Actors: Orson Welles, Jeanne Moreau, Margaret Rutherford, John Gielgud, Marina Vlady, Keith Baxter, Norman Rodway, Michael Aldridge, Tony Beckley, Fernando Re
Review Summary and Plot Commentary about Falstaff: Chimes at Midnight
This little-known masterpiece by Orson Welles tells the parallel stories of Falstaff and Prince Hal by adapting and cobbling together bits of Shakespeare's "Richard II," "Henry IV (pts 1 and 2)," "Henry V," and "The Merry Wives of Windsor." The seeds of King Henry IV's rise to power bear the fruit of young Hotspur's rebellion. Meanwhile, Prince Hal has been growing up and hanging out with Falstaff, a thief, rogue, womanizer, drunk, and wastrel. No one expects him to be a good king after having spent so much time under such a bad influence, but when battle comes, and later, when the king dies, he proves him self to be a strong, just, and powerful ruler, and appropriately distances himself from his former friend. Great performances abound, led by Welles, who perfectly communicates the humor and pathos of the corpulent knight.
--Zorikh Lequidre, Resident Scholar
Click above for the new Obama Girl Parody video!
Analysis of Falstaff: Chimes at Midnight
Our unique search engine provides a wealth of detail about books by breaking them down into many different literary elements, all of which are searchable (click here).
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale (Low to High)
Plot
Time/era of movie:
- distant past
Polit/Social/Race/Gender activism
Yes
Plotlet:
- liberal/lefty activism
Inner struggle or disability
Yes
Struggle with
- conduct in war
- (General) search for meaning/identity
Taboo Sex Story?
Yes
Kind of sex:
- main character serviced by a prostitute
Ethnic/Regional/Gender story?
Yes
Culture clash?
- family young v. old guard
Culture of surrounding area:
- British
Brain/Body not working?
- physical disability
Battle with shrink/bum?
- wisdom from a homeless man or bum
Main Character
Identity:
- Male
Profession/status:
- thief/con artist
Age:
- 60's-90's
Eccentric:
Yes
- eccentric
- deluded
Hair color?
- white
Hair type
- (man) short/standard wavey
Body type
- (man) fat
Events of movie makes character more...
- sad
Ethnicity/Nationality
- British
How sensitive is this character?
- soggy whimpering jelly muffin
Sense of humor?
- Strong but gentle sense of humor
Intelligence
- Smarter than most other characters
Physique
- average physique
Secondary Main Character
Identity:
- Male
Hair color
- brunette (Black)
Hair style
- (man) short/standard straight
Body type
- (man) average build
Unclothed?
- chest
How much in movie?
- 90%-100%
Ethnicity/Nationality
- British
Main Adversary
Identity:
- general circumstances
Ethnicity/Nationality
- British
Setting
Europe
Yes
European country:
- England/UK
Forest?
Yes
City?
Yes
City:
- London
Small town?
Yes
Small town people:
- nice, like Andy/Opie/Aunt Bee
Misc setting
- castle
- bar
Style
Accounts of torture and death?
- explicit references to deaths
Movie makes you feel...
- thoughtful
Sex/nudity in movie?
Yes
What kind of sex:
- kissing
- sex under blankets
Is this movie based on a
- play
