A scene from the movie Henry V (1989) where Falstaff meets a young Henry. This scene (with Falstaff) is actually from Henry IV, but was added into the movie as a flashback.
I keep thinking "they should have cast Welles as Falstaff. Oh wait, he was already dead. Well, Brian Blessed, then. Oh wait, he's already in this movie."
This was a brilliant flashback. I LIKE movies of Shakespeare. I think it translates perfectly, and is exactly what WS would be doing today. Even the simple fact that actors can sometimes whisper if they want is wonderful.
Will would have written for screen acting (where you can make use of whispers, close-ups etc that you can't do on stage) just as well as for stage, I reckon. Exuent, alarums and fade out.
Queen Elizabeth literally willed royally into existence the first ever fixfic when she commissioned "The Merry Wives of Windsor" to bring Falstaff back
Oh My Own Self, To many indulgences show us how not to be. To be self improved or not to be. Small favor always has it's rewards. I choose rewards of self denial. Brian A Koller
TheAsharedhett He has to cut ties with his former life, to show that he has risen above his youthful misadventures and become the man that will one day be a King.
And thus win and keep the respect of his subjects, in order to help unite his country, which during the reign of his father King Henry IV, was marred by a constant state of civil war, hence his campaign to France, uniting them against a common enemy. And Falstaff with his tonic lack of respect and genius at subversive would have in a sense been a far greater threat to Henry then all the French at the Battle of Agincourt.
The Prodigal Son: Harry is more pleasing having turned away from sin, then if he had always been good. No slouch, on human nature, that Bard. The scene where Harry turns his back on Sir John, breaks my heart each and every time (it’s not in Henry V).
+Vicente Gutiérrez It means that they have heard the bells tolling at midnight, which means they were up and having adventures when the towns and cities were asleep, so they all but had the run of the entire place. That's why he says "The days that we have seen!" meaning the times they've had together.
Jack is regaling us with all of his virtues. Virtues that would not make for a good and honest king. Harry has to give up his old carefree life with Jack if he wants to be not only king... but a ruler. So, basically, he denies Falstaff, and it so breaks his heart that it kills him.
It reminds us that Hal was a cold mofo planning his ascent from the start and he was always going to throw Falstaff under the bus when he was finished with him.
King Henry V's army is getting ready to go to war in France, which, if one survived, could be very profitable for the soldiers in his army. This motley, dirty crew are the disreputable friends of Henry or Prince Hal or Prince Harry, when he was still only the heir to the throne of his father, Henry IV. In the previous play, Henry IV, Part 1, King Henry IV grieves that his son is acting out in such a shameful and wonton manner. Nym was engaged to marry Mistress Quickly, a tavern keeper, casual prostitute and brothel madam, who jilted him to marry Pistol. Bardolph is trying to make the peace between the two rivals and former cronies before they all go off to war. Sir John Falstaff, was the leader of the gang and encouraged the prince to drink, gorge, whore and commit a robbery to finance their carousing. He was a much more fun and indulgent father-figure to Prince Hal, in contrast to the serious King Henry IV. So now Falstaff is upstairs dying of a broken heart as a result of the flashback scenes from Henry IV, Part 1, Hal rejects Falstaff and turn his back on his dishonest friends. Hal finally comes to his senses and decides to embrace his duties as a prince to join his father in fighting off a rebellion from the Welsh and the Percys in the the North including Henry Percy, also called Harry Hotspur due to his fiery temper. The king's faction wins when Hal kills Hotspur. In Henry IV, Part 2, Henry IV dies and Hal has to step up to his responsibilities as the new King. In the flashback, Falstaff was imploring the Prince of Wales not to forget Jack Falstaff when he becomes king, but to keep him in his same favored position, even if he drops the rest of the criminal low-lifes. Hal refuses to do this and starts off on his rocky path to redemption which comes to fruition in this play, Henry V. Young Christian Bale is playing the Boy, Falstaff's servant. The scene ends with Falstaff's death and his buddies' grief. Then they all head off to join up with the army for France.
In fact by the time he appears in this scene he would have been closer to 70 as Cousin Silence remarks that Falstaff and Justice Shallow had been at the Inns of Court "55 year ago".@@goodlookinouthomie1757
I love this movie, my fellow American friends are so stupid, they keep asking me what they are saying, and I keep telling them, they are speaking English, just have to listen closely....so uncultured...I understand it fine.
" Kill the boys in the luggage. Tis expressly against the law of arms. Tis as errant a piece of knavery mark you now as can be offered". Since most Americans could not begin to comprehend What Sir Ian meant (and this example is rather easy imo),you would have to explain it to them as thus= They killed the boys that were in the rear with the gear. That's against Geneva,I'll tell ya it doesn't get anymore fucked up than that. I know what you mean Theseus, the modern American English doesn't roll of the tongue the way Ian Holms Shakespearien vernacular does.I wish the English speaking world still conversed in this manner. Btw,my friends as well."What's he saying? What did he mean by that? How do you watch this crap?I just sigh and say "that's alright boys,why don't you guys watch Mike Judges Idocracy.I think you stand a better chance of picking up the dialog and possibly learning something about the fate of the English language in the process. Thank you for pointing that out good my countryman.I'm in complete agreement.
virtualjones Well said, to many today would rather watch the mindless drivel, propaganda sitcoms. So many couldn't even tell you who Henry V was (historical or the Shakespearean play). What is your favorite Shakespeare story? I'd have to say MacBeth.
virtualjones That's a good one too, did you see the movie of it yet? It's kindof an artsy movie, they are Romans but with added modern technology to it. It has Anthony Hopkins in it, and Jessica Lange.
Theseus9 I am hoping I don't sound like a "stupid American". I understand Shakespeare's plays just fine for the most part. When I was 13 we had to study Shakespeare in school and I like most of the others in class were not looking forward to it. But that was the year Romeo and Juliet came out. It was like a revelation, you put words together with actions or expressions and you can follow along quite easily. I wasn't afraid of it anymore. My husband and I watched Henry V so much it must have rubbed off on our kids, they love it and can understand it very well. Cheers from California
