Brilliantly adapted from several of shakespeares history plays, chimes at midnight combines elements of welless characteristic longtake, moving camera style most recently evident in 1958s touch of evil and 1962sthe trial with, in the remarkable battle sequence especially, a dynamic and complex use of montage. Usually a comic supporting figure, falstaffthe loyal, often soused friend of king henry ivs wayward son prince halhere becomes the focus. The film overall deals with that timehonored notion noted by st. Chimes at midnight aka falstaff is a 1965 film directed by orson welles based around the character of sir john falstaff in shakespeare. Chimes at midnight 1967 originally published on the news hub chimes at midnight is available to watch on filmstruck banish plump jack, and banish all the world. This brilliantly crafted shakespeare adaptation was the culmination of welless lifelong obsession with the bards ultimate rapscallion, sir john falstaff, the loyal, often soused childhood friend of king henry ivs wayward son, prince hal.
This from henry iv, part 1, the king john gielgud ruminating about plots against him when his wayward son prince hal keith baxter arrives to argue for his cause as a worthy heir, in writerdirector orson welles mashup of shakespeare s character falstaff, chimes at midnight. Even recently people are calling this year 2015 the 50th anniversary of the film, but that is not accurate. It is a masterly conflation of the shakespearean history plays that feature falstaff, the great comic figure played by welles himself in the film. Campanadas a medianoche, is a 1966 english language spanishswiss coproduced film directed by and starring orson welles. A masterpiece an astonishingly crisp restoration a feast for the ears, eyes and soul. Watch chimes at midnight 2015 re release full movie. It was written by orson welles and condensed shakespeares henry iv, v, vi, and richard iii into one show. Campanadas a medianoche, is a 1965 englishlanguage spanishswiss period comedydrama film directed by and starring orson welles. Sections of several shakespearean plays were used to create a new story.
A distinguished company breathes life into shakespeares lusty age of falstaff. Chimes at midnight mary riepma ross media arts center. Chimes at midnight is a 1966 international coproduction by orson welles it is an adaptation of william shakespeares henriad richard ii, henry iv parts i and ii and henry v with some scenes borrowed from the merry wives of windsor and an opening narration by sir ralph richardson that features excerpts from raphael holinsheds chronicles. Welles acted in such films as hustons the roots of heaven 1958 and richard fleischers compulsion 1959.
I think he also did a film of othello which i may buy later on from amazon. He also used his famous mellifluous baritone in narrating films, such as fleischers the vikings 1958 and nicholas rays king of kings 1961. Find video, photos, forums, blogs and shop for some of. Chimes at midnight was based on the play five kings.
I refer not to incomplete or abandoned projects that have gathered legends, but to chimes at midnight 1965, his film about falstaff, which has survived in acceptable prints and is ripe for restoration. The film is based on the play henry iv by william shakespeare. King eric clapton srv buddy guy and friends duration. Henry iv john gielgud usurps the english throne, sets in motion the factious war of the roses and now faces a rebellion led by northumberland scion hotspur norman rodway. Welles said the core of the film was the betrayal of friendship. The film s plot centers on william shakespeares recurring character sir john falstaff and the fatherson relationship he has with prince hal, who must choose between loyalty to falstaff or to. Watch chimes at midnight online for free on 123movies. The following text appears in the packages liner notes.
He put earlier versions of this work on the stage in the 1930s and the 1950s. Enter your location to see which movie theaters are playing chimes at midnight near you. Among film scholars citizen kane is often regarded as the greatest film of all time. A classic story adapted by a filmmaker near his creative peak, chimes at midnight unites welles and shakespeare and powerfully distills the best of both.
It is a big, squashy, tatterdemalion show, wrote crowther, and it has no business intruding so brashly in the serious shakespearean affairs of the lancasters, the percies and. The film falstaffchimes at midnight is based on the character of sir john falstaff. Completed in 1965, chimes at midnight is the last major narrative work welles completed in his lifetime, though not for lack of trying. He said, the production of chimes at midnight was a total mess, not because the film was too expensive, but because orson welles lied with the budget, and the film was ten times more expensive. Chimes at midnight appears in an aspect ratio that mimics its original theatrical exhibition of 1. Among the films inspired by orson welless lifelong involvement with shakespeare, the greatest is chimes at midnight 1966. Rent chimes at midnight 1965 on dvd and bluray dvd.
Welles also did a film of macbeth which i have purchased recently and that is also very good once again a brilliant performance by orson welles. Russ chimes midnight club complete trilogy youtube. The crowning achievement of orson welless extraordinary film career, chimes at midnight was the culmination of the filmmakers lifelong obsession with shakespeares ultimate rapscallion, sir john falstaff. It is a film that until recently had been largely unavailable to audiences. Falstaff chimes at midnight roger ebert february 05. Watch chimes at midnight online for free on 123movies, stream chimes at midnight online, chimes at midnight full movies free. W hen we consider the indignities chimes at midnight has suffered over the yearsreleased in the u. Videos for chimes at midnight turner classic movies. The pomp of a kings coronation ended, the shadows of the castle. Chimes at midnight is an independently produced european film from director orson welles. He produced the show in new york in 1939 but the opening night, where part 1 was acted, was a disaster and part 2 was never put on. Welles littleseen 1965 film has been refurbished and looks stunning. The triumphant return of chimes at midnight the current. The chimes of midnight doctor who download full ebook.
Partly such praise can be understood as admiration. The films plot centres on william shakespeare s recurring character sir john falstaff. Chimes at midnight shows welles taking his writing and theatrical capacities to their fullest, creating what could be the greatest shakespeare play that shakespeare never wrote a beautiful conglomeration of five different plays, primarily focusing on henry iv, parts one and two, that proves just how great of an artist welles was never. One imagines that falstaff would have made this film much as welles has, with lots of lusty wenches, flagons of ale, a tavern big enough for a battalion, a castle. This brilliantly crafted shakespeare adaptation was the culmination of welless lifelong obsession with the bards ultimate rapscallion, sir john falstaff, the loyal, often soused childhood friend to king henry ivs wayward son prince hal. Falstaff chimes at midnight subtitles 43 subtitles. Orson welles thought this was shakespears greatest creation. For whatever reason 1965 has stuck in history since people believe that the film was 100% complete at the 1965 screening.
Based on the 2009 restoration supervised by luciano berriatua at the filmoteca espanola, this highdefinition transfer was created from the 35 mm original camera negative and a 35 mm optical soundtrack element. The stage empties, leaving a solitary figure at the center. Chimes at midnight, the other side of the wind, and f for fake. With orson welles, jeanne moreau, margaret rutherford, john gielgud. And like so many of the movies he made or attempted to make during the last part of his career, its been tied up in rights disputes for decades, making it effectively unknown in america outside of critical and filmmaking circles.
The film s plot centres on william shakespeares recurring character sir john falstaff and the fatherson relationship he has with prince hal, who must choose. Chimes at midnight is a good film well acted by welles and the other supporting cast. Turner classic movies presents the greatest motion pictures of all time from one of the largest film libraries in the world. The crowning achievement of orson welless extraordinary film career, chimes at midnight was the culmination of the filmmakers lifelong. The crowning achievement of orson welless later film career, chimes at midnight at last returns to the big screen in a beautifully restored new edition, after being unavailable for decades. Winners best picture winners golden globes emmys san diego comiccon new york comiccon sundance film festival toronto intl film festival awards central festival. Rent chimes at midnight 1965 starring tony beckley and michael aldridge on dvd and bluray. The script contains text from five shakespeare plays. How can it be that there is an orson welles masterpiece that remains all but unseen. The career of shakespeares sir john falstaff orson welles as a roistering companion to young prince hal keith baxter, circa 1400 to 14. Paul when i was a child, i used to talk like a child, and see things as a.
312 237 842 1402 1071 346 519 1397 416 1252 1557 707 1243 1374 1644 853 49 207 792 1505 1082 773 1141 1603 362 723 974 1303 1327 1037 451 644 387 1387 512 95 1259