Chimes at Midnight (1965) ( Campanadas a medianoche ) ( Falstaff (Chimes at Mid night) )

Chimes at Midnight (1965) (DVD) (*)

$21.99

Original Title: Campanadas a medianoche
Alternate Title: Falstaff (Chimes at Mid night)
Screened, competed or awarded at:
BAFTA Awards
Cannes Film Festival
Cinema Writers Circle Awards, Spain

Language Selections:
English ( Dolby Digital 2.0 )
Italian ( Dolby Digital 2.0 )
Italian ( Subtitles )

Product Origin/Format:
Italy ( PAL/Region 0 )

Running Time:
110 min

Aspect Ratio:
Widescreen (1.66:1)

Special Features:
Interactive Menu
Black & White
Remastered

Movie filmed in 1965 and produced in:
France ( France, Benelux )
Spain ( Spain, Portugal )
Switzerland ( Germany, Central Europe )

Directed By:
Orson Welles

Written By:
William Shakespeare
Raphael Holinshed

Actors:
Orson Welles ..... Falstaff
Jeanne Moreau ..... Doll Tearsheet
Margaret Rutherford ..... Mistress Quickly
John Gielgud ..... Henry IV
Marina Vlady ..... Kate Percy
Walter Chiari ..... Mr. Silence
Michael Aldridge ..... Pistol
Julio Peña ..... Ned Poins
Tony Beckley ..... Prince John
Andrés Mejuto ..... Shallow
Keith Pyott ..... Worcester
Jeremy Rowe ..... Prince Hal
Alan Webb
Fernando Rey
Keith Baxter

Synopsis:

The legendary Shakespearean character Sir John Falstaff, the notoriously drunken, obese, and yet charming companion of the young Henry V, steps up from supporting character in several plays to the central focus of Orson Welles' Chimes at Midnight, considered by many critics the best of the director's acclaimed Shakespeare films. The script borrows scenes from several plays, but draws most heavily on the two parts of Henry IV, focusing on the shifting relationship between Falstaff and Prince Hal. Beginning as the prince's companion in debauchery and idleness, the corpulent jokester finds himself falling out of favor as the prince comes to terms with the importance of his destiny as England's future leader. While Falstaff's ample wit is still much in evidence, the film places greater emphasis on the tragic character beneath all the joviality, with Welles perfectly embodying this mixture of spiritually youthful prankster and sad adult. While his towering performance naturally takes center stage, the other cast members are also superb. The film's visual elements are also strong, with Welles' attention to composition matching his sensitivity to character. There are technical imperfections due to the film's extremely limited budget, including an inconsistent soundtrack, but they are unable to overshadow the film's many achievements.

Sir John Falstaff is the hero in this compilation of extracts from Shakespeare's 'Henry IV' and other plays, made into a connected story of Falstaff's career as young Prince Hal's drinking companion. The massive knight roisters with and without the prince, philosophizes comically, goes to war (in his own fashion), and meets his final disappointment, set in a real-looking late-medieval England.

The career of Shakespeare's Sir John Falstaff as roistering companion to young Prince Hal, circa 1400-1413.

This product was added to our catalog on Monday 05 December, 2011.

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