Chimes at Midnight

Chimes at Midnight

1965 · 115 min · EN · NR · 7.2 (185 votes)
Dir. Orson Welles · Starring Orson Welles, Keith Baxter, John Gielgud, Jeanne Moreau, Margaret Rutherford, Marina Vlady · Music Angelo Francesco Lavagnino

A Distinguished Company Breathes Life Into Shakespeare’s Lusty Age of FALSTAFF

ComedyDramaHistory

Henry IV usurps the English throne, sets in motion the factious War of the Roses and now faces a rebellion led by Northumberland scion Hotspur. Henry's heir, Prince Hal, is a ne'er-do-well carouser who drinks and causes mischief with his low-class friends, especially his rotund father figure, John Falstaff. To redeem his title, Hal may have to choose between allegiance to his real father and loyalty to his friend.

VIBE

A sweeping, boisterous, yet ultimately melancholic exploration of aging and honor. It feels like a grand, theatrical stage play brought to life, with witty dialogue and a profound sense of history. A true epic of flawed humanity.

boisterousmelancholicwittyepicsteadyShakespearean dramaperiod piececharacter-driventheatricalloyaltyfatherhoodaginghonor
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double lifeenglandgenerations conflictvirtueking henry ivvice15th century
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