The Band had made a name for themselves as Ronnie Hawkins & the Hawks (formed in 1959), a hard-working and charismatic blues outfit based in Toronto. But when Hawkins went his own way in 1963 fate smiled on the rest of the outfit: they were introduced to Bob Dylan and became his backing band. They played Woodstock and played their way into immortality with recordings such as Dylan's Basement Tapes, and their own Music From Big Pink and The Band. Their live shows were legendary and for this concert they gathered a stellar assortment of guests and friends made in the music industry over the years. As good as the concert is - Muddy Waters' Mannish Boy is frightening, Neil Young's Helpless, Van Morrison's Caravan and The Band's own The Weight inspired - it is Scorsese's skill behind the lens that makes the whole thing work. He concentrates on the performers and their passion rather than lingering on an adoring public and his back-stage shots are priceless. It is, as he says in his voiceover, all about the music. And the music is magnificent.

The extras: This special edition comes with an improved audio track and some numbers that didn't make the cut in the original film, which will delight music buffs, but the real gems are the commentaries and the featurette. You get to hear Scorsese talk about why he simply had to become involved in the project once it was mentioned to him, even though he had doubts because he had already worked on the genre during his section of the film of Woodstock. And, best of all, you get The Band member Robbie Robertson (left) riffing on everything and everyone. The feaurette shows what went on behind the scenes and it confirms The Band certainly lived life to the full.

The verdict: You don't have to be a fan of dinosaur rock to fall for The Last Waltz's charms. It is a deft piece of film-making from a director at the peak of his powers.