My Favorite Concert Film Of All Time Turned 48 This Year, And I’m Pumped For My Annual Thanksgiving Day Rewatch

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Forty-nine years ago, Martin Scorsese created what many consider the greatest concert film ever made: The Last Waltz. It captures what was billed as The Band’s final concert, although the group members would later reunite for tours into the 1990s after a brief hiatus.

Tonight marks 49 years since the concert happened – it was Thanksgiving night, November 25th, 1976. The concert film, which is now available to watch for free on YouTube, came out in April 1978. Because of the Thanksgiving connection, I always make sure to watch it every Thanksgiving, and I definitely turn up the volume, just like the film’s opening title suggests!

The Band Was Burned Out, But They Still Crushed The Performance

Although it appeared to be their final show, The Band was performing incredibly well. However, the constant touring was exhausting the members. Robbie Robertson, the lead guitarist and main songwriter, was particularly worn out and persuaded the others that they needed to stop touring. So, The Band – Robbie Robertson, Levon Helm, Rick Danko, Richard Manuel, and Garth Hudson – planned one last concert at the Winterland Ballroom in San Francisco. They asked their friend Martin Scorsese to film the event and create a concert movie.

Despite some internal issues and being tired from touring, The Band delivered an incredible performance. The concert featured several guest musicians and included particularly strong renditions of their most popular songs. The film begins with their cover of Marvin Gaye’s “Don’t Do It,” a song they often played as an encore. It’s amazing to watch, because even though it was actually the last song of the night – played after a five-hour set at 2:15 AM – they sounded full of energy and like they were just starting.

Next up is “Up on Cripple Creek,” the very song that kicked off the concert. Levon Helm, the drummer and singer, delivers a fantastic performance of this classic hit, and it immediately makes you realize you’re watching something special. I’ve seen the film and heard the song countless times, but it still gives me chills. Every song The Band plays throughout The Last Waltz is full of life, and even without any guest appearances, it would be a standout concert film. But of course, the film does feature guests, and the lineup is incredible.

The Guests Are A Who’s Who Of ‘70s Rock And Roll

The concert was meant to be The Band’s last performance, so they invited some friends to share the stage. Some, like Ronnie Hawkins, were former colleagues they’d worked with extensively. Others, such as Muddy Waters, had greatly inspired their music. Neil Diamond was there because Robertson had recently collaborated with him, and Eric Clapton, a long-time friend and fan of the group, also joined in. Notably, Bob Dylan, who had been instrumental in their success and with whom they frequently collaborated, was in attendance as well.

The lineup is amazing. A standout moment is Joni Mitchell singing backup on Neil Young’s classic song “Helpless” – she does it from behind the scenes, creating a really dreamy sound. Later, she performs her own song, “Coyote,” with the band. And Dr. John, a New Orleans music icon, steals the show with his incredible style – a sparkly jacket and huge pink bowtie!

The Best Performances Were The Staples Singers And Van Morrison

Two scenes filmed after the concert, on a soundstage, are particularly memorable. Emmylou Harris’s performance is beautiful, and The Band’s rendition of “The Weight” with the Staples Singers is truly exceptional. However, the highlight of all the guest appearances is Van Morrison performing “Caravan” with The Band. The performance is striking from the moment Morrison appears in a purple jumpsuit, and culminates in his energetic leg kicks as the song builds to a powerful finish.

There’s a moment in this performance that genuinely blew me away – it became a running joke with my friends and me! Whenever something good happened, we’d just text “VMLK” – short for “Van Morrison Leg Kick” – as a super enthusiastic “yes!” Van Morrison can be a bit of a mysterious figure, and he’s not always known for high-energy shows, but this… this is different. He’s absolutely electric, and it’s truly amazing to watch. Honestly, I could replay this scene endlessly.

Martin Scorsese And His Crew Make This Movie Stand Out

A particularly memorable scene in the movie happens when Muddy Waters, a blues icon, takes the stage with The Band. Martin Scorsese, filming on 35mm film, initially paused the shoot to allow the cameras to cool down and reload. He believed Muddy Waters would perform “Mannish Boy” as his second song with the band. However, when the band launched into the song’s famous opening riff, Scorsese immediately realized his mistake and urgently signaled the cameramen to start recording.

Most of the crew didn’t start filming until well into the song, but the incredible camerawork we see throughout is thanks to László Kovács, a truly legendary cinematographer, who filmed the entire performance. This highlights the value of having a top director like Scorsese assemble such a talented team for The Last Waltz.

I’ve seen a lot of great concert films – like Talking Heads’ Stop Making Sense, U2’s Rattle and Hum, and The Rolling Stones’ At The Max (which is getting re-released soon) – but none of them quite compare to The Last Waltz. They all rank second in my book, and honestly, I don’t think any new film could ever take its place as my favorite. I’m at a point where I doubt anything will surpass it.

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2025-11-25 15:09