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.

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.

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,

I've seen almost all of 'em over the last 50 years. Simon Russel Beale is Falstaff.

This Falstaff is perfect... don't know how he does it but it's like Shakespeare comes naturally to him.

HOW did he not get an Emmy nomination for this????????? He should’ve.

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.

Bamber is always good value. Just wonderful here.

David Bamber as Shallow is wonderful

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.

Can't hide from me, Cicero!

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.

If hiddles introduces young ppl to Shakespeare, so much the better!

I see somebody uploaded the video from my class reunion.

That was great. I only really know “chimes at midnight” obviously two completely different interpretations but both completely valid.

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.

This looks interesting, should check it out.

SANTA!?

Awh, Tim McMullan :)

Oh, we like the film, very much. But we LOVE the actor! 3:)

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.

Is that Catweazle?? :O

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)

Where can I watch this full episode??? Please!!

Never understood that line, "We have seen the chimes at midnight."

Jesus !

she can not choose to be other than that which she is.

Never seen Shakespeare interpreted by Tom Waits before.

dont like the camera work :/

This is pitiful. Have you seen Chimes At Midnight?