Summary
After King Richard II is assassinated, Henry Bollingbroke claims the
throne of England and becomes King Henry IV. His son, Hal, Prince
of Wales, has little respect for his office and lives a debauched life
in the company of his friend Falstaff, a habitual drunkard and
crook. In due course, Hal succeeds his father and becomes King
Henry V. Now that he has assumed his responsibilities, he must sever
all contact with Falstaff, who dies in exile a lonely, miserable old
man.
Review
User Comments
Welles’ best film, and that’s saying a lot. The summation of
the enfant terrible’s career. This film needs to be restored and
packaged properly. Where are the folks at Criterion Collection?
J.Vernan (Calif. USA)
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J.Vernan (Calif. USA)
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Useful links
- Best French films of 2011
- Best French films of the 2000s
- Best of the French New Wave
- Best of French film comedy
- The best 100 French films
- The most successful French films
- Great French filmmakers
Related links
- Other French films of the 1960s
- The best French films of the 1960s
- Other French comedy-dramas
- The best French comedy-dramas
- Biography and films of Orson Welles
To buy this film
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Credits
- Director: Orson Welles
- Script: William Shakespeare (plays), Raphael Holinshed, Orson Welles
- Photo: Edmond Richard
- Music: Angelo Francesco Lavagnino
- Cast: Orson Welles (Falstaff), Jeanne Moreau (Doll Tearsheet), Margaret Rutherford (Mistress Quickly), John Gielgud (Henry IV), Marina Vlady (Kate Percy), Walter Chiari (Mr. Silence), Michael Aldridge (Pistol), Julio Peña, Tony Beckley (Ned Poins), Andrés Mejuto, Keith Pyott, Jeremy Rowe (Prince John), Alan Webb (Shallow), Fernando Rey (Worcester), Keith Baxter (Prince Hal), Norman Rodway (Henry ’Hotspur’ Percy), José Nieto (Northumberland), Andrew Faulds (Westmoreland), Patrick Bedford (Bardolph), Beatrice Welles (Falstaff’s Page), Ralph Richardson (Narrator)
- Country: France / Spain / Switzerland
- Language: English
- Runtime: 119 min; B&W
- Aka: Chimes at Midnight; Falstaff
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