"The Forsyte Saga" (1967)TV mini-series

Director:

James Cellan Jones

Writers:

John Galsworthy (novel)
Lennox Phillips (adaptation)

Seasons:

1

Release Date:

7 January 1967 (UK)

Genre:

Drama

Plot:

The Forsyte family is shown in Victorian respectability as they gather to meet June's fiance, the architect Philip Bosinney...

Plot Keywords:

Family Saga | TV Mini-Series | Based On Novel | Character Name In Title

Awards:

Won Primetime Emmy. Another 3 wins & 2 nominations

Cast

Terence Alexander	...	Montague Dartie (1 episode)
John Barcroft	...	George Forsyte (1 episode)
Fay Compton	...	'Aunt Ann' Forsyte (1 episode)
Deddie Davies	...	Millie (1 episode)
Ursula Howells	...	Frances Forsyte (1 episode)
Maggie Jones	...	Smither (1 episode)
Jenny Laird	...	Mrs Heron (1 episode)
Kenneth More	...	'Young Jolyon' Forsyte (1 episode)
Lana Morris	...	Helene Hillmer (1 episode)
Joseph O'Conor	...	'Old Jolyon' Forsyte (1 episode)
Susan Pennick	...	June Forsyte (1 episode)
Eric Porter	...	Soames Forsyte (1 episode)
Kynaston Reeves	...	Nicholas Forsyte (1 episode)
Fanny Rowe	...	Emily Forsyte (1 episode)
Campbell Singer	...	Lomax (1 episode)
Nora Swinburne	...	'Aunt Hester' Forsyte (1 episode)
Margaret Tyzack	...	Winifred Forsyte (1 episode)
John Welsh	...	James Forsyte (1 episode)
George Woodbridge	...	Swithin Forsyte (1 episode)

Runtime:

50 min (26 episodes)

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Certification:

Singapore:PG

Company:

British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)

Trivia:

The end credits say, "Music: Marcus Dods", but he only conducted the 'Eric Coates' (non-original) theme music.

Quotes:

[the family are discussing the Boers]
Soames Forsyte: They signed a contract, they must stick to it. I know there's something to be said for their point of view, but a contract is a contract.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "The Cult of...: Poldark (#2.3)" (2008)

Galsworthy's chronicle of property and possession. Not shown in the U.S. until the early '70s, it inaugurated the PBS TV series "Masterpiece Theatre."

As of this writing, all 26 episodes of this legendary series are available in the U.S. on DVD through BBC Video via Warner. For the past several evenings, I have been working my way through them, enchanted by its solid craft and thorough execution. What most impresses is the quality of the writing and acting, and how well it all holds up after nearly 40 years. Eric Porter's portrayal of Soames Forsyte is a remarkable creation: Caustic, selfish, sexually predatory, and haunted by sadness, it is among the small screen's great performances. This pillar of society is a suffering outsider and one of the series' most intriguing aspects is how the viewer's sympathies are subtly guided toward Soames and away from Jolyon and Irene as the saga progresses.

Soames may be loathsome in the early episodes, but age and a life of disappointment soften him into an admirable, if wintry, human being. Whereas Kenneth More's Jolyon and Nyree Dawn Porter's Irene seem more and more complacent and sanctimonious, especially in those scenes where Jolyon expounds endlessly on the need for freedom in human relations to a nodding, dewy-eyed Irene. Yet these two goody-goodies forbid their son Jon to pursue his love for Fleur! What is Jolyon, but a breezy, if fundamentally decent, charmer who blunders his way into an inherited fortune? And what is Irene, but a spineless beauty who cannot cope with the depth of Soames' feelings? (But then, who could?)

Other than the scenes where Soames appears, the later episodes relax. Nicholas Pennell is admirable as Michael Mont, the aristocrat with a heart-of-gold who marries the wayward Fleur (Susan Hampshire) and unintentionally causes endless unhappiness. His character underscores Galsworthy's essentially skeptical view of human endeavor. The outstanding cast included some of Britain's best performers of its day. Some went on to bigger things, such as the game Ms. Hampshire, but a review of the cast's vital statistics reveals that many have already passed away. This is their legacy.