''Bel Ami'' is a British five part television

costume drama Costume is the distinctive style of clothing, dress and/or cosmetics, makeup of an individual or group that reflects class, gender, occupation, ethnicity, nationality, activity or epoch—in short, culture. The term also was traditionally used ...

based on the 1885 French novel ''

Bel-Ami ''Bel-Ami'' (, "Dear Friend") is the second novel by French author Guy de Maupassant, published in 1885; an English translation titled ''Bel Ami, or, The History of a Scoundrel: A Novel'' first appeared in 1903. The story chronicles journalist ...

'' by

Guy de Maupassant Henri René Albert Guy de Maupassant (, ; ; 5 August 1850 – 6 July 1893) was a 19th-century French author, celebrated as a master of the short story, as well as a representative of the naturalist school, depicting human lives, destinies and s ...

. It aired in 1971 on

BBC 2 BBC Two is a British free-to-air public broadcast television channel owned and operated by the BBC. It is the corporation's second flagship channel, and it covers a wide range of subject matter, incorporating genres such as comedy, drama and d ...

. The series starred

Robin Ellis Anthony Robin Ellis (born 8 January 1942) is a British actor and cookery book writer best known for his role as Captain Ross Poldark in the 29 episodes of the 1975 BBC classic series ''Poldark (1975 TV series), Poldark'', adapted from a serie ...

as Georges Duroy,

Suzanne Neve Suzanne Neve (born 6 September 1939) is an English actress. She appeared regularly on British television during the 1960s, including the lead role of Isabel Archer in the BBC's 1968 adaptation of Henry James's ''The Portrait of a Lady'', for wh ...

as Madeleine Forestier,

Garfield Morgan Thomas Timothy Garfield Morgan (19 April 1931 – 5 December 2009) was an English actor who appeared mostly on television and occasionally in films. He had a regular role in ''The Sweeney'' as Detective Chief Inspector Frank Haskins. Early lif ...

as Jacques Rivat,

Elvi Hale Patricia Elvira Hake (29 January 1931 – 1 March 2025), known as Elvi Hale, was a British actress. She played Anne of Cleves in '' The Six Wives of Henry VIII'', broadcast in 1970. Life and career Hake was born on 29 January 1931, in Romford ...

as Clotilde de Marelle, Margaret Courtenay as Madame Walter,

John Bryans John Bryans (died 2 March 1989) was a British actor, who appeared frequently on television. He is possibly best known for his recurring role as Bercol during the first two series of ''Blake's 7''. He also appeared in the third series as the tor ...

as Monsieur Walter, Maurice Quick as Duroy's manservant,

Peter Sallis Peter John Sallis (1 February 1921 – 2 June 2017) was an English actor. He was the original voice of Wallace in the Academy Award-winning '' Wallace & Gromit'' films and played Norman "Cleggy" Clegg in ''Last of the Summer Wine'' from its 1 ...

as Norbert de Varenne,

James Cossins James Cossins (4 December 1933 – 12 February 1997) was an English actor. Born in Beckenham, Kent, he became widely recognised as the abrupt, bewildered Mr Walt in the ''Fawlty Towers'' episode "The Hotel Inspectors" and as Mr Watson, the fru ...

as Forestier and

Arthur Pentelow Arthur William Pentelow (14 February 1924 – 6 August 1991) was an English actor who was best known for playing Henry Wilks in ''Emmerdale Farm'', appearing from the first episode in 1972 until 1991. Early career Born in Rochdale, Lancashire, ...

as Tattel. British television historian Claire Monk wrote, "BBC Two's five-part ''Bel Ami'' indicatively exhibited the sexual attitudes of its time in its makers' insistence that the story of penniless opportunist Georges Duroy— a social outsider in Parisian society who ruthlessly uses sex to pursue his ambitions— as basically a comedy with the charms of a fantasy world."

Cast

as Georges Duroy *

as Madeleine Forestier *

as Jacques Rivat *

as Clotilde de Marelle * Margaret Courtenay as Madame Walter *

as Monsieur Walter *Maurice Quick as Manservant/Duroy's Manservant *

as Norbert de Varenne *

as Forestier *

as Tattle *

Wendy Allnutt Wendy Allnutt (born 1 May 1946) is an English stage and screen actress. She now teaches at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, leading a degree course in Training Actors Movement. Life Born in Lincoln, England, Lincoln, Allnutt trained for ...

as Suzanne Walter *

Michael Gover Michael Ole Phillipson Gover (31 August 1913 – 2 May 1987) was an English actor best known for his portrayal of Arthur Russell in the BBC television series ''Survivors''. He started acting late in life after failing in his dream of being an a ...

as M Larache-Mathieu * John Wentworth as Comte de Vaudrec *Mitzi Rogers as Rachel

Episodes

All five episodes from the series aired on

BBC Two BBC Two is a British free-to-air Public service broadcasting in the United Kingdom, public broadcast television channel owned and operated by the BBC. It is the corporation's second flagship channel, and it covers a wide range of subject matte ...

in colour from 8 May 1971 - 5 June 1971. The series is completely intact although none of the episodes have been released on VHS, DVD or any other home media platforms. The series is also not available to watch anywhere. #"Georges" (8 May 1971) #"Clotilde" (15 May 1971) #"Madeleine" (22 May 1971) #"Virginie" (29 May 1971) #"Suzanne" (5 June 1971)

References

External links

*
''Bel Ami''
at

BBC Genome Project The BBC Genome Project is an online searchable database of programme listings initially based upon the contents of the ''Radio Times'' from the first issue in 1923 to 2009. Television listings from post-2009 can be accessed via the BBC Programme ...

''Bel Ami''
at

British Film Institute The British Film Institute (BFI) is a film and television charitable organisation which promotes and preserves filmmaking and television in the United Kingdom. The BFI uses funds provided by the National Lottery to encourage film production, ...

1970s British television miniseries Works based on Bel-Ami 1970s British drama television series 1971 British television series debuts 1971 British television series endings BAFTA winners (television series) BBC television miniseries BBC television dramas British English-language television shows Television shows set in Paris Television shows based on works by Guy de Maupassant {{drama-tv-prog-stub