The Forsyte Saga
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Forsyte Saga is a series of three novels and two interludes by John Galsworthy. They chronicle, with irony, humour, and pathos, the vicissitudes of the leading members of the upper-middle-class Forsyte family. Only a few generations removed from their farmer ancestors, the family members are keenly aware of their status as "new money." The main character, Soames Forsyte, sees himself as a "man of property," by virtue of his ability to accumulate material possessions—but this does not succeed in bringing him pleasure.
Separate sections of the saga, as well as the lengthy story in its entirety, have been put on film. The first book, The Man of Property, was adapted in 1949 by Hollywood as That Forsyte Woman, starring Greer Garson, Errol Flynn, Walter Pidgeon and Robert Young. The BBC also has produced a hugely-popular mini-series in 1967. In 2002, Granada Television produced two series for the ITV network called The Forsyte Saga and The Forsyte Saga: To Let. The 1967 version inspired the popular Masterpiece Theatre television program, and the tow Granada series made their runs in the US as part of that program.
The Forsyte Saga (2002 miniseries)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
In 2002 the first two books and the first interlude were adapted by Granada Television for the ITV network, although, like the 1967 production, the miniseries took many liberties with Galsworthy's original work. Additional funding for this production was provided by American PBS station WGBH, the BBC version having been a success on PBS in the early 1970s.
Episode plots
One
The Forsytes gather to celebrate Winifred Forsyte's (Amanda Root) engagement to Montague Dartie, a penniless but charming man. Her cousin Young Jolyon (Rupert Graves) is absent from the party. We find he is at home with his daughter, June, and her governess, Helene. They are involved in a minor flirtation, but their feelings for each other are realized when his wife, Frances falsely accuses him of an indiscretion. He cheats on her only after this accusation, and he then decides to leave Frances. Young Jolyon finds himself cut off from the Forsyte fortune and family.
Nine years later, Young Jolyon has a son with Helene, and a daughter on the way. He tries to get some of the family money to afford a larger house, but his cousin, Soames Forsyte (Damian Lewis) refuses him. A prosperous partner in the family law firm, Soames becomes interested in the beautiful but poor, Irene Heron, (Gina McKee). Though at first she considers him, he ultimately does not appeal to her because of his desire to own things. For example, they are at an art gallery, and she sees the beauty of a painting, while he sees it as something to be owned and mounted in his hallway. When he proposes, she refuses him. She comes to visit his family, and flouts social expectations when she dances with Winifred when she is supposed to be in mourning. Intrigued by her beauty and danger, Soames forgoes the rules and asks her to dance.
Six months later, Winifred gives birth to her first child, Imogen. Montie gives her string of pearls as a gift. She wonders how he could have afforded them seeing as how her father did not settle money or a house on Winifred when she married. At another dance, Soames attempts to show his passion for Irene, but ends up vulgarly kissing her hand in public. She is mortified, but her step mother shuts her out of the house, in the rain for refusing him again.
