Legendary Director Martin Scorsese Hails Epic Film's Jaw-Dropping Battle Scene as the Ultimate Game Changer

Summary

Martin Scorsese praises Chimes at Midnight for having the best battle scene ever put on film, calling it distinct and unlike anything else.

Scorsese's exploration of Chimes at Midnight showcases his role as a highly regarded director who draws extensively from film history as a source of inspiration.

Scorsese appreciates originality and strives to create distinctive scenes, a characteristic evident in his exceptional works such as The Departed and The Irishman.

Legendary director Martin Scorsese has praised a 57-year-old drama for featuring the greatest cinematic battle scene of all time. Scorsese, known for his upcoming 3.5-hour epic "Killers of the Flower Moon" starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Robert DeNiro, and Lily Gladstone, explores the enigmatic murders of Osage tribe members in the United States. The highly anticipated crime drama is scheduled to be released on October 20.

During an interview with Time, Scorsese shared his admiration for Orson Welles's 1966 drama "Chimes at Midnight," calling it the best battle scene ever captured on film. According to the renowned director, this particular scene stands out among other action sequences in cinema history. Scorsese's quote on the matter can be seen below.

How Will Chimes At Midnight Influence Killers Of The Flower Moon?

If you're interested in studying Welles, I highly recommend watching Chimes at Midnight. This film offers a multitude of layers and depths. From its Shakespearean roots, it showcases exceptional filmmaking. When it comes to action scenes, Chimes at Midnight features the most impressive battle sequence ever captured on film. Notably, both the creators of Braveheart and ourselves extensively studied and drew inspiration from this remarkable film. It stands apart from Eisenstein's works, Alexander Nevsky, and, of course, Potemkin. Chimes at Midnight is truly one of a kind.

Chimes at Midnight is adapted from Shakespeare’s Henry IV, Part I, Henry IV, Part II, and Henry V. Despite being highly praised by critics, the film often goes unnoticed in Welles’ body of work. It is often overshadowed by his other notable films like Touch of Evil, The Lady from Shanghai, and his masterpiece, Citizen Kane. Scorsese's decision to spotlight Chimes at Midnight as having "the best battle sequence ever put on film" is intriguing, considering it is one of Welles' lesser-known works.

Scorsese’s extensive analysis of Chimes at Midnight exemplifies his position as a highly knowledgeable filmmaker who draws heavily from film history in his own creations. The influence of movies like Chimes at Midnight is likely to build anticipation for Scorsese's upcoming film, as indicated by the bloody and action-packed Killers of the Flower Moon trailer, which promises intense battle sequences. By studying Chimes at Midnight and potentially numerous other action scenes, Scorsese suggests the presence of well-executed action sequences in his future works.

In addition to the technical perfection Scorsese discovers in Chimes at Midnight, he openly admires its uniqueness by stating that there is “nothing quite like it.” This appreciation reflects the director's commitment to crafting distinct scenes, as demonstrated in standout films like The Departed and The Irishman. Hopefully, audiences will experience further glimpses of this originality in this year's Killers of the Flower Moon.

Source: Time