THE CHARMER Revisited

Nigel Havers

THE CHARMER (6 part mini-series/1987. Director: Alan Gibson.

"Why did you do it -- any of it?" -- Clarice 
"Because I wanted to be like you." -- Ralph
"But my God, I'm bloody awful." -- Clarice

The time is England in the 1930's just before WW 2. Ralph Gorse (Nigel Havers) is a charming, attractive young man who only wants what others have by birthright, and he's willing to resort to rather anti-social methods to achieve his goals. Staying in a friend's house in a small village, he becomes acquainted with the middle-aged Donald Stimpson (Barnard Hepton) and the widow Joan Plumleigh-Bruce (Rosemary Leach). Donald and Joan have an "understanding" which may or may not result in marriage. But when Ralph enters the scene, Joan realizes how conventional and comparatively dull the solid Donald is.

Rosemary Leach and Nigel Havers

Donald is suspicious -- and jealous -- of Ralph right from the start. To Rosemary, Ralph represents romance, passion and excitement, and she all too eagerly becomes his business "partner." After sex, Joan enthuses "I feel alive again!" Therefore when Ralph disappears with her money she is inclined to be gullible and forgiving whereas Donald is strictly out for blood. Ralph winds up selling cars for the father (George Baker of Curse of the Fly) of an old girlfriend, Pamela (Abigail McKern), and is soon trapped in a loveless marriage, a situation that our boy will not let stand for very long. In the final episodes of the series, Ralph impersonates a soldier, romances a lonely war widow (Judy Parfitt), and is still pursued by Donald and an ever-smitten Joan. All the while he carries on a torrid romance with the upper-crust Clarice (Fiona Fullerton), who can't marry him because he has no money of his own.

Loves not wisely but well: Rosemary Leach

The Chamer was based on a novel entitled "Mr. Stimpson and Mr. Gorse" by Patrick Hamilton, also known for Rope, Gaslight, and Hangover Square. This mini-series, which I believe may have been broadcast on Masterpiece Theater, takes some liberties with the source material but is essentially faithful, if memory serves me, to the spirit of the novel. In the book Joan only appears in the early chapters but she is all through the mini-series, which -- considering how likable the character is and how excellent Rosemary Leach's performance -- is all for the better. Bernard Hepton is similarly marvelous as Donald. The series is full of fine character portrayals, as well as exemplary work by Fullerton, McKern, Baker, Parfitt, Gillian Raine as Pamela's mother, and others.

Bernard Hepton

And then there's Nigel Havers, who is simply outstanding. Ralph is not a person one should feel sympathy for, but Havers' emoting draws you into his world and psychology and almost makes you root for him. Havers is a busy British actor who appeared in Chariots of Fire and many other vehicles. Rosemary Leach was a similarly busy character actress, amassing over 130 credits, Bernard Hepton, who also mostly appeared on British television, had nearly as many. Fiona Fullerton was previously a Bond girl in A View to a Kill. The  Chamer beautifully illustrates how con artists give themselves enough rope to hang themselves, and also explores why people can be so forgiving of them -- because for a little while they bring some excitement and romance into their lives -- at least until the boom drops.

Verdict: Superb British mini-series with top-of-he-line performances. ****.