The Last Waltz (Special Edition)

This started as a concert and became a full celebration of music history. It captures The Band’s historic 1976 farewell performance, joined by an unmatched lineup of rock superstars coming together on one stage. Directed by Martin Scorsese, it is widely regarded as one of the most beautiful and important rock films ever made, turning a live show into something truly cinematic and unforgettable. The performances are powerful, the energy is incredible, and it feels like you are watching a major cultural moment unfold in real time.

One of the first things I notice, that so many people ask when I have introduced this outstanding music movie to them is ...why? Why on earth did " The Band" retire... they don't look road weary or stumbling around bloated with sunken dark eye's carrying 60lb's worth of dead liver tissue. Quite the opposite they look as if 16 years on the road has turned them into rock hard road warrior's at their prime!!! I tell them ... " Well your right! My guess is they wanted to go out like Rocky Marciano, on top & be remembered that way!!!" I also remind them of the pressures & internal conflict that can develop between band members that work so closely together for so long...just look at " The Beatles" & they broke up a lot earlier than 16 years together. Here are 21 reasons to purchase this Music D.V.D. #1: Bobby Charles #2: Dr. John #3: Van Morrison #4: The Staples # 5: Ron Wood #6: Ringo Starr #7: Joni Mitchel #8: Neil Young # 9: Steven Stills # 10: Paul Butterfield # 11: Bob Dylan # 12: Neil Diamond # 13: Emmylou Harris # 14: Ronnie " The Hawk" Hawkins # 15: Eric Clapton # 16 : Muddy Waters & of course the reason all these stars are in this movie " The Band"= # 17: Garth Hudson # 18: Rick Danko # 19: Richard Manuel # 20: Levon Helm # 21: Robbie Robertson. And if that list of musical talent isn't enough to spark your interest then remember that Rolling Stone Magazine rated " The Band" at Number 50 of the Greatest Rock & Roll Bands of all time!!! Chances are if your looking at purchasing " The Last Waltz" you are familiar with " The Band" & their Music. I would like to say I feel as though most of " The Bands" songs captured on this D.V.D. are better than there studio versions! Also this makes a great gift for young people that are interested in Rock & Roll History! I know my son loves it & he is in his early twenty's. As far as Music Movies or Music concerts or events captured on film goes this one ranks right up with " Woodstock" , " The Isle of White" or " Altamont" If not surpassing those show's for the simple fact that this event was captured on 35. mm film with great sound. If you love watching great music performed live at its best this is a must have along with the afore mentioned shows! I know I had to add it to my music movies on D.V.D. collection! Stand out performances on this D.V.D. are everything performed by " The Band" as well as Van Morrison, Neil Diamond, Dr. John, Bob Dylan & Neil Young's face as he gets to play with Bob Dylan... Neil looks like a kid at Christmas!!! I can't leave out Muddy Waters either who starts off playful but finishes very strong, or Ronnie " The Hawk" Hawkins who gives us a Rip Roaring Rebel Yell version of " Who do ya love?"!!! " The Staples" add a whole new level to the song " The Weight" & Levon Helm sings " The Night they Drove Old Dixie Down" like it's the last time he will ever get to sing it again...wait a minute ...IT IS the LAST TIME He will ever sing it with the original line up again!!!

Listening to Martin Scorsese's interview on this DVD, it's no surprise how beautiful The Last Waltz turned out to be. Scorsese had always loved music and used it well in his films, and The Last Waltz should be required viewing for every music video director today. Scorsese can cut maniacally with the best of them (witness Mean Streets and Bringing Out the Dead), but on The Last Waltz, he wisely recedes into the background and lets his subjects speak for themselves. And the subject is music -- lots of it, some of the best ever recorded, and the film also catches the musicians responsible at the height of their powers. I wasn't even that big of a fan of The Band, but this film changed me -- and I can't say any other visual work has ever achieved that in me to this degree. The Last Waltz shows The Band was that rare coming together of equals. What other rock group can boast of having four vocalists of such unique persuasions? And instrumentally The Band was really the cream of the crop -- Levon Helm and Rick Danko's irresistible grooves; Garth Hudson and Richard Manuel's dual keyboards (not to mention their more unusual instrumental contributions); and Robbie Robertson shows his fieriest playing in this film -- his gutsy playing overshadowed even Eric Clapton (who was beginning to show his more 'professorial' side at this point). And matched against the guest stars, the group achieved pure magic. My favourite number has to be the matching of Helm's gritty, masculine voice and Richard Manuel's bonkers drumming against Emmylou Harris' angelic croon in "Evangeline", but it could easily have been Van Morrison's devastating "Caravan", which seemed to stun even The Band itself, Neil Young with an aching rendition of "Helpless", or the mass gathering on "I Shall Be Released". On The Band's own numbers "The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down", "It Makes No Difference" and "Ophelia" were all tremendously moving, while the two studio numbers ("The Weight" and the almost mythical, gorgeous "Waltz" ending) were simply magnificent. Scorsese's handling of the documentary sections shows the ultimate in bottom-line storytelling. Most filmmakers would have raised eyebrows at the concept of jump-cutting interview audio without regard to image, but Scorsese triumphs by making these sections tight and meaningful so that the awkwardness of the jump-cuts becomes a non-issue. And the celebrated shooting -- meticulously planned and storyboarded, featuring some of the best camera, lighting and design talent in the industry -- shows how concert films should be done. As Scorsese says, no need for stock audience cutaways, fast montages or thrashing bodies; just powerful music, impassioned performances and a camera that knows where to be at any given point. This film is, to me, in a class all by itself -- other concert films such as Woodstock and The Monterey Pop Festival have tended to leave me indifferent (even if I do like some of their artists). The Last Waltz is the hands-down winner on all fronts -- visual, musical, and narrative.

great cd - high quality - one of my favorite bands of all time

Konzerte und Festivals, bei denen sich wirklich nur Superstars die Ehre geben wie Knebworth oder die Princes Trust Auftritte, gibt es ja zur Genüge. Gegen Ende dieser Shows droht die Bühne jedesmal unter dem Gewicht der zahlreichen hochkarätigen Veteranen einzustürzen. Meistens ist es jedoch so, daß es dabei um ehemalige Größen handelt, die Ihren Zenit bereits weit überschritten haben und sich dann immer mit einer gewissen Wehmut vom ebenso gealterten Publikum feiern lassen. Viele Musikgruppen aus den 60ern haben es einfach nicht geschafft den richtigen Zeitpunkt für den Rückzug aus dem Rampenlicht zu finden. Das bringt natürlich den unbestreitbaren Vorteil auch der jungen Generation die Möglichkeit zu bieten, echte Rock-Helden noch einmal live zu erleben um von älteren Personen im Publikum nach dem Konzert dann aufgeklärt zu werden: „Früher war's viel besser". The Band hat dies aus meiner Sicht geschafft und entzieht sich somit dieser Kritik. Ich finde es daher sehr erfrischend einmal ein Konzert, vor allem in einer für 1976 exzellenten Ton- und Bildqualität, auf DVD sehen zu können, bei denen die heute ehemaligen und stark gealterten Stars (soll jetzt keine Anspielung auf die Rolling Stones sein) der späten Sechziger und frühen Siebziger wirklich auf dem Höhepunkt oder zu mindest in der Blüte Ihres Schaffes stehen. Dank der großartigen Qualität der Aufnahme hat man trotzdem das Gefühl das Konzert sei erst ein paar Monate alt. Stars wie Neil Young, Van Morrison, Neil Diamond, Ringo Starr, Ronnie Wood und Eric Clapton finden sich zum Abschiedskonzert von „The Band" am 26. November 1976 im Winterland ein um der Love and Peace Ära lebewohl zu sagen. Der Höhepunkt des ganzen Spektakels ist für mich jedoch zweifellos der Auftritt von Bob Dylan. Es ist nicht zu übersehen, daß sämtliche Künstler (The Band war ja auch unter dem Namen The Hawks in den 60ern die Band von Bob Dylan) auf der Bühne in Ihm Ihren Meister gefunden haben und stilistisch sehr stark von Ihm geprägt wurden. Man spürt und sieht die Bewunderung oder vielleicht sogar Ehrfurcht der restlichen Stars vor dem Mann, der mit seiner Anti-Stimme die Rock-Musikwelt durcheinanderwirbelte. Für mich einer der besten Konzertfilme in hervorragender Qualität, der aus meiner Sicht in keiner Sammlung eines Fans dieser Musikepoche fehlen sollte. Einziger Kritikpunkt: Man hätte die Gelegenheit einer DVD - Veröffentlichung dazu verwenden können, die zahlreichen damals gefilmten jedoch herausgeschnittenen Songs einzufügen und die Interview - Szenen in einem gesonderten eigen Filmchen unterzubringen.

Concierto histórico, muy bueno y excelentes músicos y muchos de ellos son actuales aun.

En ny 4k digital restoration som gör att filmen från 1976 lyfter. ljudet är 5.1 DTS-HD som också är mycket bra.

The Band was around since 1957. It was a backup band for many iconic artists before going out on their own under the name “The Band” in 1969. The Last Waltz was thier final concert for fans, and many iconic Canadian artists joined them, along with some great American R&B artists. The best rock and roll documentary ever made. A definite must listen to on everyone’s bucket list.

J'ai vu ce film une vingtaine de fois (si si) et je ne m'en lasse pas ! Pas d'adjectif adéquat pour qualifier cette expérience. Ce concert, c'est la dernière page du grand livre des 60's-70's et des légendes qui l'habitent. D'ailleurs ils sont là, sur scène, en chair et en os, même les plus rares (Joni Mitchell, Van Morrison), les plus mythiques (Muddy Waters), les plus illustres (Bob Dylan); Scorcese déploie une fois encore tout son génie de réalisateur au service de la musique, de cet univers qui le fascine. Jamais concert n'a été aussi bien filmé. On entre totalement dans l'intimité de la scène, on sent la magie qui opère. Robbie Robertson est captivant, éblouissant, si profondément intelligent. Les moments d'interview avec le groupe sont un vrai régal. Ils sont tellement sympas, simples, sans chichi (si rare dans ce milieu !), on aimerait bien trinquer avec eux... A la fois un trip musical monstre (The Band est sur un nuage) et beaucoup d'émotion. A consommer sans modération !