How did Orson Welles portray Falstaff in Chimes at Midnight?

In his 1965 film Chimes at Midnight (also known as Falstaff), Orson Welles cast himself as the iconic Shakespearean character Sir John Falstaff. Rather than portraying him solely as a comedic buffoon, Welles presented a "shambling, stumbling" figure who serves as the film's emotional centerpiece.1

Welles’s performance is widely regarded as a moving tribute that does justice to the character's tragic fate. By synthesizing elements from several of William Shakespeare’s works—including Henry IV, Part 1, Henry IV, Part 2, The Merry Wives of Windsor, Henry V, and Richard II—Welles crafted a nuanced portrayal that elevated Falstaff beyond his traditional role as a reckless, egotistical companion to Prince Hal, grounding the character in a deeper, more somber reality.12