Last Waltz

UPC: 027616150240

Studio: MGM

MPAA Rating: PG   Contains:[Adult Language]

Summary: 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

Category: Music [nf]

Features: ccSeamless menu navigation
Director's commentary with Martin Scorsese
Revisiting The Last Waltz

Last Waltz

Format: Blu-ray

Release Date: 07/25/2006

Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1 Theatre Wide-Screen

Audio: DD5.1 Dolby Digital 5.1

Runtime: 117 Minutes

Sides: 1

Number of Discs: 1

Language(s) English

Subtitles: English,French,Spanish,Portuguese

Region: Blu-ray region A (North America, Central America, South America, Japan, Taiwan, North Korea, South Korea, Hong Kong, Southeast Asia)

Perry Seibert

Scorsese begins his movie with the last song the Band performed that day because he is establishing that the subject of The Last Waltz is not primarily the Band or its members, but the songs themselves. By giving the emotional payoff for the players right at the top of the film, Scorsese allows the audience to concentrate on the music that fills the rest of the film. Robbie Robertson, Levon Helm, Rick Danko, Richard Manuel, and Garth Hudson each have memorable moments in front of the camera during Scorsese's informal interviews, but what emerges is less a document of a band breaking up than a tribute to the glorious music these men are capable of playing. The key to the film can be found in a short moment about 45 minutes into the film -- a backstage performance by Manuel (harmonica), Danko (fiddle and vocal), and Robertson (guitar and vocal) of the standard "Old Time Religion." As Danko and Robertson's voices intertwine, the guitar keeps the rhythm, and the fiddle makes a glorious sound. Yes, the Band certainly investigated American roots music like "Old Time Religion," but in this context the song takes on a broader meaning -- the religion is music. In this intimate performance Scorsese's camera illustrates both the passion the performers have for their religion, as well as the emotion the director himself has for it. The rest of the film's performances are dedicated to the Band performing for others, but this moment gives the audience a glimpse of these talented men in the equivalent of prayer. Scorsese's restless camera is a good match for the music. The Band often traded lead vocal duties within songs. Note how the camera movement during "The Weight" is both kinetic and precise, finding Mavis Staples, Rick Danko, and Pops Staples just as they begin their respective verses. An impressive marriage of visuals and sound, The Last Waltz is a glorious document of our recent musical past. ~ Perry Seibert, Rovi

Cast and Crew: Richard Manuel  Actor 
Robbie Robertson  Actor 
Levon Helm  Actor 
The Band  Actor 
Roebuck "Pops" Staples  Actor 
Rick Danko  Actor 
Garth Hudson  Actor 
Frank Marshall  Producer 
Robbie Robertson  Producer 
Martin Scorsese  Director 
Jonathan Taplin  Executive Producer 
Bob Dylan  Actor 
Joni Mitchell  Actor 
Neil Diamond  Actor 
Emmylou Harris  Actor 
Van Morrison  Actor 
Neil Young  Actor 
Eric Clapton  Actor 
Ringo Starr  Actor 
Ronnie Wood  Actor 
Muddy Waters  Actor 
The Staple Singers  Actor 
Dr. John  Actor 
Ronnie Hawkins  Actor 
Paul Butterfield  Actor 

Country: USA