Film Review: Magic of Orson Welles Rings the ‘Chimes at Midnight’

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Average: 5 (2 votes)

CHICAGO – Another wondrous pleasure about director Orson Welles – as if he needed something else on his resume – is the discovery of his film career after the “Citizen Kane”/studio system/boy wonder period of the 1940s. Facing difficulties cobbling together financing for his evolving vision, he resorted to overseas money, international casts and more-for-less. One of the prime examples is “Chimes at Midnight” (1965), a Shakespeare amalgamation that is just another example of Wellesian audacity and yes, genius.

HollywoodChicago.com Oscarman rating: 5.0/5.0
Rating: 5.0/5.0

The script takes the text from five Shakespeare plays and is narrated by British actor Ralph Richardson. Orson Welles plays the scalawag John Falstaff, an entourage member of the Prince of Wales, and the focus of the story. The film has a kinetic energy that is exciting, it always seems in motion. Welles is at the top of his game portraying one of his favorite characters (he had previously mounted a similar stage production) and dominates the proceedings with Greek chorus slyness and a larger-than-life comic presence. The film delights in so many ways, with a both terse (in the royal scenes) and loose approach to the fluttery language of the Bard of Avalon. Like many of the early Welles films, there is inventive use of camera, blocking and cinematic language. It functions as a discovery in its restoration, and a re-discovery of Orson Welles in all of his cheekiness and influence.

King Henry VI (John Gielgud) has succeeded the murdered Richard II as King of England. Richard II’s heir – Edmund Mortimer – is imprisoned, and his cousins the Earls of Westmorland (Andrew Faulds) and Northumberland (José Nieto), in addition to Northumberland’s son Hotspur (Norman Rodway), insist that Henry release Mortimer. Meanwhile Henry’s son Prince Hal (Keith Baxter) wiles away the hours making merry with his friends, including John Falstaff (Orson Welles).

They hang out a a tavern/brothel, run by the Mistress Quickly (Margaret Rutherford), which includes a working girl named Doll Tearsheet (Jeanne Moreau). The Earl of Worchester (Fernando Rey), a supporter of Mortimer, leads a rebellion against Henry, in which Hal and Falstaff participate. As the fields of the bloody conflict calm after the battle, Prince Hal and Hotspur meet in a duel, and the outcome determines the future for all the players.


“Chimes at Midnight” has screenings through March 24th, 2016, at the Music Box Theatre – 3733 North Southport Avenue in Chicago. Click here for more information. Featuring Orson Welles Keith Baxter, John Gielgud, Jeanne Moreau, Margaret Rutherford and Ralph Richardson. Adapted and directed by Orson Welles. Not rated.

StarContinue reading for Patrick McDonald’s full review of “Chimes at Midnight”

Orson Welles
Life is But a Dream for Falstaff (Orson Welles) in “Chimes at Midnight”
Photo credit: Criterion

StarContinue reading for Patrick McDonald’s full review of “Chimes at Midnight”

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