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Chimes at Midnight

Play trailer Poster for Chimes at Midnight Released Mar 17, 1967 1h 55m History Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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96% Tomatometer 50 Reviews 85% Popcornmeter 2,500+ Ratings
Henry IV (John Gielgud) usurps the English throne, sets in motion the factious War of the Roses and now faces a rebellion led by Northumberland scion Hotspur (Norman Rodway). Henry's heir, Prince Hal (Keith Baxter), is a ne'er-do-well carouser who drinks and causes mischief with his low-class friends, especially his rotund father figure, John Falstaff (Orson Welles). To redeem his title, Hal may have to choose between allegiance to his real father and loyalty to his friend.
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Chimes at Midnight

Chimes at Midnight

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Critics Consensus

A classic story adapted by a filmmaker near his creative peak, Chimes at Midnight unites Welles and Shakespeare - and powerfully distills the best of both.

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Critics Reviews

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Richard Brody The New Yorker ...multiple dimensions of tragedy and devises a passionately vigorous repertory of images to embody it... Nov 21, 2020 Full Review Bill Goodykoontz Arizona Republic Welles' vision and imagination is unmatched in film. His use of light in a forbidding, dark castle is a wonder. Rated: 5/5 Jan 28, 2016 Full Review Chris Nashawaty Entertainment Weekly Thanks to an astonishingly crisp restoration, Orson Welles' 1965 Shakespearean masterpiece can now be appreciated by anyone who thought his best days behind the camera ended with Touch of Evil. Rated: A Jan 15, 2016 Full Review James Berardinelli ReelViews Most are advised that watching the movie feels more like homework than entertainment. Rated: 2.5/4 Aug 30, 2021 Full Review Matthew Rozsa matthewrozsa.com Welles may be best known for his 1941 film "Citizen Kane," but as far as I'm concerned, "Chimes at Midnight" is his magnum opus. Rated: 4/4 Dec 18, 2020 Full Review Eve Tushnet Patheos ...aside from that small tug on Superman's cape I have only grateful praise for this thing. Aug 14, 2020 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Ed . Fal and Hal A pas de deux of a not-so-tried-and-true friendship of convenience. Orson Welles' Falstaff falls far short of a knight in shining armour. His bestie, the original Shallow Hal, uses Falstaff for amusement until he ends his louche lifestyle for more serious matters. Welles' film has grown in esteem over the years. Welles embodies Falstaff not only in the onscreen role but also in some ways in his real life. I viewed his performance with a combination of awe and sadness, as he not only just refused to play nice with studios and financial backers but also lied in order to get funds to start projects such as this one. Contrast this with John Cassevetes who stayed true to his vision yet acted in films great and not-so-great in order to fund and complete his dreams. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 08/29/25 Full Review Isa B Falstaff (Chimes at Midnight) is on a shortlist of greatest films ever made. It is the greatest Shakespearean adaptation in existence. The poor dubbing even somehow adds to the film's greatness. It's as if someone back in the 1400s had a cinema camera and filmed it. Certain elements of the film which might be considered technical flaws in another film are assets to Chimes at Midnight. Orson Welles was born to play Falstaff. I highly recommend! 100/100 🏆 Rated 5 out of 5 stars 10/05/24 Full Review Alec B Welles is obviously a great Falstaff but not in the ways you'd expect. His bold performance consistently defies conventional takes on the character. Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 12/14/23 Full Review Irene M I watched it when really tired and fell asleep :( Essentially its a lot of Shakespearean dialogue outside of a play. Good to see Orson Welles. the battle scene was gruesome. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 09/04/23 Full Review George S Welles twistedly demonstrating a version of himself and Gielgud glibly delivering presumably the best Shakespeare monologue in cinema history Rated 5 out of 5 stars 09/02/23 Full Review Audience Member Superlatively photographed and well-acted version of Shakespeare's Henry IV Parts 1 and 2, concentrating on the changing relationship between Falstaff and Hal, as the responsibilities of kingship force a cooling of their hedonistic games. The final cold rebuttal and Falstaff's subsequent death are especially moving. A very fine adaptation by Welles. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 01/27/23 Full Review Read all reviews
Chimes at Midnight

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Movie Info

Synopsis Henry IV (John Gielgud) usurps the English throne, sets in motion the factious War of the Roses and now faces a rebellion led by Northumberland scion Hotspur (Norman Rodway). Henry's heir, Prince Hal (Keith Baxter), is a ne'er-do-well carouser who drinks and causes mischief with his low-class friends, especially his rotund father figure, John Falstaff (Orson Welles). To redeem his title, Hal may have to choose between allegiance to his real father and loyalty to his friend.
Director
Orson Welles
Producer
Ángel Escolano, Emiliano Piedra, Harry Saltzman
Screenwriter
William Shakespeare, Raphael Holinshed, Orson Welles
Distributor
Peppercorn-Wormser
Production Co
Alpine Films
Genre
History, Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Mar 17, 1967, Original
Rerelease Date (Theaters)
Jan 1, 2016
Release Date (Streaming)
Aug 30, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA)
$123.4K
Runtime
1h 55m
Sound Mix
Mono
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