“The Last Waltz” Review

(From Left) Rick Danko, Bob Dylan and Robbie Robertson perform in “The Last Waltz,” a concert film centered on the final concert of The Band.

It’s no secret that I am an immense fan of classic rock music. Besides having films with amazing soundtracks, like “American Graffiti,” “Dazed and Confused” and “Almost Famous,” on my Top 100 List, I also have an immense collection of vinyl records and play a bit of guitar in my spare time. As such, I am an admirer of the musical process and the sheer effort it takes to get a group, or groups, together to perform live. And, without a doubt, the best film that showcases my profound love for classic rock is “The Last Waltz.”

Directed by Martin Scorsese, the 1978 concert film centers on The Band (composed of organist Garth Hudson, keyboardist Richard Manuel, drummer Levon Helm, bassist Rick Danko and guitarist Robbie Robertson) and the titular concert. After 16 years together and the stress of the road, the group amicably split up but not before hosting one last hurrah. On Thanksgiving Day, 1976, the group performed at the Winterland Ballroom in San Francisco alongside many of their friends in the industry resulting in one of the greatest concerts of all time.

As demonstrated by their self-explanatory name, The Band wasn’t flashy or known for outrageous behavior. But they had a profound gift for music, creating some of the greatest songs of the 1960s and 70s including “The Weight,” “Up on Cripple Creek” and “It Makes No Difference.” That love for music shines through this film with The Band not only amazing the audience with their music as well as the talent of all the guest performers.

The set list is such a diverse group of legendary stars with most genres at the time being represented including country (Ronnie Hawkins and EmmyLou Harris), gospel (The Staples), folk (Neil Young, Neil Diamond and Joni Mitchell), blues (Muddy Waters, Paul Butterfield and Dr. John) and rock (Eric Clapton, Ringo Starr, Van Morrison, Ronnie Wood and Bob Dylan). No matter what genre of music you love, it’s not hard to find an artist that you’ll gravitate to. As for me, the best guest performances in the film include Neil Young’s “Helpless,” Joni Mitchell’s “Coyote” and a rousing performance of “Mannish Boy” from blues legend Muddy Waters.

Neil Young (Left) and Robbie Robertson embrace before performing “Helpless.”

But The Band always takes center stage and their showmanship and musical prowess being fantastic. “The Last Waltz” has the energy of a live show and a great one at that. When Eric Clapton performed “Further on up the Road,” his strap broke during the instrumental intro but Robbie Robertson took over seamlessly. 

The chemistry all of these groups have with The Band is obvious and, while it’s fantastic to see all of them as they individually perform songs, seeing so many of the greatest musicians of all time on stage together to perform “I Shall Be Released” is awe-inspiring. 

The film has all the elegance that a title like “The Last Waltz” would suggest. The set design is intricate, there’s a large horn section backing the musicians and Robbie Robertson composed a beautiful instrumental theme that begins and concludes the film. Even the 5,000 concertgoers were treated to a Thanksgiving turkey dinner and ballroom dancing before the concert began.​​ It’s not your typical rock film, but it’s not a typical concert.

Scorsese’s direction is amazing as he combines the cinema verite of the concert while also being interactive with The Band during interviews. Scorsese was famously addicted to cocaine during this time and was juggling the making of “The Last Waltz” with his narrative film “New York, New York” and a shorter documentary film “American Boy: A Profile of Steven Price.” But despite his strenuous life and his health problems, Scorsese gave this film his all and created a film that has had a profound impact on concert films that followed. 

Martin Scorsese’s direction of “The Last Waltz” has influenced many documentaries centered on musicians and live performance.

Nearly every music documentary made since 1978 has shown influence from “The Last Waltz” including Beyonce’s “Homecoming,” Bruce Springsteen’s “Letter to You” and Billie Eilish’s “The World’s A Little Blurry.,” The film is not just about the music. Sprinkled throughout the film are interviews shot by Scorsese which show a behind-the-scenes look at The Band’s life on the road. 

It’s not only intimate but also showcases just how brutal life on the road can be. From not having enough money to feeling like the company of others has limited The Band’s musical growth, “it’s a goddamn impossible way of life” to quote Robbie Robertson. But in these interviews, there’s no animosity between the members. They all simply look weary from all those years performing for crowds and never sleeping in the same bed twice in a row.

Since there is such a shortage of Thanksgiving films, compared to those for Halloween and Christmas, film lovers must find more unusual films that bring out the spirit of the holiday. “The Last Waltz” is not only a Thanksgiving film because it was shot on that day but also embraces the holiday’s meaning. There is a somber tone because The Band is splitting up but they are incredibly thankful for all the memories and music they made. 

“The Last Waltz” is a profoundly beautiful musical experience that must be experienced, especially around this time of year. But, if you decide to watch it, take the film’s advice, it must be played LOUD!