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The Last Waltz Opens In Theaters
1978
The Last Waltz, director Martin Scorsese's acclaimed documentary of The Band's star-studded last concert, opens in theaters. The film features performances by Neil Young, Eric Clapton, Joni Mtchell, Van Morrison, Neil Diamond, The Staple Singers and Dr. John.
The Last Waltz is shot in 35-millimeter film rather than the customary 16, a risky proposition because the 35-millimeter cameras have never run continuously for very long, and many fear they'll burn out. Scorsese, however, is adamant that only 35 millimeter can do the concert justice. He goes ahead with the plan and the cameras mercifully hold up. The cinematographers operating the cameras are among the best in the business, with Raging Bull's Michael Chapman, Close Encounters of the Third Kind's Vilmos Zsigmond, and Easy Rider's László Kovács.
The farewell concert depicted in the film takes place in San Francisco's Winterland Ballroom. A set from a San Francisco Opera production of La traviata appears as the stage backdrop. Crystal chandeliers hang over the stage.
The film captures several giants of the music world performing along with the Band. Bob Dylan, Neil Young, Neil Diamond, Joni Mitchell, and many others are there. Stephen Stills and some poets doing spoken-word pieces don't make the cut, and also deleted from the film is a smudge of cocaine under Neil Young's nose.
All overt signs of cocaine use are hidden in the film, in fact, but observers can see the drug's presence in some of the wired-up performances - particularly Young's. Cocaine had been present at the show in large quantities, all part of the celebratory atmosphere cultivated for the event.
The film receives lavish critical praise, instantly touted as one of the great concert films ever made, with only a couple prominent detractors issuing negative reviews. One of those detractors, however, is the Band's Levon Helm, who feels the movie is made to look as if Robbie Robertson was the only member who really mattered. He calls it "The biggest f--kin' rip off that ever happened to The Band."
The farewell concert depicted in the film takes place in San Francisco's Winterland Ballroom. A set from a San Francisco Opera production of La traviata appears as the stage backdrop. Crystal chandeliers hang over the stage.
The film captures several giants of the music world performing along with the Band. Bob Dylan, Neil Young, Neil Diamond, Joni Mitchell, and many others are there. Stephen Stills and some poets doing spoken-word pieces don't make the cut, and also deleted from the film is a smudge of cocaine under Neil Young's nose.
All overt signs of cocaine use are hidden in the film, in fact, but observers can see the drug's presence in some of the wired-up performances - particularly Young's. Cocaine had been present at the show in large quantities, all part of the celebratory atmosphere cultivated for the event.
The film receives lavish critical praise, instantly touted as one of the great concert films ever made, with only a couple prominent detractors issuing negative reviews. One of those detractors, however, is the Band's Levon Helm, who feels the movie is made to look as if Robbie Robertson was the only member who really mattered. He calls it "The biggest f--kin' rip off that ever happened to The Band."
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