The Last Waltz

Director: Martin Scorsese

Overview

Martin Scorsese's legendary concert film The Last Waltz is given the DVD treatment it richly deserves on this disc from MGM/UA. The widescreen anamorphic transfer preserves the original theatrical aspect ratio of 1.85:1. This film has never looked so good on home video. The real highlight is the Dolby Digital 5.1 soundtrack. Even those familiar with this film's amazing music will be surprised by the strength and clarity of the remastered sound. A Dolby Digital Surround track is available as well. English, French, and Spanish subtitles are accessible. Supplemental materials include a commentary track recorded by director Scorsese and Robbie Robertson; a second commentary track featuring Levon Helm and other musicians who performed that night as well as rock historians and journalists who provide a history for the band and the songs they perform; a featurette that does a fabulous job of explaining how the film came together and how the shoot evolved from a simple 16 mm project into a full-blown 35 mm epic; and an essay written by Robertson. Finally, this movie, arguably the greatest concert film ever made, is available in a package that is the equal of its competition for that title, Gimme Shelter and Stop Making Sense.

Product Details

Release Date:	05/07/2002
UPC:	0027616875754
Original Release:	1978
Rating:	PG
Source:	Mgm (Video & Dvd)
Region Code:	1
Presentation:	[Wide Screen]
Sound:	[stereo, Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround]
Time:	1:57:00
Sales rank:	1,401

Special Features

New 5.1 digital audio track; 2 audio commentaries with the director and musicians; Rare, unseen footage; Behind-the-scenes featurette; Collectible 8-page booklet written by Robbie Robertson

Cast & Crew

Performance Credits

Bob Dylan	Himself
Joni Mitchell	Herself
Neil Diamond	Himself
Emmylou Harris	Herself
Van Morrison	Himself
Eric Clapton	Himself
Ringo Starr	Himself
Neil Young	Himself
Ronnie Wood	Himself
Muddy Waters	Himself
Staple Singers	Themselves
Dr. John	Himself
Ronnie Hawkins	Himself
Paul Butterfield	Himself
Band	Themselves
Robbie Robertson	Actor
Rick Danko	Actor
Levon Helm	Actor
Garth Hudson	Actor
Richard Manuel	Actor
Roebuck "Pops" Staples	Himself

Technical Credits

Martin Scorsese	Director
Bobby Byrne	Cinematographer
Michael Chapman	Cinematographer
Jerry Grandey	Asst. Director
Laszlo Kovacs	Cinematographer
Boris Leven	Production Designer
Frank Marshall	Producer
Steve Maslow	Sound/Sound Designer
Anthony Mondello	Set Decoration/Design
David Myers	Cinematographer
Hiro Narita	Cinematographer
Steven Prince	Associate Producer
James Quinn	Asst. Director
Robbie Robertson	Producer
Jonathan Taplin	Executive Producer
John Toll	Camera Operator
Michael W. Watkins	Cinematographer
Vilmos Zsigmond	Cinematographer

Scene Index

Side #1 --
1. Cutthroat/Don't Do It
2. Theme From The Last Waltz/Main Title
3. A Celebration
4. Up on Cripple Creek
5. The Skylight Lounge/The Shape I'm In
6. Who Do You Love, Ronnie Hawkins
7. Canadian Overcoats/It Makes No Difference
8. Introduction to The Canterbury Tales, Michael McClure
9. Such a Night, Dr. John
10. Helpless, Neil Young
11. Stagefright
12. A Name for the Band
13. The Weight, The Band & The Staples
14. The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down
15. An Adult Portion
16. Dry Your Eyes, Neil Diamond
17. Women on the Road
18. Coyote, Joni Mitchell
19. Sonny Boy Williamson
20. Mystery Train, Paul Butterfield
21. Rock 'n' Roll Melting Pot
22. Mannish Boy, Muddy Waters
23. Further on up the Road, Eric Clapton
24. Tour of Shangri-La/Sip the Wine, Rick Danko
25. Evangeline, The Band & Emmylou Harris
26. Genetic Method, Garth Hudson/The Music Teacher
27. Ophelia
28. Traveling Tent Shows
29. Caravan, Van Morrison
30. Loud Prayer, Lawrence Ferlinghetti
31. Forever Young, Bob Dylan
32. Baby Let Me Follow You Down, Bob Dylan
33. I Shall Be Released, Everybody & Ringo Starr & Ronnie Wood
34. Theme From The Last Waltz/End Credits

Menu

Side #1 --
   Play Movie
   Scene Selections
   Special Features
      Audio Commentaries
         The Filmmaker and the Musician: On
         The Filmmaker and the Musician: Off
         The Band and Others
            Play Commentary: On
            Play Commentary: Off
            With Identifying Text: On
            With Identifying Text: Off
      Archival Outtakes Jam 2
         Choose Audio: 2.0 Stereo
         Choose Audio: 5.1 Surround
      Featurette: Revisiting The Last Waltz
      Photo Gallery
         The Concert
         The Studio Shoots
         The NYC Premiere
         Posters & Lobby Cards
      Trailers
         Original Theatrical Trailer
         TV Spot
   Languages
      Spoken Languages: English 5.1 Surround
      Spoken Langauges: English 2.0 Stereo
      Subtitles: English
      Subtitles: Français
      Subtitles: Español
      Subtitles: None

Editorial Reviews

Whether you subscribe to notion that The Last Waltz really was the last waltz -- a matches-flaming final encore for the American rock of the ‘60s -- or a farewell concert overfreighted by some fans with cultural import, there's no escaping its sheer brilliance as a film. Restored and sonically enhanced for its 25th anniversary and DVD debut, The Last Waltz is a searing musical party with soaring ambitions that rarely disappoints. At the time, director Martin Scorsese was in the middle of filming New York, New York, the much-anticipated follow-up to his one-two punch of Taxi Driver and Mean Streets. This groundbreaking concert film-cum-documentary afforded Scorsese -- who had served as an editor on Michael Wadleigh’s Woodstock -- another chance to apply his craft to nonfiction; and together with Band frontman Robbie Robertson he crafted a film of mythic proportions. The premise was simple: The Band -- roots rockers long before roots rock became a Grammy-graced movement (see Oh Brother, Where Art Thou? and its concert spinoff, Down from the Mountain) -- paid homage to significant influences and invited like-minded friends to join in. One by one, the group is joined by Bob Dylan, Eric Clapton, Joni Mitchell, Muddy Waters, Dr. John, Van Morrison, Neil Diamond, and Neil Young. A satisfying, earthy vibe simmers throughout the evening, and the re-recorded sound makes everything percolate -- it's like comparing Mr. Coffee to Starbucks. The Last Waltz Special Edition is a wonderland of special features, including previously unseen jam footage, audio commentary with Scorsese and Robertson, and a new featurette, "Revisiting The Last Waltz." It’s one of the year's best DVDs, and we're especially glad MGM pulled this one out of the time capsule and dusted it off.

Barnes & Noble - Greg Fagan

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.

All Movie Guide - Perry Seibert

[Gathers] so much talent into one theater that the stage buckles and the subject drops out of sight.

Village Voice

Still sounds powerful, vibrant, imaginative and adventurous.

Washington Post - Richard Harrington

A revealing document of a time.

Chicago Sun-Times - Roger Ebert

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