Synopsis
“One of the few films over which
Orson Welles wielded complete creative control,
Chimes at Midnight is a creative, combinatory adaptation of
Shakespeare’s
Henry IV and
The Merry Wives of Windsor. Even more than a sublime
John Gielgud as the guilt-ridden
Henry IV and
Jeanne Moreau as a lusty Doll Tearsheet, the most fascinating performance comes from Welles himself in a riveting Falstaff that is a classic Welles grotesque – by turns abrasive, gentle, pathetic and boastful. Among Welles’ most moving films,
Chimes at Midnight reveals the relationship between Falstaff and Prince Hall to be
Shakespeare’s nuanced reflection on the difficult gap between political power and its human instrument.” – Harvard Film Archive