Customer Reviews

Beau Brummell - This Charming Man

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Who knew that Beau Brummell was the tabloid celebrity of his day. James Purefoy is just amazing as Beau - the man that changed the way men dressed. Matthew Rhys from Brothers & Sisters has a small but great role as Lord Byron.
The music is very catchy and I just had fun with this story.

(Spoilers ahead) I was just so overjoyed that someone spent some time to make a film based on "the Beau" that was not some cinematic concoction!

The film gives the major elements of Beau Brummell's life: his vanity and cockiness, his influence on the Prince Regent and on men's fashion, credited with getting men out of knee breeches in into trousers. We see him preen and see the pursuit of the bailiffs who come to take payment of his extravagances. We see how his familiarity with the Prince Regent has a limit, and his wit finally oversteps its boundaries, leading to his social demise. The film infers that Brummell was also a lover of Lord Byron as well as courtesan Julia Johnstone, in a brief menage a trois.

What we don't see is the sad end of this man, his dying in a charity house of tertiary syphilis. There was not too much displaying his well-known caustic wit that would no doubt render the film character unlikeable. There is not even a hint at the real end of the man. The audience is robbed of a conclusion. Maybe the director's vision was a feel-good movie, as upbeat as the catchy film soundtrack. Those not familiar with Brummell's life presume he skipped off to Paris to escape his debts and lived in obscurity. The truth is much less candy-coated.

James Purefoy makes an admirable Beau, far too confident for his own good. The costuming is well-done and the scene of the Beau's toilette for the Prince and his cronies is hilarious.

I highly suggest reading the engaging and thorough biography written by actor Ian Kelly, "Beau Brummell: The Ultimate Man of Style," on which the film is loosely based. It is well researched and makes no sweeping, unfounded assumptions about the life of Beau Brummell. It is interesting to note that Mr. Kelly had a minor role in this film as one of the Beau's "body dandiacal."

Quite entertaining story of how dandyism came to be. Beau Brummel changed men's fashion from the foppish style of wearing wigs, makeup, and overdecorated clothes to the more sedate, manly style that we love in Regency movies. The story is not that deep but it does have some moral lessons like the price of extravagance and valuing loyalty and friendship. James Purefoy is perfect for the role Beau Brummel. What became of Beau Brummel was quite common during his time when men were addicted to gambling and excessive spending. He quit England to escape debtor's prison but at least he left a legacy of tasteful fashion that still evident today.

The movie is beautifully done -- costumes, settings, cinematography. The story is about a friend of the Prince Regent who radically changes how men dress. It is also about a compulsive gambler and debtor. He risks the friendship of the Crown Prince for the pleasures of Byron.

The main character seems a bit shallow; (Beau Brummel), but I enjoyed it enough to watch it twice the same week I bought it. If you're not expecting a cinematic masterpiece, go ahead and get it if you find it for a decent price. It's entertaining enough.

"Beau Brummell: This Charming Man" is a brief, romantic look into the life of the man who finally changed the ridiculous attire that had been a tradition for many years of wearing a powdered wig, make up and stockings to a new form of appearance, later known as the "Dandy". This consisted of a ruffled shirt, overcoat, trousers, high boots and top hat and cane in the traditional "Dickensian" manner to which we as audiences are accustomed to gaze upon.
There is something about this film and I believe that it is the lively musical score, which fits the film perfectly and encourages a certain "pace" about it.
His influence over George IV to accept the "Dandy" look as the new "manly" form of gentlemen's dress essentially turned the tide of fashion history. Although Brummell himself is an extremely flawed and immoral character, we tend to accept his faults.
What is unbelievable but true is that people used to pay to watch him dress in the morning, which could take several hours, in order to understand the nature of the fashion revolution that was upon them.
Recommended as a very different departure from the usual. There is a funny "confrontation" scene where two "FOPS" meet Brummell and his Servant dressed as "Dandys". They mutually insult each otherand break out into "fisticuffs" but the "Dandy" wins easily due to the greater mobility in their new threads! Lead actor Purefoy is a pleasure to watch!

You can't read other's reviews if there AREN'T ANY! Amazon did not even have this movie yet so I had to purchase it from Amazon.com.uk! So the "voting buttons" are missing. How snitty amazon can be! Period dramas are my favorite type of movie. James Purefoy (Rome,Vanity Fair, Mayor of Casterbridge, The Tenant of Wildfell Hall, Mansfield Park)is one of my favorite actors, so this movie was destined to be a favorite! Historically it is of great value. Just think, if it weren't for Beau Brummel, our men might still wear ruffles. The most excellent supporting cast includes Hugh Bonneville(also of Mansfield Park)and Matthew Rhys. My only complaint is that this movie is too short. I am sure this story deserves more than it's length of only 79 minutes and someone should be "horse whipped" or at least ashamed of the stunted state of this production. Now, if we might only be able to purchase "Blackbeard" starring James Purefoy, on DVD as well! One may only hope! UPDATE: Blackbeard is finally now available in this country,a National Geographic production.

I wanted to know more about how Beau Brummell influenced fashion and hygiene. The movie hardly covered these important aspects. It focused more on Brummell's debts and gambling. I wanted to know how people reacted when he walked into a ballroom or drawing room when he did not wear high heels, a powdered face, or wig. I wanted to know how people reacted to his darker colors and simpler masculine, less-effeminate style. How long did it take to change men's fashion? Brummell made a courageous statement in fashion, and yet there was no grandiose cinematic show of it. There was one scene where gentlemen came to watch him dress, but there was little explanation as to why they would waste their time. Wigs and perfume were all used to mask the lack of bathing, and yet there was no significant statement of the change Brummell enacted. How did he convince men to bathe more often and how did he influence the importance of personal hygiene for both men and women? There was more to be told of the story and the movie failed.

If you are a James Purefoy fan, this movie is a must. Very entertaining. James is absolutely adorable in this, his acting and his presence.

I was disappointed in this movie. From the description, I thought it would be more comprehensive regarding Beau Brummell's rise to popularity in Regency England. It was more 'artistic'. I would not recommend.