Product Description

The story of Soames Forsyte, a solcitor and the wealthy head of a middle-class family in London during the 19th century.
Genre: Feature Film-Drama
Rating: NR
Release Date: 8-OCT-2002
Media Type: DVD

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #11694 in DVD
• Brand: LEWIS,DAMIAN
• Released on: 2002-10-08
• Rating: NR (Not Rated)
• Aspect ratio: 1.85:1
• Formats: Box set, Closed-captioned, Color, Anamorphic
• Original language: English
• Number of discs: 3
• Dimensions: .76 pounds
• Running time: 426 minutes

Amazon.com
Granada Television's adaptation of The Forsyte Saga achieved the seemingly impossible in spring 2002, matching the BBC's 35-year-old black-and-white classic version with a richly cast and superbly directed take on John Galsworthy's first two novels. The success of these six 90-minute episodes proved that despite the current emphasis on miniseries and dramas developed around the hot actor of the moment, our appetite--and attention span--still craves ensemble pieces that are given space and time to develop. It also demonstrates that nothing generates television gold like a compelling family drama crammed with lust, rape, class conflict, and the insuperable power of money.

The Forsyte Saga is nothing if not superior soap opera. It could all have gone horribly wrong, haunted by the specter of its BBC predecessor--a television legend for anyone over 40. Instead, it succeeds entirely on its own merits with scarcely a weak link--from Stephen Mallatratt's taut and fluid script to David Moore's carefully measured, seamless direction. Risks were taken to banish the old ghosts, particularly in the casting. Damian Lewis's repressed Soames and Gina McKee as his ill-matched bride, the enigmatic Irene, are inspired choices delivering complex portraits of unhappy, damaged human beings who deserve our sympathy. In a sea of marvelous cameos and splendid acting, the top honors go to Corin Redgrave and Rupert Graves for their hauntingly sensitive interpretations of old and young Jolyon, as well as to Amanda Root for her increasingly exasperated Winifred and Gillian Kearney for her sharply intelligent and worldly June. --Piers Ford

From the Back Cover
"stunning any way you look at it" -- Vanity Fair A story that became a benchmark for appointment television in the 1960s returns in a lavish new production with an all-star cast. Damian Lewis (Band of Brothers) stars as Soames Forsyte, a successful London solicitor and wealthy scion of a respectable upper middle-class Victorian family. Soames marries the beautiful Irene - all he needs to complete his golden existence - but finds that he can never truly possess her. Based on the first two of John Galsworthy's nine books about the Forsytes, this sweeping drama follows the family through two tumultuous decades that reflect the pivotal times in which they live. Also starring Gina McKee (Notting Hill) and Ioan Gruffudd (Horatio Hornblower), Rupert Graves (Mrs. Dalloway) and Corin Redgrave (Enigma).

DVD SPECIAL FEATURES include a "making-of" featurette, John Galsworthy biography, production photos and cast biographies.

Customer Reviews

Not perfect but good enough on its own terms
Some of my readers might have very warm recollections of the 1967 black and white BBC mini-series (from before, I believe, the term was coined) that brought to life in 26 episodes and 21 hours all six of the nine novels written by John Galsworthy under the supertitle "The Forsyte Saga." Few video adaptations quite as good were to come again until "The Pallisers" attracted millions, and both would be very difficult to improve upon. Well, Granada has tried with what might be an 18 part remake of the Galsworthy saga; and the first series of 6 is now available on three DVDs from Acorn Media.

Taken on its own terms, it is extremely good--but not perfect--and had me and wife pretty well riveted to the screen on three successive evenings. It did not, however, erase fond memories of the earlier version. Now the 1967 version was "studio-bound, with static camera work, long scenes and long speeches" (as the press release puts it). What the release leaves out was superb acting by established stars and by newcomer Susan Hampshire whose Fleur made her a star.

For example, Eric Porter made Soames a sympathetic human who hurt himself more than he hurt others, especially his miserable first wife Irene. In the 2002 version, Damian Lewis, looking like a demonic Steve McQueen, is 99% pure villain; and his mother's recollection of how he loved a pet cat to death does little to soften his character. It is only in the very last minute of the last episode that he softens--but I will not tell you why.

Another problem is the actress playing Irene, Gina McKee. The original Irene was portrayed by the extremely beautiful Nyree Dawn Porter; and all of the comments in the script about her looks were not contradicted by what we saw of her. Here (at the risk of being attacked for being another John Simon), McKee is simply attractive but by no means beautiful. In fact, some of the profile shots make her quite unattractive; and somehow all the praises the other characters sing about her are not justified visually. Then too, Soames' sister, played in 1967 by Margaret Tyzack, was always referred to as unattractive and lucky to catch a husband at all, even if he is a "bounder." Here Amanda Root, being very pretty indeed, draws no such disparaging comments in this new script.

The rest of the cast-- Ioan Gruffudd, Rupert Graves, Gillian Kearney, Corin Redgrave, and so many more that I could only wish Acorn Media had provided a booklet with the cast as it did for "The Pallisers"--can stand comparison with the 1967 actors.

The production values are just fine, but all too often the camera work becomes annoyingly "innovative" when one character close to the camera is speaking to one further away, and they are brought alternatively in and out of focus as they speak or listen.

But, as a comic Shakespearean character says, comparisons are odious. Again, on its own terms, this is a very enjoyable if somewhat flawed remake of (so far) the first two Forsyte novels; and I can honestly recommend them for once and future viewing as I look forward to the next releases when they are filmed. But let us yet hope for some Kind Soul to restore the 1967 version not too long in the future.

Good Remake--But the earlier version is much superior
I approached this remake with an open mind, having already been enchanted by the novels and the original series on PBS. This series is good, but suffers greatly from miscasting of pivotal character of Irene Heron Forsyte. Gina McKee, a talented actress, does not convey the mystery and allure of Irene the way Nyree Dawn Porter had already done in the original series. Gina McKee's coldness and drabness makes it hard to believe that men would be captivated by her. For instance, I found it hard to believe that Philip Bosinney would throw over sweet and pretty June for this coldblooded woman. Nyree Dawn Porter on the other hand was Irene Forsyte, matching the description of Galsworthy as a beautiful woman with brown eyes and blonde hair who was charming. Ms. Porter effectively portrayed the aversion she had for Soames Forsyte, her first husband, and the warmth and devotion she showed to her second husband, Young Jolyon and their son, Jon. She made it easy to understand why Bosinney would leave June for her.

The male characters were better: Rupert Graves, Ioan Gruffaud, Damien Lewis, and Corin Redgrave were wonderful. Damien Lewis captured the tormented Soames quite well and Ioan Gruffaud was an improvement over the actor who played Bosinney in the earlier series. Corin Redgrave was an outstanding Old Jolyon and Rupert Graves was sympathetic as Young Jolyon. The only problem was that Ms. McKee's Irene looked more mature than her love interests, Philip and Young Jolyon. Irene was sixteen years younger than Young Jolyon, but Rupert Graves looked younger than Gina McKee. Ioan Gruffaud looked more suited to the actress playing June than the more mature Irene.

The scriptwriters I felt took liberties with the novel that really clashed with what the characters were all about. For instance, the proud Young Jolyon after his exile from his family, would never have gone back to his Uncle James and Cousin Soames asking for a loan. This scene was totally out of character. Also, Irene was supposed to be gentle and passive; Gina McKee's Irene slapped June. This too was totally out of character. There was never a scene with Soames asking his fiancee Annette to throw Young Jolyon and pregnant Irene out of a restaurant. The scene was absurd and totally unnecessary. It would have been better had the writers stayed with the novel and had Soames seeing Irene and Jolyon in a crowd at Queen Victoria's funeral. I also could have done without the graphic bedroom scenes involving Irene and Soames. The first series and the novels more appropriately left their intimate relationship to the imagination.

Overall, this was a good effort. I hope that care is taken in casting Fleur Forsyte, who was brilliantly played by Susan Hampshire in the earlier series. If she is miscast, like Irene, the second half will fall apart, since Fleur is such a pivotal character in part two.

A terrible disappointment
I own the original black and white series, originally broadcast in 1969, and thus appreciate the nuanced, memorable performances, superb casting, and attention to John Galsworthy's aims. I watched this new series and have already forgotten many of the principle roles/actors: Fleur? Jon? Who can forget Susan Hampshire's dynamic, forceful, charming and manipulative Fleur? Today I cannot remember the new Fleur, nor Jon. Indeed, I do not remember many of the actors in this new series; utterly undistinguished. Whenever I pick up the books, as I often do, I shudder if images of this series enter my imagination. This heavy, plodding, and dull series does Galsworthy a disservice.

What of Eric Porter's complex and tortured Soames? Damian Lewis, otherwise an excellent actor, is given little to do outside of look angry or evil. Or the late Nyree Dawn Porter? This flat, awkward Irene, so terribly miscast, with the wrong colouring, lacks the ethereal, delicate, blonde haired, dark eyed beauty of Galworthy's vision (based on his wife Ada); she is no match for the late Nyree Dawn Porter. Gina McKee is also far too old, being twelve years older than the handsome Ioan Gruffud (Philip Bosinney), ten years older than Damian Lewis (Soames Forsyte), and two years older than Rupert Graves (young Jolyon). No wonder she had no chemistry with any of the leads; watching her with Gruffud was disconcertingly unpleasant. Vaguely incestuous due to the age disparity. Irene, in Galsworthy's books, was sixteen years younger than young Jolyon, eight years younger than Soames, and perhaps close in age to Philip Bosinney.

The original series took great pains to faithfully recreate Galsworthy's masterpiece. Not perfectly - costumes, sets, hairstyles are a little too true to late nineteen sixties fashion. And sections do lag. Thankfully, though, the actors reflected the age differences between the characters. Most of all, there is simply no comparison in terms of script and acting ability. All the actors aged appropriately, both in terms of appearance and character: Irene grew in dignity as she aged, and Soames showed the effects of suffering on his face - even as he doted upon his beloved daughter. The old series succeeded at casting actors who truly embodied the essence of Galsworthy's social satire: Bosinney, for example, was not traditionally handsome, but eccentric, artistic, and utterly foreign - as was Irene. Galsworthy, at the heart of his masterpiece, wished to thoroughly explore the dichotomy between Victorian aquisitiveness, discipline, and materialism with freedom, art, beauty and irrational emotion.

Here, however, all is rushed at breakneck speed, compressed almost beyond recognition.

Of course it is difficult to compress such a massive work into a small format; the original series, running at 26 hours, allowed for greater - and more demanding - character development. So why did the writers of this new version add explicit, anachronistic scenes that detract from the viewing experience? Why add so much modern dialogue? Irene practicing birth control? Slapping June? Out of character, socially inappropriate, not reflective of either the book or the age. The sets were, for the most part, quite spectacular (as opposed to the costumes, which appeared cheap), but this Robin Hill did not fit the architecture of the period, bearing a too close resemblance to a Frank Lloyd Wright masterwork. Certainly not something from pre Arts and Crafts England.

I was bitterly disappointed in this version, despite eager anticipation. What a waste of time. Sloppy.