MovieChat Forums > Poldark (1977) Discussion > Demelza and Hugh Armitage

Demelza and Hugh Armitage

posted 18 years ago by chaotic_chiquita
9 replies | jump to latest

I absolutely loved Hugh Armitage, he was so lovely and innocent, and his infatuation for Demelza was so sweet. And she clearly felt deeply for him also I believe. Demelza always gained male attention but she always ignored it, except this time. That day on the beach it was clear that her and Hugh shared something. Demelza reads a poem afterwards which Hugh wrote her about 'that fateful day'. So I wonder... how far did things go on the beach?

I also wonder what would have happened if Hugh hadn't died? I would never have believed that Demelza would leave Ross for anything, and yet she tried to when Ross slept with Elizabeth. Due to Hugh losing his sight, I think she may have went to Hugh, not just out of love but some pity as well. I think they would have made an excellant couple too!

Does anybody else share my love of this character! Or is this just a typical schoolgirl-like-crush which I seem to get often.

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[–] soleil_9992000 18 years ago

It's been quite some time since I've viewed Poldark I and II, but I enjoyed the series so much. I've also read the first series of Poldark books by Winston Graham. According to the book(s), Demelza and Hugh did consummate their physical relationship while they were at the beach. (Brian Stirner was the actor who played Hugh).

As I remember, the character was a gentle sort of soul. He was quite taken with Demelza, and she allowed herself to be swept away for a time by the mutual attraction. Although she loved Ross, this was the first time she had been strongly tempted by another man since falling in love with Ross. She had been so angry and hurt by Ross's succumbing to passion with his former love, Elizabeth, that she'd attempted to have an affair with a Scottish officer at a local party, but found she could not go through with it. I think that was in Poldark I. The Hugh Armitage character comes into the story a few years later in Poldark II.

The bond between Ross and Demelza was so strong that I don't think Demelza would have left Ross. However, Hugh dies, so I guess we'll never know what would have happened had his character lived.

I hope that this will be on DVD in the U.S. sometime (I know I'm echoing the hopes of a host of other Poldark fans).

[–] thatsnumberwang 15 years ago

Maybe their relationship is better in the books, but the actor that played Armitage in the TV show was simpering, wimpy and not much to look at. Frankly, I couldn't see why Demelza paid him any attention.

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[–] randommovies2002 15 years ago

Their relationship in the books is drawn in slightly more detail than in the series. Ross and Demelza had reached a flat spot in their relationship and I think Demelza was vulnerable to someone like Hugh. He wrote poetry to her, and courted her-- which is something that she'd never experienced before. If her relationship with ROss had been on solid ground, I don't think she would have been vulnerable to Hugh's "charms."

Winston Graham deliberately gave every "good" character in the series faults to make them human, even Demelza.

[–] madillok 14 years ago

I agree that I could not see the attraction between Hugh and Demelza in the series. I'm reading the books now and have not gotten to that part. Watching the series I was honestly furious with Demelza for what she was doing with Hugh.

Later I realized Demelza did not have a romance with Ross in the traditional sense whether you knew her via the book or TV series. She enjoyed the wooing by Hugh and Ross was being very distant with her during that time, if I remember correctly.

I have enjoyed this series so much. Back in the 70's I was too busy to even be aware of it. And, if I had, the reception I had for PBS wasn't good and would not have watched it.

[–] greenegg 13 years ago

Demelza never had girlish flirtations, other than with Ross, whom she first meets at quite a young age. Ross was preoccupied while Hugh paid court to Demelza, and she naturally felt flattered by Hugh's attentions. She would not leave Ross for Hugh, even if the latter had survived; Armitage was just one of those ships that pass in the night and anchor for a time. Demelza describes her infatuation with Hugh much more clearly in the novels.

Brian Stirner, who played Hugh, suffered with a bad wig and some poor direction, which made it seem odd when Demelza succumbed to his dubious charms. Everyone I knew melted over the dishy Robin Ellis, so I wondered at the time why they didn't find someone more attractive to play Armitage. Ironically, Stirner had previous experience playing a character who cuckolded another literary husband when he played one of Madame Bovary's lovers in a series that also aired in the 70s. Stirner looked more enticing in Madame Bovary.

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[–] randommovies2002 13 years ago

Stirner looked more enticing in Madame Bovary.

Indeed he did! (And wasn't Francesca Annis gorgeous in that production? I loved her saffron dress with flowers, for the ball.)

[–] marianapineda 13 years ago

I don´t read the novels and I am enjoying very much this post.

[–] gearhart 12 years ago

"Later I realized Demelza did not have a romance with Ross in the traditional sense whether you knew her via the book or TV series. She enjoyed the wooing by Hugh and Ross was being very distant with her during that time, if I remember correctly."

I'm at this point in the series now. Ross recognizes what's happening and he even talks about Hugh to Demelza, but his reaction isn't very perceptive. Instead of saying something like "I can't bear the thought of another man touching you" or "I understand why Hugh would love you, you're beautiful and sweet and smart" yadda yadda lovey dovey stuff -- he says "I rely on your good judgment."

I hadn't seen the series since it originally aired in 1975, and I didn't remember the Hugh and Demelza story line. When they met at Caroline's wedding, there was an obvious attraction, from both of them -- meaningful eye contact. In later scenes, they're very relaxed and natural with each other. At this point (no beach scene yet), it seems that Demelza is flattered and charmed but not thinking about Hugh "in that way".

Edit: In the following episode, Demelza finds out that Ross and Elizabeth were together in the churchyard and that there was a kiss. Jud (the old rogue) said Ross kissed her, when in fact it was Elizabeth who kissed Ross. Before this, Demelza had told Caroline that she had no romantic feelings for Hugh, and she's very believable. Now she's upset, like she was when Ross was away for a whole night, with Elizabeth. It's obvious, what's going to happen.

[–] Venus-25 12 years ago

Hugh Armitage isn't half the man Ross is. I never got this at all unless it was an attempt to live some young girl's fantasy that she never had a shot at.

Had he been played by a more attractive actor I would have found it far more believable.

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