I have watched this scene many times and compared it with other productions. Where Falstaff is so often played as a merely comic figure, the tragic element is lost and the weight of lines such as ' we have heard the chimes at midnight' sits awkwardly with what precedes it. In addition where Flastaff mistakes the word 'hold' for 'old' here we clearly see the mistake as a sad reminder of the inescapable passage of time. The play itself has an underlying current of old age and the passage of time. For me this is one of the finest scenes in the 'Hollow Crown' and the acting is quite simply superb. Falstaff emerges as a truly comic-tragic figure. He might laugh and scoff at the idea of his being old but in his heart he knows the truth. I must also pay tribute to David Bamber as Justice Shallow. He too gives such depth to his words - note the way he says Hemm boys - the pause between the two words allows the true sadness of "boys" to emerge. This scene is so often played as nudge, nudge, wink, wink but the meaning of the words is lost thereby. Masterful is all I can say.
This scene is intensely moving and as the years pass I find it always moves me to tears. I think Henry IV Parts I and II are perhaps Shakespeare's finest plays.
The finest performance of Falstaff I have ever seen, an Incredible depth of character, wonderful control with an electric vibrancy, while listening and responding which gave him an absolute grounded believability. BRAVO,
Agreed. He encompasses everything that character is from all of the plays he's in. He's funny, pitiful, and grotesque, as well as being tragic and sympathetic. This version is the best.
Sometimes a great actor jolts you into seeing the world as you would rather not. SRB's eyes held such a depth of retrospective awareness that it was very uncomfortable to witness. David Bamber's grasp of self-deception as a survival mechanism was a perfect foil. A truly impressive scene.
@@flannerymonaghan-morris1317 it's not for no reason that people call him the greatest living Shakespearean actor. I entirely agree and had the enviable experience of seeing his breakout Shakespearean role, Thersites in the great Sam Mendes "Troilus and Cressida" live at the Swan in Stratford-Upon-Avon. it was an unforgettable moment when he came out for his first speech. everyone stopped breathing. mind you, this was after the unknown Ralph Fiennes had his first scenes as Troilus.
I think Chimes at Midnight is the best Shakespeare on film I have seen, although I have not seen them all. It was not a single play , just an amalgamation of several. Welles is so uplifting and the film itself is one of the greatest ever made, not just from the Bard's pen. The black and white photography is stunning, and the battle scenes, well, perfection.
I cannot watch this and help but think of the Movie Star Trek: The Undiscovered Country. Placed in the rhetorical form *have we not heard the chimes of midnight?* and the sinister undertones that *this Party is going out with a bang.* Quite amazing the genius of Shakespeare. I find myself drawn to these performances in this *quarantine* confabble. I often think how nice if the Community put forth a Stage to perform all his works...The Tempest of course begetting top billing.
Very well done, and very moving. Although I like it better when Shallow is more garrulous than introspective, it makes him contrast more with Falstaff in this scene. Also, I felt Silence looked way too young, he is usually depicted as much older than Shallow, although he still provides a nice contrast to the other two.
Can I do both? Seriously, though. These are pretty dang fantastic films, so far. (Although in my never to be humble opinion, I actually enjoyed Richard II better than Henry IV pt 1, which surprised me since there is a big lack of Hiddleston in Richard II. Which means that it was just really good on it's own merits. I'm babbling. This is why I try not to comment online too often. :P)
Reform. Reclaim. Recount. I have always wanted a memory for recalling - well, text. Word for word acting. Dame Judi Dench recalled one segment she found challenging years before by reciting it to us. Alec McCowen was in the vicinity of original difficulty. St Mark's Gospel he was. No offence. I have Dame Judi Dench's word on it. It forgotten stanza may have been the End Piece of the documentary There Is Nothing Like a Dame; but as I said. I too sometimes have difficulty keeping My Word/s. Reform. Reclaim. Recount. Recite.
I also take it as Falstaff universalizing and thus kind of minimizing their youthful experiences (as opposed to Shallow’s flights of nostalgia). From the perspective of age, it all might seem like nothing much.
“We have heard the chimes at midnight” - one of Shakespeare’s most inspired lines. 2 Henry IV is “The Long Goodbye” for Jack Falstaff and this rendition captures the autumnal sadness of it all so beautifully. Falstaff knows he has wasted his life…his sojourn see the pathetic Justice Shallow is a sad reminder of the futility of his existence…very sad indeed especially at this point in the play, when Hal is on the cusp of Kingship and Jack well on his way to oblivion. Old friends who must be parted. Shallow is a lonely substitute.
You repeat this comment without making any other comment. Yes I have seen the Chimes at Midnight. It is of its era. Indeed this scene as played out in Chimes at Midnight shows how fine this new production is. You say this is pitiful - come on - why ? Of course you can have an opinion as we all can but simply to rubbish something without an explanation trivialises your own comment. Perhaps you should note how many others think this excellent and moving.
I have watched this scene many times and compared it with other productions. Where Falstaff is so often played as a merely comic figure, the tragic element is lost and the weight of lines such as ' we have heard the chimes at midnight' sits awkwardly with what precedes it. In addition where Flastaff mistakes the word 'hold' for 'old' here we clearly see the mistake as a sad reminder of the inescapable passage of time. The play itself has an underlying current of old age and the passage of time. For me this is one of the finest scenes in the 'Hollow Crown' and the acting is quite simply superb. Falstaff emerges as a truly comic-tragic figure. He might laugh and scoff at the idea of his being old but in his heart he knows the truth. I must also pay tribute to David Bamber as Justice Shallow. He too gives such depth to his words - note the way he says Hemm boys - the pause between the two words allows the true sadness of "boys" to emerge. This scene is so often played as nudge, nudge, wink, wink but the meaning of the words is lost thereby. Masterful is all I can say.
Yes! A perfect summary of what makes this scene so special.
@@radimsirl Thank you
The silence at the end really hammers it home
This scene is intensely moving and as the years pass I find it always moves me to tears. I think Henry IV Parts I and II are perhaps Shakespeare's finest plays.
The finest performance of Falstaff I have ever seen, an Incredible depth of character, wonderful control with an electric vibrancy, while listening and responding which gave him an absolute grounded believability. BRAVO,
Agreed. He encompasses everything that character is from all of the plays he's in. He's funny, pitiful, and grotesque, as well as being tragic and sympathetic. This version is the best.
Sometimes a great actor jolts you into seeing the world as you would rather not. SRB's eyes held such a depth of retrospective awareness that it was very uncomfortable to witness. David Bamber's grasp of self-deception as a survival mechanism was a perfect foil. A truly impressive scene.
This Falstaff is perfect... don't know how he does it but it's like Shakespeare comes naturally to him.
Well, he has done a LOT of Shakespeare in the past.
@@flannerymonaghan-morris1317 it's not for no reason that people call him the greatest living Shakespearean actor. I entirely agree and had the enviable experience of seeing his breakout Shakespearean role, Thersites in the great Sam Mendes "Troilus and Cressida" live at the Swan in Stratford-Upon-Avon. it was an unforgettable moment when he came out for his first speech. everyone stopped breathing. mind you, this was after the unknown Ralph Fiennes had his first scenes as Troilus.
@@davol2449 So lucky.
HOW did he not get an Emmy nomination for this????????? He should’ve.
David Bamber as Shallow is wonderful
I've seen almost all of 'em over the last 50 years. Simon Russel Beale is Falstaff.
Wish I could have seen Kevin Kline in the role.
Bamber is always good value. Just wonderful here.
I think Chimes at Midnight is the best Shakespeare on film I have seen, although I have not seen them all. It was not a single play , just an amalgamation of several. Welles is so uplifting and the film itself is one of the greatest ever made, not just from the Bard's pen. The black and white photography is stunning, and the battle scenes, well, perfection.
What about Sir Larry's Henry V??
@@carsonwyler4047 apples and oranges. and there's none of Henry V in "Chimes at Midnight," except for the death of Falstaff speech.
Very moving performance by outstanding actors.
I cannot watch this and help but think of the Movie Star Trek: The Undiscovered Country.
Placed in the rhetorical form *have we not heard the chimes of midnight?* and the sinister undertones that *this Party is going out with a bang.* Quite amazing the genius of Shakespeare. I find myself drawn to these performances in this *quarantine* confabble. I often think how nice if the Community put forth a Stage to perform all his works...The Tempest of course begetting top billing.
That was great. I only really know “chimes at midnight” obviously two completely different interpretations but both completely valid.
The best Falstaff ever and the best hal and that's from the Tower what the crown Wears the Rose that Blooms the Tree upon the Waters.
If hiddles introduces young ppl to Shakespeare, so much the better!
Shakespeare introduced me to Hiddleston. I started seeing his face all over hollywood blockbusters and kept saying "god save thee, royal hal!"
@@bigmikeystyle Same here! First encountered him as Cassio on an Othello recording.
I see somebody uploaded the video from my class reunion.
Very well done, and very moving. Although I like it better when Shallow is more garrulous than introspective, it makes him contrast more with Falstaff in this scene. Also, I felt Silence looked way too young, he is usually depicted as much older than Shallow, although he still provides a nice contrast to the other two.
The very definition of less is more..
David Bamber giving of Malcolm McDowell vibes . . .
This looks interesting, should check it out.
Oh, we like the film, very much. But we LOVE the actor! 3:)
Where can I watch this full episode??? Please!!
It’s part of the BBC’s Hollow Crown series, I think it’s on Amazon Prime in a lot of countries.
Awh, Tim McMullan :)
blackcitroenlove 🤢🤮
Can I do both?
Seriously, though. These are pretty dang fantastic films, so far. (Although in my never to be humble opinion, I actually enjoyed Richard II better than Henry IV pt 1, which surprised me since there is a big lack of Hiddleston in Richard II. Which means that it was just really good on it's own merits. I'm babbling. This is why I try not to comment online too often. :P)
SANTA!?
Reform. Reclaim. Recount.
I have always wanted a memory for recalling - well, text. Word for word acting. Dame Judi Dench recalled one segment she found challenging years before by reciting it to us. Alec McCowen was in the vicinity of original difficulty. St Mark's Gospel he was. No offence. I have Dame Judi Dench's word on it. It forgotten stanza may have been the End Piece of the documentary There Is Nothing Like a Dame; but as I said. I too sometimes have difficulty keeping My Word/s.
Reform. Reclaim. Recount. Recite.
Never understood that line, "We have seen the chimes at midnight."
"We have heard the chimes at midnight." Falstaff, in a rare somber moment, is making a metaphor that old age and death comes to all.
@@trinitymplayers And with Shakespearean double entendre he is also saying that they have indeed lived.
I also take it as Falstaff universalizing and thus kind of minimizing their youthful experiences (as opposed to Shallow’s flights of nostalgia). From the perspective of age, it all might seem like nothing much.
“We have heard the chimes at midnight” - one of Shakespeare’s most inspired lines. 2 Henry IV is “The Long Goodbye” for Jack Falstaff and this rendition captures the autumnal sadness of it all so beautifully. Falstaff knows he has wasted his life…his sojourn see the pathetic Justice Shallow is a sad reminder of the futility of his existence…very sad indeed especially at this point in the play, when Hal is on the cusp of Kingship and Jack well on his way to oblivion. Old friends who must be parted. Shallow is a lonely substitute.
Is that Catweazle?? :O
she can not choose to be other than that which she is.
cruel
Never seen Shakespeare interpreted by Tom Waits before.
dont like the camera work :/
Jesus !
This is pitiful. Have you seen Chimes At Midnight?
You repeat this comment without making any other comment. Yes I have seen the Chimes at Midnight. It is of its era. Indeed this scene as played out in Chimes at Midnight shows how fine this new production is. You say this is pitiful - come on - why ? Of course you can have an opinion as we all can but simply to rubbish something without an explanation trivialises your own comment. Perhaps you should note how many others think this excellent and moving.
I have seen many Falstaffs in my 68 years. Simon Russell Beale's is xtraordinary - poignant just wonderful.