The Last Waltz (1978)
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A definitive concert documentary captures the legendary rock group the Band during their final performance as a unit.
The story
The Last Waltz is a concert documentary that captures the final performance of the Canadian-American rock group the Band. Filmed at the Winterland Ballroom in San Francisco on Thanksgiving Day in 1976, the film documents the group's farewell concert appearance. The production features the Band joined by more than a dozen special guests, including Bob Dylan and Eric Clapton. The film includes concert performances, studio-shot song renditions, and interviews with the band members as they reflect on their history and the end of their era on the road.
Full plot (contains spoilers)
The film opens with a title card and then follows the concert chronologically, beginning with a performance of "Don't Do It" before flashing back to the start of the show. The Band performs a set of hit songs supported by a large horn section, interspersed with studio segments and interviews where members discuss their history and the decision to stop touring. The concert features a rotating cast of guests including Muddy Waters, Neil Young, and Joni Mitchell. A significant portion of the film involves the interplay between the band and their guests, culminating in a final performance of "I Shall Be Released" featuring Bob Dylan. The film also includes studio-shot performances with Emmylou Harris and the Staple Singers, and a final encore of "Don't Do It".
- First release year
- 1978
- Runtime (minutes)
- 116
- Production countries
- United States
- Original languages
- English
- Directors
- Martin Scorsese
- Cast and characters
- Rick Danko · Rick Danko; Levon Helm · Levon Helm; Garth Hudson · Garth Hudson; Richard Manuel · Richard Manuel; Robbie Robertson · Robbie Robertson; Eric Clapton · Eric Clapton; Neil Diamond · Neil Diamond; Bob Dylan · Bob Dylan; Emmylou Harris · Emmylou Harris; Joni Mitchell · Joni Mitchell; Van Morrison · Van Morrison; Ringo Starr · Ringo Starr
- Genres
- documentary; concert film
- Themes
- End of an era; Musical legacy
- Tone and mood
- Revelatory; Electrifying
- Premise and plot tags
- Rock; Concert Film; Documentary
- Reception
- The film is hailed as one of the greatest documentary concert films ever made, with critics praising it as a revelatory and electrifying view of the band.
- Reported review scores
- Rotten Tomatoes · score: 98% · scale: percentage · review count: 50
- Awards and nominations
- National Film Registry · Preservation · 2019 · Selected
Film metadata comes from the open sources listed in Credits & Contact. Catalogue details may be incomplete.
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