Continuity mistake: Throughout the whole film you can see that Rick Danko's bass playing has been completely redone. What he's playing and what you hear are completely different things.
The Last Waltz (1978)
Directed by: Martin Scorsese
Starring: Levon Helm, Garth Hudson, Muddy Waters, Neil Young, Rick Danko, Robbie Robertson, The Band, Van Morrison
Genres: Documentary, Music
Robbie Robertson - Guitar: The Band has been together 16 years. Together, on the road. We did 8 years in bars, dives, dance halls, 8 years of concerts and stadiums, arenas. We gave our final concert, The Band's final concert, and we called it The Last Waltz.
Levon Helm - Drums: New York, it was an adult portion. It was an adult dose. So it took a couple of trips to get into it. You just go in the first time and you get your ass kicked and you take off. As soon as it heals up, you come back and you try it again. Eventually, you fall right in love with it.
Robbie Robertson - Guitar: We wanted it to be more than just a concert. We wanted it to be a celebration.
Martin Scorsese - Interviewer: A celebration of a beginning or an end?
Robbie Robertson - Guitar: Beginning of the beginning of the end of the beginning.
Question: Why did Martin Scorsese wait two years to release the film?
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Chosen answer: The show was recorded on Thanksgiving, 1976. The movie was released April 26, 1978, 17 months later closer to 1.5 years. The movie was not just the straight footage of the one concert, it includes various interviews, studio sessions, etc. filmed at different times. It had to be edited, produced, distribution had to be arranged. Then a release date was picked probably based on some marketing scheme - what other movies were being released around that time, etc. 17 months is not at all an unusual delay for this process.
Myridon