The Gourmet - strange short film

[Backdrifter]

I was curious to know if anyone else ever saw this, because as far as I'm aware me and my brother are the only 2 people I know who saw this bizarre short film, made in the early 80s and starring Charles Gray and Mick Ford. It's about a gourmet who sets out to taste everything on Earth, including human flesh. After achieving this, he feels despondent and as though there's nothing else for him to taste now he's tasted everything on Earth, until a fellow gourmet explains to him how to taste something not from Earth.

Gray's character has one of the best character names ever  -  "Manley Kingston". It just cracks me up for some reason.

We happened upon it, channel-hopping late one night in the late 80s, on London region ITV. They don't show oddities like that any more. Someone else out there must have seen it!

[splodger]

I saw this film. Didn't he eventually eat a ghost
or ectoplasm?

[jamesy boy]

Yes, he held a seance and ending up scoffing a ghost.The idea was (ahem)"borrowed" by Mark Millar for a "Terror Tale" in 2000ad comic about ten years ago.In the comic, a public schoolboy with the same idea summons the Tooth Fairy during the seance, who proceeds to collect teeth from people's gobs!

Blimey!

[Backdrifter]

Guys - I know it's a bit late now but thanks for the replies, it's nice that the known viewing figures for this oddity have now doubled.

 

Yes, he summons up a ghost and then somehow manages to catch and fry it. It's seen in the frying pan as globules of white stuff - perhaps it is supposed to be ectoplasm as you said, splodger.

[goldcan]

Crikey.

And I thought that I was the only person who saw this.

Years have gone by with people raising eyebrows when mentioned it was about a chap who fried and cooked a ghost.

I had almost convinced myself that I had dreamt it.

I would love to see this again.

[Backdrifter]

goldcan, how on earth did you stumble across my question? I forgot I even posted it! So now we know a massive FIVE people saw it. I still think Manley Kingston is one of the best character names ever, and somehow seems strangely apt for a gourmet played by Charles Gray.

[DarthMelkor]

I have also seen the film, I would have been in my early teens I reckon and I loved the idea behind it.
For some reason over the last year or so I've been thinking about it. I've searched Youtube and the web but its very hard to find anything about it.
I'd love to see it again.
I'm glad you mentioned who starred in it, because for some reason I had images of Michael Gambon associated with it in my mind.

[willbank]

I went as far as searching out and emailing the producer (Ann Skinner). She was very kind, but said that it was never released on any current formats, so memories are all we have of this gem. If anyone finds a copy though, please, please, please let me know!

[pvw1949]

I saw this film when staying at my mother's for a weekend in the 80's. I have been looking to see if I could find it on DVD since as well as being a wonderfully quirky film, I have received nothing but odd looks when mentioning it to others...especially my wife. Thank you for vindicating me!

[captain_ghost]

I remember seeing this movie sometime in the 80s while channel hopping late at night. I sometimes think I might have dreamt it because it was such a weird premise. But I remembered Charles Gray was the lead actor and also the scene where he fries up the ghost which looked like some white blobs on the frying pan. I never really chanced asking anyone if they saw it in case they thought I was mad.