If you could time-travel to one concert, would it be Woodstock? Nah.
It’d be this night: when Bob Dylan, Joni Mitchell, Neil Young, Muddy Waters, and Van Morrison pack into the Winterland Ballroom for the greatest farewell show in rock history. And, oh, Marty Scorcese is the one to document it!
I rate the “The Last Waltz” a perfect score of 100.
Trailer for “The Last Waltz”
Watch “The Last Waltz”
You can watch “The Last Waltz” for free on YouTube here:
It’s also for free with ads on Tubi and PlutoTV or rent it on Amazon, Apple TV, Fandango et al.
You can find the latest streaming options at https://www.justwatch.com/us/movie/the-band-the-last-waltz
I also found this video which seems to contain the entire show (4 hours and 19 minutes!). It’s in black and white:
Ratings:
- My Rating: 100/100
- IMDB Rating: 8.1/10
- Rotten Tomatoes Ratings: 94/100 (Users); 98/100 (Critics)
Release Date: April 26, 1978
My Review of “The Last Waltz”
The Setup
Martin Scorsese, one of the most celebrated directors of all time (Taxi Driver, Raging Bull, Goodfellas), turns his lens to rock and roll with The Last Waltz, a 117-minute concert documentary capturing The Band’s farewell performance on Thanksgiving Day, November 25, 1976.
The setting: San Francisco’s Winterland Ballroom—the very first venue The Band ever played.
More than just a concert film, it’s a love letter to one of the most influential rock groups of the ‘60s and ‘70s.
The night features 14 legendary guests, including Bob Dylan, Neil Young, Joni Mitchell, Van Morrison, Eric Clapton, and Muddy Waters.
Warner Bros. bankrolled the film for over $1 million, but only after a dramatic back-and-forth involving Bob Dylan’s participation (more on that below).
Director’s Note: Scorcese as Documentary Filmmaker
A note on Scorcese as a documentary director. He’s prolific.
He directed 2 docs before “The Last Waltz” (“Italianamerican” and “American Boy: A Profile of Steven Prince”) and 12 docs after it (the most famous being “A Personal Journey with Martin Scorsese Through American Movies”, “No Direction Home: Bob Dylan”, “Shine a Light” (Rolling Stones); “Public Speaking” (Fran Lebowitz); “George Harrison: Living in the Material World”, “Rolling Thunder Revue: A Bob Dylan Story by Martin Scorsese” and “Pretend It’s a City” (Fran Lebowiz).
You Can’t Make This Sh*t Up
- Bob Dylan initially refused to be filmed, fearing it would overshadow his own project, Renaldo and Clara. Bill Graham had to intervene and, after frantic negotiations, Dylan agreed—on the condition that The Last Waltz wouldn’t be released until Renaldo and Clara premiered. At one point, Dylan’s friend Lou Kemp tried to stop filming mid-performance, to which Bill Graham allegedly responded, “Get out of here, or I’ll kill you.”
- Garth Hudson only joined The Band on one condition: each member had to pay him $10 a week for music lessons. This way, he could tell his parents he was a music teacher rather than a rock-and-roll musician.
- Robbie Robertson was recruited into Ronnie Hawkins’ band in the early ‘60s with the infamous promise: “Son, you won’t make much money, but you’ll get more pussy than Frank Sinatra.”
More Highlights from the Doc
- The setlist included 43 songs—a mix of The Band’s classics and covers, plus all-star collaborations. Some of the most iconic moments:
- Muddy Waters’ electrifying Mannish Boy—which nearly wasn’t filmed because a cameraman was switching reels. Scorsese caught it just in time.
Jonie Mitchell’s “Coyote” is one of my favorite live performances of all time:
Neil Young’s Helpless, featuring Joni Mitchell harmonizing off-stage:
“It Makes No Difference” is not as popular as most the other songs here but Rick Danio’s heartfelt vocals and Garth Huddson’s soulful sax make this one of my favorite songs from the doc:
Eric Clapton’s Further On Up the Road, where he loses his guitar strap mid-solo. Robbie Robertson seamlessly picks up the solo without missing a beat:
The all-star I Shall Be Released finale with everyone on stage—one of the most iconic moments in rock history:
Cameos
The guest lineup is ridiculous:
- Bob Dylan
- Eric Clapton
- Neil Young (who allegedly had to have a “cocaine booger” removed from the film in post-production)
- Joni Mitchell
- Van Morrison
- Muddy Waters
- Neil Diamond (controversial choice—Robbie Robertson insisted, but Levon Helm wasn’t thrilled)
- Ringo Starr
- Ronnie Wood
- Dr. John
- Emmylou Harris
- Paul Butterfield
- Ronnie Hawkins
Lesser-Known Details from the Doc
- The Band and their guests were served a full Thanksgiving dinner before the concert—complete with turkey, stuffing, and ballroom chandeliers.
- Warner Bros. only agreed to fund the film if Bob Dylan participated.
- Scorsese shot the film on 35mm with seven cameras, meticulously choreographing every angle to create a more cinematic experience.
- The Band’s history is woven in through interview segments, with Robertson and Helm detailing their rise from backing Ronnie Hawkins to becoming rock legends.
- Levon Helm later criticized the film, arguing that it made Robertson seem like the band’s leader when, in Helm’s view, they were equals.
Wrap Up
“The Last Waltz” is a time capsule of an era.
It captures The Band at their peak, but also signals the end of an era for ‘70s rock.
Scorsese’s direction makes it one of the most visually and emotionally compelling music documentaries ever made.
No wonder Rolling Stone ranked it the #2 greatest rock doc of all time, second only to “Don’t Look Back” by D.A. Pennebaker.
Thanks for reading!
Rob Kelly, Chief Maniac, Daily Doc