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Amazon.com's Price: $29.98 Prices subject to change.
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Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
Audience Rating: Unrated
Binding: DVD
EAN: 0743457158428
Format: Color, DVD-Video, NTSC
Label: Goldhill Home Media
Manufacturer: Goldhill Home Media
Number Of Items: 2
Publisher: Goldhill Home Media
Region Code: 1
Release Date: December 16, 2003
Sales Rank: 39981
Studio: Goldhill Home Media
Editorial Review:
Description:
Starring: Nigel Havers, Bernard Hepton, Rosemary Leach, Fiona Fullerton, David McKail. Based on the novel ‘Mr. Stimpson & Mr. Gorse’ by Patrick Hamilton. On the surface Ralph Gorse is a charmer in every sense of the word: handsome, suave and stylish, sparkling company and the possessor of a sexual magnetism that attracts most women h e encounters. But the charm is a veneer. Gorse is a con man and sexual adventurer, whose conquests are merely a way of obtaining his heart’s desires: money and power. VOLUME ONE Episode One – The Tempter Ralph Gorse, down to his last pennies, meets Joan Plumleigh-Bruce in a roadhouse. She is attracted to Gorse, despite the difference in their ages. But Plumleigh-Bruce has another suitor, the stolid Donald Stimpson, who is attracted by her regular income, her pleasant house and the promise – yet unfulfilled – of sex. Gorse lures the jealous Stimpson into a sordid night at a pleasure house in a scheme of subtle blackmail. Episode Two – The Investor Gorse allies himself with Clarice Mannor’s fast socialite crowd and continues to fortify his relationship with the romantically-swayed Plumleigh-Bruce with whom he opens a joint bank account for depositing the promised fruits of their future investments. Stimpson casts a jealous and suspicious eye over their financial and romantic liaisons. VOLUME TWO Episode Three – The Deceiver Gorse flees to Brighton where he finds employment as a car salesman and begins romancing the innocent and lovely daughter, Pamela, of his boss, Harold Bennett. Stimpson’s dogged inquiries have uncovered Gorse’s whereabouts; and with the swindled Plumleigh-Bruce in tow, he proceeds to Brighton to confront Gorse with the evidence. Episode Four – Gorse in the Middle Gorse marries the pregnant Pamela and settles uncomfortably into married life. Bennett, father of the bride, still suspicious of Gorse’s motives, buys the newlyweds a house. The deed is solely in the bride’s name, but Gorse has a scheme to turn the tables – and collect the insurance. VOLUME THREE Episode Five – The Imposter Gorse is drafted for military service, but army life is not his cup of tea. He decides not to return from a brief furlough and checks into a fashionable Brighton seaside hotel where he exchanges identities with a drunken R.A.F. officer. Shortly afterward, a corpse is found on the beach bearing Gorse’s identity papers. Episode Six – Gorse at the End Plumleigh-Bruce and Stimpson are summoned to Brighton to verify the identity of the body bearing Gorse’s papers. Plumleigh-Bruce can’t face the gruesome prospect and flees to their hotel where she bumps into Alison Warren, Gorse’s latest conquest. Plumleigh-Bruce’s story confirms Warren’s mounting suspicions. She confronts Gorse with the truth and threatens to expose him. Cornered, he takes desperate measures to escape his pursuers.
Customer Reviews
Average Rating: 
Rating: - "The Charmer" is one you won't want to miss
It's rare that a program makes you root for the villain and despise the "good guys", if there are any good guys in this wonderful production, but "The Charmer" does just that.
Nigel Havers plays Ralph Gorse, a handsome immoral man who has one goal in life, to rise above his station. This series takes place in the 1930's, when England as indeed most places, was still very class conscious. Unless you came from a good family, which meant old money, not money coming from "trade" like Ralph's ... Read More
Rating: - A charming black comedy with a charming cad. Fine performances by Nigel Havers, Bernard Hepton and Rosemary Leach
"Not too tight, old boy," says Ralph Gorse at the end of The Charmer. We've spent nearly 312 minutes leading up to this point. They are 312 well spent minutes.
Gorse (Nigel Havers) is a charming English con man in the early Thirties. He lives by his amoral wits, seducing, enticing and working the side deals. He wants everything he isn't and everything he hasn't. Eventually he works his way up to murder. The Charmer, a wonderful Masterpiece Theater presentation now twenty years old, maintains ... Read More
Rating: - THE CHARMER
I saw this years ago on Public Television and thought it was excellent. So good, in fact, that several years later, I'm looking to purchase a copy for my library. Very British, very well acted and well laid out, from beginning to end. I thoroughly recommend if you're a fan of British television programming.
Rating: - Did the "charmer" really deserve what he got in the end?
Saw it on tv - it was a mini series at the time - and
I just loved it. The acting is very good, the story
itself excellent...when you get to the very end of
the story you begin to feel some sort of sympathy for
the bad boy because he was at times misunderstood, and
used as well. I was fortunately enough to get the videos
from the N.Y. Public Library, though sometimes one or two
at the time, but every time I watched it, I loved every
minute of it....even the sad end.
Rating:  - MASTER OF DECEIT
Ralph Gorse's boyish smile is enough to melt the heart of any woman. His honesty and caring personality captures their trust and loyalty. Ralph is the man that every woman wants until of course you go deeper into this charmer's life.
In this six part series we meet a man who has the uncanny ability to swindle women who fall in love with him. Ralph is young and ambitious but at his core we find a man who is a heartless schemer. Ralph can wiggle his way out of any situation no matter how bad it ... Read More
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