"Jesus, the Days that we Have Seen!". The Genesis of Orson Welles's "Chimes at Midnight"

However virtually unknown due to its difficult availability, Chimes at Midnight (1966) should be considered one of the most remarkable Shakesperean films. The focus is on the long way Welles had to go to realize his film. Chimes at Midnight, in fact, is the final act of a 35-year career which saw the director dealing with Shakespeare's history-plays, and in particular Falstaff’s character, in three stage productions. The ‘long and winding road’ to the film version proves not only Welles’s profound knowledge of Shakespeare’s work but also his special predilection for one of the most charming character created by the Bard.