Brideshead Revisited (1981) (Episode 6)

Part 6 of 11 of the classic period drama. Charles returns to Paris to continue his art studies, never expecting to see Brideshead again, but is astonished when Julia's boyfriend Rex Mottram turns up looking for Sebastian, who seems to of absconded with his money after travelling with him to place him in a sanatorium. And it seems it's not just Sebastian who is in a pickle as Rex informs Charles of the recent financial plight of the family. And Rex is not one to look a gift horse in the mouth as he announces to the family that he and Julia are to be married. This does not go down well with Lady Marchmain as the family is Catholic and Rex is not, and plans in no uncertain terms to rid the family of this new interloper. But Rex proves harder to shift than she imagined... Starring Jeremy Irons, Charles Keating, Diana Quick, Claire Bloom, Simon Jones, Phoebe Nicholls, John Le Mesurier, Jenny Runacre, Roger Milner, Kathy Edna Smith, Margot Mayhew and Susan Field. This episode I enjoyed immensely for the simple reason of the battle of wits between Rex Mottram and the controlling Lady Marchmain. Although you know that Rex is nothing more than a fortune hunter, what's so enjoyable is how he continually runs rings around the ghastly and seemingly unstoppable Lady Marchmain. The best part comes when she drags in the Catholic Father Mowbray (a wonderfully confused John Le Mesurier) to try and catch him out when she tells Rex that he would have to convert to Catholicism if he hopes to marry her daughter. What is equally impressive is Claire Bloom's portrayal of Lady Marchmain, a control freak who initially seems nice and reasonable, but subtly lets us know in glimpses her true character over the series. It's one of Bloom's best performances and what's nice to know is that she is still going strong at the age of 93!