Beginning with a striking title card proclaiming, "This film should be played loud!", this concert documentary delves into the influential career of the Band. The ensemble features the talents of Robbie Robertson on guitar and vocals, alongside Rick Danko playing bass, violin, and sharing vocals, Levon Helm handling drums, mandolin, and vocals, Richard Manuel contributing as a songwriter with keyboards, drums, and vocals, and Garth Hudson showcasing his skills on keyboards, saxophone, and accordion.
Throughout the film, a variety of notable artists join the Band, including the legendary Muddy Waters, Paul Butterfield, Neil Young, Joni Mitchell, Van Morrison, Dr. John, Neil Diamond, and Eric Clapton. The concert traverses multiple genres, celebrating blues, rock and roll, New Orleans R&B, Tin Pan Alley pop, folk, and rock. Additional genres are showcased in segments filmed later with the celebrated Emmylou Harris representing country music, along with the Staple Singers embodying soul and gospel.
The film opens with the Band delivering a powerful performance of their cover of Marvin Gaye's "Don't Do It" as an encore, immediately drawing viewers into the eclectic energy of the concert. It then transitions to the beginning of the show, presenting the Band’s journey in a mostly chronological fashion. Accompanied by a vibrant horn section, they deliver a medley of fan favorites, including "Up on Cripple Creek," "Stage Fright," and "The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down."
Interspersed within the live performances are studio segments and reflective interviews conducted by director Martin Scorsese. Here, the Band members share their past experiences and anecdotes about their musical journey. Robbie Robertson shares a humorous story of how Hudson joined the group with the quirky condition that each member pay him $10 a week for music lessons, allowing Hudson to explain to his family that he was a music teacher rather than a mere rock musician. Moreover, Robertson reminisces about the bizarre occasions of performing in a burned-out nightclub owned by the infamous Jack Ruby.
Throughout the retrospective dialogues, Manuel humorously reflects on some of the early names considered for the Band, such as "The Honkies" and "The Crackers." They ultimately settled on simply "the band," a name adopted from their association with Bob Dylan and their friends in Woodstock, New York.
Danko gives a glimpse of the Band's Shangri-La studio as he shows Martin Scorsese around, showcasing a recording session of "Sip the Wine," a track from his upcoming solo album.
A poignant thread runs through the interviews, especially with Robbie Robertson, who underscores that this concert symbolizes a significant conclusion in the Band's journey. After a whirlwind 16 years of touring, he expresses, "That's what The Last Waltz is - 16 years on the road. The numbers start to scare you." He further reflects, "I mean, I couldn't live with 20 years on the road. I don't think I could even discuss it."
