Chimes at midnight

It being roughly fifty years since the film was made, a recent DT Saturday supplement prompted BH who them prompted me to touch up Amazon for a copy of 'Chimes at midnight'.

A film of which BH had some prior knowledge as part of her English A level, but of which I had none, despite the parental enthusiasm for most matters bardic. It may have been something that my mother took one of her classes at LVC (see reference 1) to, but I have no recollection of such a thing. She did take them to Stratford, in its glory days as I have since learned.

In any event, Amazon produced the goods in its usual day or so and then the thing sat on the shelf for some weeks, waiting for us to be in the mood for an ancient film, with the moment finally coming a few days ago. We have now finished a first viewing, taking two takes over it. Very good it was too, wearing very well for such an old film.

A bit clowned up, but at least not camped up as such a thing probably would be now. Lots of wholesome girls from the lower orders romping about. All good clean fun - which was probably not how it was, at least most of the time, and a film made now would probably feel the need to rub the facts of life, as they were, in our faces.

Lots of good actors and actresses strutting their stuff. With Miss. Marple doing rather well as Mistress Quickly. Film rather good at old altogether, not least Gielgud, only 60 or so at the time the film was made, but already around fifteen years older than Henry IV when he died. Wikipedia also tells me that Henry may have suffered from psoriasis, although it is hard to be sure at this distance in time.

Lots of very striking shots. Either Welles or his cameraman had a very good eye. Perhaps a touch too keen on forests of spears.

Spanish settings - castles, barns and such - did very well, despite being rather improbable. Little problem in suspending disbelief.

Next stop, need to run down the next performance of part I or part II, both justly popular plays. Preferably not the Globe, who do not, to my mind, do very well at kings or queens and who really do lay on the clowning with a shovel.

PS: but to be fair, at least the Globe are there. Not quite the only show in town, but getting on that way.

Reference 1: http://www.lvc.org/pages/index.php. I think their web designer must be a fan of Windows 8. Tiles everywhere. There is also a zoo in the vicinity.

Reference 2: Henry IV, Part II, Act III, Scene 2, Line 210.