Peppercorn-Wormser Film Enterprises
Directed by Orson Welles
My rating: 2 stars out of 4
IMDb Wikipedia
(Blu-ray, Criterion Collection)
King Henry IV has taken over the throne of England by killing Richard II. The true heir to the throne is being held prisoner, and after Henry refuses to rescue him relatives plot to overthrow him. Meanwhile, Henry's son is hanging out with a gang of thieves and prostitutes, lead by the jovial Falstaff, at the Boar's Head Tavern. They rob some pilgrims and then get drunk and make fun of the king. While visiting his royal father, the younger prince is admonished for his lifestyle but when threatened with an uprising vows to fight. In a pivotal battle scene, he leads the King's army to victory in the Battle of Shrewsbury while Falstaff bumbles around in the bushes. Years later, the King's health fails and his son takes over the crown. Falstaff, believing his old friend will give him power, travels to the coronation but instead is banished by the new king. He dies the same night in the old tavern. Ostentatious adaptation by Welles of several Shakespeare plays, muddied by an incoherent plot and his own over-the-top performance as the insanely rotund Falstaff.
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