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Beau Brummell: This Charming Man (2006) Online

Beau Brummell: This Charming Man (2006) Online
Original Title :
Beau Brummell: This Charming Man
Genre :
Movie / Drama / History
Year :
2006
Directror :
Philippa Lowthorpe
Cast :
James Purefoy,Hugh Bonneville,Phil Davis
Writer :
Simon Bent,Ian Kelly
Type :
Movie
Time :
1h 18min
Rating :
7.2/10
Beau Brummell: This Charming Man (2006) Online

George 'Beau' Brummel, a penniless but witty London gentleman, maintains a refined lifestyle with his loyal servant, cook Robinson. Only the friendship of the unpopular Hanoverian heir and Prince Regent, George, Prince of Wales, who acclaims Brummel's fashionable invention, dandy-ism, keeps the creditors from his back, even allows him unconditional credit. Alas a triangle with lady Julia and the equally dubious poet Lord Byron ends up costing him the prince's favor, so his debts come bite him with a vengeance.
Cast overview, first billed only:
James Purefoy James Purefoy - Beau Brummell
Hugh Bonneville Hugh Bonneville - Prince Regent
Phil Davis Phil Davis - Master Servant Robinson
Elliot Levey Elliot Levey - Tailor
John Telfer John Telfer - Fop
Tim Hudson Tim Hudson - Fop
Zoe Telford Zoe Telford - Julia
Justin Salinger Justin Salinger - Richard Meyler
Nicholas Rowe Nicholas Rowe - Lord Charles Manners
Ian Kelly Ian Kelly - Lord Robert Manners
Jonathan Aris Jonathan Aris - Marquis of Worcester
Daniel Fine Daniel Fine - Cloth Merchant
Nick Richards Nick Richards - Snuff Merchant
Anthony Calf Anthony Calf - Duke of York
Matthew Rhys Matthew Rhys - Lord Byron

The white gown with beaded trim on the sleeves and down the front worn by a guest at the party where Brummel meets Byron is the same costume worn by Morven Christie (Jane Bennet) for the wedding in Ожившая книга Джейн Остин (2008).


User reviews

Geny

Geny

Beau Brummel Beau Brummel was an 18th Century gambler, socialite and overall dazzling light of high-society who invented the look of the Dandy. This was a time in history where the French ruled the world in terms of style and fashion and it was normal for men to wear white wigs with white makeup, reddened lips and cheeks in a style known as the fop. Brummell deconstructed masculinity and is actually responsible for the introduction of the trouser as the preferred form of clothing for the gentleman – up to now it had been the pantaloons or breeches.

His style was astonishing; he developed the trend for men to look carelessly smart, clothes simple, yet elegant – black trousers, jacket, white shirt and intricate neckerchief – but of course this took hours of preparation. He totally redefined how men should behave – how they would stand, smell, look, interact. He was closely associated with Lord Byron and also with Prince George – son of George III. Hereby hangs a tale of wealth, beauty, excess, comedy and tragedy.

James Purefoy and the assembled cast provide something quite astonishing in this rendition of the most astonishing tale of a man who styled the future king of England, who managed to squander several fortunes in such amazing style and panache that he makes it look like the most fun a human could ever have. The relationships between Brumell and his manservant, Byron and his sister, the gentlemen of high-society are so exquisite in this superb BBC production that I found my self totally seduced.

If you only watch this production for one scene it must be where the Prince Regent demands Beau come to show him how to dress "come and watch me!" he exclaims in exasperation, and the Prince does, and we do too. Such an erotic and charged scene – Purefoy shaving and preening in the morning sunlight, watched by first the Prince and then an array of admirers; this character was so seductive people would come for miles to see how he managed to assemble his dress.

The production is small in scale; a few well-chosen external sets, some spectacular location work used very carefully. But it is the script and the performances, framed so sympathetically by the director with a very well-judged soundtrack, which makes this a gem of a work. Forget the nonsense by Jane Austen, this is where the BBC set the screen on fire and if you get the chance to see this, you must. It is a production that just works so well and somehow burnt itself into my mind to linger in my mind long after the credits had rolled.
Roru

Roru

If you've ever wondered why billions of office peons worldwide dress in the same ridiculous outfit of dirt-attracting white shirt, pointless and suffocating tie and a suit which makes them look like their dead grandfathers and requires air conditioning in half of the world, then here's your culprit: an 18. century Englishman going by the wonderfully far-out name of Beau Brummel. Mind you, his dandy style was a great improvement over the earlier fops, which comprised cake makeup, sultry f*ck-me perfume, whigs and high heels, stuff that just goes a lot better with women.

Anyway, that's who this excellent BBC docudrama is about. It's set in a strange, dystopic world of not-so-long-ago and not-so-far-away, Regency England. It's just a joy to watch, it really takes you there. It's good on details too, such as the muted candle-lightning (Jupiter floodlights being thin on the ground in this era). It's superbly acted, teaches you a lot about the mood of the time, and entertains you all the while. It changed my image of Beau Brummel from caricature to flesh and blood.
Jazu

Jazu

Brummell was a self-made man in the REGENCY period of England. This film is a joy to watch, especially if you read Jane Austen and/or Georgette Heyer. A visual for all the costumes and "sets" from those books. Brummell MIGHT be considered a dandy, with his emphasis on appearance and ennui. His style was much more severe and monochromatic than any self-respecting (and caricature of a) dandy would have worn in that period. Understatement and elegance and refinement were his precepts. Yes, he spent hours getting ready, but no make-up, no extremes in style, no overly high shirt points, etc. For that type of dandy look at such other real life persons as Poodle Bing.