(1978) Watching and listening to this concert reminded me of feeling at one time forever young. The Band's farewell concert and celebration at the Winterland Arena in San Francisco - ending where the group began 16 years earlier - was directed by Martin Scorsese, who also asked the questions of the individual members for the interviews interspersed between songs.

Demonstrating their versatility of musical styles on a variety of instruments - Rick Danko (bass, violin, and vocals), Levon Helm (drums, mandolin, and vocals), Garth Hudson (organ, accordion, saxophone, and synthesizers), Richard Manuel (piano, keyboards, drums, and vocals), and the film's producer Robbie Robertson (lead guitar and vocals) - the group performs their own compositions and accompanies featured guests.

From their own songbook, this band of Canadians sings Old South-themed songs with a Southern twang "Don't Do It," "Up on Cripple Creek," "Shape I'm In," "It Makes No Difference," "Stage Fright," "The Weight" (with The Staples), "The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down," "Genetic Method/ Chest Fever," and "Ophelia."

First backing up Ronnie Hawkins (who told them, "You won't make much money, but you'll get more pussy than Sinatra.") as The Hawks, they moved on to Woodstock with Bob Dylan, where they became The Band. "Because of the music, it took us everywhere," says Robbie. "It took us to some strange places."

Along the way they performed at some unusual venues: "We got to this place, a joint, in Fort Worth, Texas. It was burned out, bombed out. ... And that's when they decided to call it the Skyline Lounge. ... And we found out a few years later that it was Jack Ruby's club."

The road was their teacher; it taught them survival. They recall going to the home of Sonny Boy Williamson, a blues harmonica player, one of the legends in Levon's hometown near West Helena, making music and getting drunk, shortly before his demise. Asked about "women and the road," Richard admits: "I love 'em. That's probably why we've been on the road."

Featured guests (most of them in their prime) on the program, performing their own material with The Band backing up: Ronnie Hawkins, "Who Do You Love"; Dr John, "Such a Night"; Neil Young, "Helpless"; Neil Diamond, "Dry Your Eyes"; Joni Mitchell, "Coyote"; Paul Butterfield, "Mystery Train"; Muddy Waters, "Mannish Boy"; Eric Clapton, "Further on Up the Road"; Emmylou Harris, "Evangeline"; Van Morrison, "Caravan"; and (of course) Bob Dylan, "Forever Young" and "Baby, Let Me Follow You Down."

Michael McClure recites in Middle English Geoffrey Chaucer's "Prologue" to The Canterbury Tales and Lawrence Ferlinghetti declaims his "Loud Prayer": "Our Father whose art's in heaven/ Hollow by thy name - unless things change…."

For the finale, everyone, joined by Ringo Starr and Ronnie Wood, sings with Dylan: "I see my light come shining/ From the west unto the east./ Any day now, any day now,/ I shall be released."

Click here for links to places to buy or rent this movie in video and/or DVD format, or to buy the soundtrack, posters, books, even used videos, games, electronics and lots of other stuff. I suggest you shop at least two of these places before buying anything. Prices seem to vary continuously. For more information on this film, click on this link to The Internet Movie Database. Type in the name of the movie in the search box and press enter. You will be able to find background information on the film, the actors, and links to much more information.

Copyright © 2010 Patrick Ivers. All rights reserved.
Reproduced with the permission of the copyright holder.

Patrick Ivers can be reached via e-mail at .