"The Last Waltz" is a 1978 documentary film directed by Martin Scorsese chronicling the final concert by the Canadian-American rock group "The Band." The concert took place on Thanksgiving Day in 1976 at the Winterland Ballroom in San Francisco. The film features footage from the concert as well as interviews with the band members and guest musicians.
The concert featured a star-studded lineup of guest musicians including Eric Clapton, Neil Diamond, Bob Dylan, Joni Mitchell, Van Morrison, Ringo Starr, and Neil Young. Each guest musician performs one or more songs with the band, including Dylan's "Forever Young" and "I Shall Be Released," Clapton's "Further On Up the Road," and Morrison's "Caravan."
The documentary also includes backstage footage and interviews with the band members, giving insight into their history and the reasons behind their decision to retire. The band members discuss their roots in music and their journey together before each member performs a solo piece.
"The Last Waltz" has been praised for capturing not only the music but also the emotion and camaraderie of the performers. It has been cited as one of the greatest concert films ever made and remains a beloved classic among music fans.