As well as the three plays that Shakespeare placed him in in person (Henry IV Parts I and II, and The Merry Wives of Windsor), Falstaff is mentioned in a fourth – Henry V – or, to be precise, his death is mentioned. In the words of Wikipedia, "he has no lines [in Henry V], nor is it directed that he appear on stage. However, many stage and film adaptations have seen it necessary to include Falstaff for the insight he provides into King Henry V's character. The most notable examples in cinema are Laurence Olivier's 1944 version and Kenneth Branagh's 1989 film, both of which draw additional material from the Henry IV plays."
© Haydn Thompson 2022