film Reviews
Overlong but enjoyable documentary...
Jon Niccum, Lawrence Journal-World
The rock documentary by which all others are measured

Read all 15 critic reviews

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Featured Audience Ratings

Chris W

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… More
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 brought 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.
Graham J

A great document of a great band.
Lady D

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 enjoy… More
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 enjoy 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.
Stephen M

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… More
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 pop (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.
Michael G

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… More
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 songs, 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...
Cindy I

Pretty decent, but I'm not a really a fan of The Band.
Wu C

Great concert doc. Scorsese does it right and scores some great footage.