The Last Waltz (DVD, 2002, Special Edition)

Truly a rock and roll masterpiece. Neil Young just happened to stop by to sing with his friends in "The Band". Calling it "One of the great pleasures of my life." The Band was the backup to Bob Dylan when he went from acoustic to electric guitar. THE LAST WALTZ has many memorable scenes and interesting dialogue with history into the beginnings of Rock and Roll. The music is out of this world! A must for any rock and roll afficianado.

Thanksgiving, 1976, San Francisco's Winterland: the Band performs its last concert after 16 years on the road. Some numbers they do alone, some songs include guest artists from Ronnie Hawkins (their first boss, when they were the Hawks) to Bob Dylan (their last, when as his backup and as a solo group, they came into their own). Scorsese's camera explores the interactions onstage in the making of music. Offstage, he interviews the Band's five members, focusing on the nature of life on the road. The friendships, the harmonies, the hijinks, and the wear and tear add up to a last waltz.

Performers: Rick Danko, Levon Helm, Garth Hudson, Richard Manuel, Robbie Robertson, Neil Young, Joni Mitchell, Bob Dylan, Neil Diamond, Dr. John, Van Morrison, Ronnie Hawkins plus more!!!
Directors: Martin Scorsese
Format: Anamorphic, Color, Dolby, Special Edition, Subtitled, Widescreen, NTSC
Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1
Number of discs: 1
Studio: MGM
DVD Release Date: May 7, 2002
Run Time: 117 minutes
DVD Features:
Available Subtitles: English, Spanish, French
Available Audio Tracks: English (Dolby Digital 5.1), English (Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo)
Commentary by: Robbie Robertson and Martin Scorsese
New 5.1 audio remix and new transfer
Featurette: "Revisiting The Last Waltz"
Archival outtakes: Jam 2
Photo gallery

This was the final performance of "The Band" in 1976, but the DVD is the 25th Anniversary, so the music has been restored. The master tapes were mixed and this is now in stereo and 5.1 surround sound. It gives a feeling of being "right there". This concert took place on Thanksgiving Day at Winterland in San Francisco. The music is fantastic and performers were Eric Clapton, Neil Young, Joni Mitchell, Van Morrison, Neil Diamond, Emmylou Harris, Muddy Waters, The Staples, Ringo Starr, Ron Wood, Dr. John, Paul Butterfield, Ronnie Hawkins, and The Band, whose members were Rick Danko, Ldvon Helm, Garth Hudson, Richard Manuel, and Robbie Robertson. Can you ask for anymore???? Aahh, the Good Old Days.

This movie/concert was one of the best rock-n-roll events ever made available. As a long-time activist in Northern California, I was fortunate enough to spend much time in San Francisco during the 60's and 70's. It was a truly a "treat" to frequent Golden Gate Park's Hippy Hill and Kezar Stadium (remember the night before Altamont) , Haight Ashbury's Panhandle, Avalon, Fillmore, Matrix, California Hall, Family Dog on the Great Highway, and Winterland concerts.
Although it is difficult to pick a "best" concert, this was a classic event. The Band was outrageous, Bob Dylan energizng, Eric Clapton wonderful, Joan Baez amazing, Van Morrison great, Muddy Waters breath-taking, etc. And, let's not forget the audience-- all the "freaks" that could make it a wonderful time.
Although the nirvana of the 60's continues to exist in small west coast towns throughout Northern California and Oregon), it was an amazing period heightened by the dreams and actions of those "wonderful hippies" many of whom frequented the concerts of Quicksilver (with the magic of John Cippolina onlead guitar, Gary Duncan on rythem, David Frieberg on vocals, and Greg Elmore on the drums, the Dead (with all of the Band), Big Brother and the Holding Company with the incomparable Janis Joplin, the Airplane (needless to say), Moby Grape, Van Morrison, the Charlatans, It's a Beautiful Day, Sanatana, the Congress of Wonders, and the list goes on and on!!
Although we must not forget the actions to help move the struggle for equality and freedom towards a greater reality, attempting to wrest control from those evil capitalists and turn it over to "peace, love, and flowers" and equality for the people, our naivete of the true power of capitalism and the military industrial complex was amazing.
Fortunately, we and countless others of similar "mind and body" throughout the US, helped to bring significant progressive change to the system. Unforunately, the system lives on set to destroy similar actions for progressive change.
In the words of Martin Luther King, "WE SHALL OVERCOME."
As we continue to work for "peace, love, and flowers" for the people, our world is and will continue to be improved by the music (typified in "The Last Waltz") of the 60's and 70's.

paul butterfield, bob dylan, joni mitchell, van morrison, ron wood, neil diamond, eric clapton, neil young, emmylou harris, muddy waters, the staples, ringo starr, dr. john, and ronnie hawkins....need i say more? these performers along with "the band" just make it really good. all material is done very well. monte kennedy

The Last Waltz chronicles The Band during their last performance with their original lineup. They are helped along the way by such artists as Eric Clapton, Neil Young, Van Morrison, and Bob Dylan. It is shot with the care and skill that goes into a great motion picture by Martin Scorcese. The performances are great throughout and the songs grow on you. If you take the time to watch this film at least three times you will understand why The Band was one of the greatest (and most underrated) rock bands ever.