Last Waltz, The (UK)

7 / 10
2 votes cast
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More than just a concert film
Certificate: U
Running Time: 112 mins
Retail Price: £19.99
Release Date:
Content Type: Movie

Synopsis:
On Thanksgiving Day, 1976, five thousand cheering fans gathered for the historic farewell concert of The Band. In the words of lead guitarist Robbie Robertson, "We wanted it to be a celebration." And so it was, and is, in Martin Scorsese`s lovingly filmed record of the event. The Last Waltz is more than just a concert film. Scorsese intercuts probing, humorous interviews with the group. What emerges is a unique insider`s view into the golden age of rock. Superstars Neil Diamond, Joni Mitchell, Muddy Waters, and virtuoso guitarist Eric Clapton join The Band onstage, climaxing with the return of one-time collaborator Bob Dylan, plus ex-Beatle Ringo Starr for `I Shall Be Released`. Also features performances from Neil Young, Emmylou Harris, Van Morrison, The Staples, Dr. John, Muddy Waters, Paul Butterfield, and Ron Wood.

Special Features:
Featurette: `Revisiting The Last Waltz`
Archival outtakes jam 2
Original theatrical trailer
TV spot
Photo gallery
Collectable booklet
Audio commentary: the filmmaker and the musician
Audio commentary: The Band and others

Video Tracks:
Widescreen Anamorphic 1.78:1

Subtitle Tracks:
French
CC: German
Italian
Swedish
English
Spanish
CC: English
Dutch
Danish
Norwegian

Directed By:
Martin Scorsese

Starring:
Emmylou Harris
Lawrence Ferlinghetti
Bob Dylan
Dr. John
Neil Diamond
Rick Danko
Eric Clapton
Paul Butterfield

Soundtrack By:
Neil Diamond

Director of Photography:
Michael W. Watkins
Vilmos Zsigmond
Michael Chapman

Production Designer:
Boris Leven

Producer:
Steven Prince
L.A. Johnson
Joel Chernoff
Robbie Robertson
Frank Marshall

Executive Producer:
Jonathan T. Taplin

Distributor:
Metro Goldwyn Mayer

Your Opinions and Comments

10 / 10

I am not going to review the quality of the music, everybody (except for Jimmy McDonough, Neil Young`s biographer) already agrees that it`s a wonderful collections of songs. The picture and sound quality are exceptional in comparison to most any dvd of a film from the era.
The special features are quite limited however. There is a small featurette comprised of interviews with Robertson and Scorcese, but it is one of the rare, interesting featurettes on dvd special features. Some parts of the audio commentary is obviously comprised of bits of old interviews from Scorcese. It would have been nice to hear him comment on the entire production and then have the musicians and artists commentary as a second commentary track.

posted by Ziggy Forever on 16/1/2003 18:13