The Forsyte Saga (2002 miniseries)

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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.

Contents 1 Development 2 Cast 3 Episode plots 3.1 One 3.2 Two 3.3 Three 3.4 Four 3.5 Five 3.6 Six 3.7 Seven 4 Differences with the novels 5 Response 6 DVDs 7 References 8 External links

[edit] Development

Please help improve this section by expanding it. Further information might be found on the talk page or at requests for expansion.

Malcolm Bradbury, one of the writers on the 1967 series, found that approaching the new series "brings a tear to the eye and a smile to the lips": A tear because time had passed the culturally-significant original by, but smile because investment in a classic project is good.^[1]

[edit] Cast

Character	Actor	Description
Soames Forsyte	Damian Lewis	a solicitor
Irene Forsyte (née Heron)	Gina McKee	Soames's first wife, and Jolyon's third wife
Young Jolyon Forsyte	Rupert Graves	a painter, married to: Frances, Helene, Irene
Philip Bosinney	Ioan Gruffudd	an architect
June Forsyte	Gillian Kearney	Jolyon's daughter, engaged to Bosinney
Old Jolyon Forsyte	Corin Redgrave	James's brother, Jolyon's father
James Forsyte	John Carlisle	Soames and Winifred's father, Jolyon's brother
Emily Forsyte	Barbara Flynn	James's wife, Soames and Winifred's mother
Aunt Ann Forsyte	Judy Campbell	The eldest sister of the Forsyte clan
Aunt Hester Forsyte	Ann Bell	an old maid
Aunt Juley Small (née Forsyte)	Wendy Craig	a dowager
Winifred Dartie (née Forsyte)	Amanda Root	Soames's sister
Montague Dartie	Ben Miles	Winifred's husband
Annette Forsyte (née Lamotte)	Beatriz Batarda	a former SoHo shopgirl, Soames's second wife
Fleur Mont (née Forsyte)	Emma Griffiths Malin	Soames and Annette's daughter, Jon's lover, Michael's wife
Jon Forsyte	Lee Williams	Irene and Jolyon's son, Fleur's lover
Michael Mont	Oliver Milburn	A baronet, Fleur's husband

[edit] Episode plots

[edit] 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.

[edit] Two

Under pressure from her stepmother she accepts Soames's proposal under the condition that if she should not be happy, he would let her go, free and clear. They share an awkward, rigid kiss in the street. Young Jolyon and Helene read in the paper that his wife, Frances has died. He proposes to Helene and she happily accepts.

Contrary to what Soames has promised, two years later, we find Irene trapped in a loveless marriage. Soames is obsessed with his seemingly perfect wife, adjusting any stray strand of her hair back into place. She secretly takes steps to avoid getting pregnant; the idea of having his child being so despicable to her. She finds friendship in Young Jolyon's abandoned daughter, June (Gillian Kearney), who has been raised by her grandfather, Old Jolyon (Corin Redgrave). The 17-year-old June is engaged to a 26-year-old, penniless architect, Philip Bosinney (Ioan Gruffudd). They are not allowed to marry until Bosinney earns ₤400.

Unbeknownst to June and Soames, Bosinney and Irene are instantly attracted to each other. Irene asks that she have her own bedroom under the guise of not being able to sleep well. Soames is not keen on the idea, but she moves out of the room anyway. Hearing of her unhappy life, Bosinney hopes to begin an affair with Irene. Simultaneously, he grows cold toward June.

Soames does not like June's influence over his wife and aims to take her away from the city. He hopes that she might then concentrate on being a better wife toward him. He hires Bosinney to build a house in Bournemouth so he can earn the ₤350 to marry June. Robin Hill will serve as Irene's countryside prison. Meanwhile, Old Jolyon becomes agitated by his family, who clearly looks down on his son for marrying a governess. He pays his son a visit.

Meanwhile, The Darties seem to be living a luxurious and happy life. (They now have another child, Val.) Unbeknownst to Winifred, though Dartie frequently squanders her money on gambling and failed business ventures. She catches him eyeing the pearls he once gave her. And some time later, baliffs come to their house and start to reposses items to fulfill Dartie's debt of 300 guinneas. Her father, James Forsyte, is thoroughly embarrassed by the situation seeing as how their house is in his name.

Soames and Irene discuss the country house. She does not wish to live there, but he insists that she would be happy there, eventually, especially when they have children. When she walks away, upset with the idea of children, he waits for her in her bedroom. He persuades her to come back to his bedroom, though she is still unhappy about it. Bosinney and June are still planning their wedding, although he is lackluster about it. He goes to Soames's house to discuss Robin Hill, but finds Irene there instead. They share a kiss. Bosinney and Soames discuss the plans for the house, which is thoroughly modern. When Irene shows interest in the type of house, her husband agrees to fund the project for £500 more than he first wanted to spend. Soames pats himself on the back for finding such a good architect for cheap.

Old Jolyon finds his son living in bohemian poverty with his wife, and two children, Jolly (who is also named Jolyon) and Holly. Helene is offended by her father-in-law's sudden interest in their lives, and thanks God for her husband's source of income, his paintings. He tells her that his father has secretly been buying his watercolors in a way of giving him money through the years. Old Jolyon expresses his loneliness to his son.

[edit] Three

June grows afraid that her wedding will never come to be as Bosinney is always working on the house. She becomes angry at Irene's platitude that the hard times will pass, calls her old friend trite, and leaves in a huff. At Robin Hill, the building continues, but there are misunderstandings in budgeting, as he has gone over the agreed price by ₤700+. However, Soames relents because he wants the work done. Meanwhile, Irene and Bosinney's flirtations become more and more dangerous as they have a number of close calls. At one point, Soames's Uncle Swithin catches the two going into the woods for a triste.

Old Jolyon asks his son to have a talk with June's fiancé, to convince Bosinney to be faithful. He refuses because he did exactly what Bosinney is doing now. Meanwhile, Soames's mother has a talk with Irene. She suggests that perhaps things would be better once they have children. Irene confesses to her, "I do not love him. I cannot love him. I don't want to love him." In the midst of his growing love for Irene, Bosinney snubs June in the middle of the street, driving her into a fit of depression.

The entire Forsyte family is alerted of Irene and Bosinney's affair except for Soames and June. However, during a ball, they flaunt their love for each other by dancing passionately in front of the entire family. June runs off in tears, her grandfather running after her. Irene asks Soames to let her go, but he refuses. He threatens to beat her, but then immediately apologizes. When they get home she runs into her room and locks the door to an enraged Soames. Determined to ruin Bosinney for stealing his wife, he sues for breach of contract in going over the agreed price by another ₤400. While visiting their aunts, the Darties, Montague gossips and spreads the news of Irene's indiscrection.

Irene and Bosinney consummate their relationship, and have confidence that they can be together after the suit. However, as the court case nears, he is unable to produce future clients. Without work, he would be bankrupt at the end of the trial. She offers him her father's watch to fund his legal matters.

[edit] Four

When Irene stays at Bosinney's for longer than she intended, Soames grows suspicious. June returns from a vacation in Switzerland and discovers the law suit. Despite his infidelity, she still supports him against Soames. Walking in the park, Irene and Bosinney run into Young Jolyon Forsyte painting a watercolor. She lies about why they are together, though Jolyon knows the truth.

Old Jolyon goes to his brother James and to withdraw his money and place it with another solicitor. He then goes to his son's house and expresses his desire to "be a family again." He expects them to feel relief and gratitude at the offer, but he is told that one could be happy despite poverty. Helene and Jolyon discuss if they should take his offer.

Irene asks for a divorce, but Soames refuses. She is late once again coming home from Bosinney's. And in a moment of carelessness she leaves her bedroom door unlocked. Soames comes in unannounced and rapes her. The maid hears her screaming, but can do nothing. Irene meets with Bosinney the next day and he discovers the truth. In a rage, Bosinney goes to confront Soames, but as he runs through the foggy streets, he is run over by a cab and killed. She goes home and Soames attempts to reconcile, but instead the sight of him only brings fear.

When Bosinney does not go to his own court hearing (which he loses anyway) and he does not meet Irene at a hotel (to run away together), June and Irene go to his apartment. They have words against each other where Irene compares June to Soames, and June calls Irene a leach. Finally, Irene slaps June to stop her tirade. Old Jolyon asks June what she would think of living with her father and his family. She suggests living at Robin Hill.

When Soames comes home from court, the maid tells him Irene has left with two suitcases. Old Jolyon goes to Soames and asks to buy Robin Hill from him. However, they are interrupted when a policeman asks Soames to identify Bosinney's body. Old Jolyon has to break the terrible news to June. Last to learn is Irene, who is went to Bosinney's club in search of him. Jolyon breaks the news to her, and takes her back home. He is haunted by the expression on her face and regrets delivering her to Soames. Soames tries to convince her that Bosinney's death was a sign that they should be together. She goes up to her room in tears.

[edit] Five

The next day, she leaves again, this time for good, but only with the clothes on her back. She has left her wedding ring behind. Young Jolyon meets his family again at the club, but he and his father are repulsed by Dartie's talk of Mrs. Soames. In the meantime, Soames is deluded into thinking that she will return, asking the maid to maintain the flowers in her room.

June and her father reunite, but he feels like it is not his place when she cries to her grandfather about Bosinney's funeral arrangements. The father and daughter embark on a newfound friendship, discussing Bosinney and her half-siblings. During the funeral, June berates Soames for his part in her fiancé's death. Despite her hatred for Irene, she still defends her to him. However, she also reveals that Irene prevented the conception of any of his children. He yells back that their friendship was a sham, and she replies: "Yes she stole the love of my life, my future. I should hate her, but the alternative was you. I cannot hate her. I can only wonder why she didn't do it sooner."

Soames's mother comes to visit her despondent son. In the presence of his sister Winifred, he cannot speak, only cry over Irene. His mother is affectionate toward him, but she wonders if she raised a child incapable of loving another being. She mentions that when he was a boy she gave him a kitten which he smothered with his love. "I should have taught you not to love like that...You feel things too much, you always have." Soames finally gets up the next morning and is fully recovered. He tells the maid not to bother with Mrs. Forsyte's room. He begins to move on with his life.

Old Jolyon makes an offer on Robin Hill. He defends Irene to Soames's parents. "If you talk about Irene, you do so with respect. Your son loved her once, with very good cause." The brothers settle that Jolyon will pay full price for the house. June gets along well with her father's family. She discovers a bundle of paintings she did as a child. Her father had kept them all those years passed. The family toasts to "New Beginnings."

Five years has passed and Helene has died. Old Jolyon is once again taking care of a granddaughter, this time a young Holly, while the rest of the family is traveling abroad. One evening, Old Jolyon notices Irene at the opera, and later again on the grounds of Robin Hill. They renew acquaintance and he invites her to give young Holly piano lessons. Since she left Soames she revealed that, she was on the verge of killing herself when a "lady of the night" took her in and cared for Irene. She then made a living as a piano teacher while giving what food and comfort she could to other such women. With June and Young Jolyon abroad, Irene and Old Jolyon see each other often. He and Irene grow close, and in his own way he falls in love with her. However, his health soon fails and he dies shortly after.

[edit] Six

With Old Jolyon's death, Holly is devastated and has no one to look after her aside from her mam'zelle. She comforts her and leaves when she has fallen asleep so she will not happen to run into June. Jolyon and June return home and discover that Irene had visited before their arrival. Young Jolyon is the executor of his father's will. To the shock of the Forsytes, Old Jolyon had made a codicil to his will that leaves Irene ₤15,000. Everyone comes to the funeral, but there is gossip and speculation as to why he would do that. Jolyon and June discuss what has come to pass and she states that all the people she ever loved "all gravitate to her in the end."

Being the executor, Jolyon visits Irene to discuss the money his father left her. She asks him to be her financial advisor, and during that time, he finds himself admiring her. She comforts him as he cries about his father's death.

Twelve years passes and everyone gathers for Soames's surprise birthday party, with the exception of Jolyon's family. Winifred's children Val and Imogen are grown. Though he is still married to Irene, he has met a beautiful young French woman, Annette Lamotte. She is a SoHo shopgirl, and her mother, a restaurant owner (in one of his properties). He invites them to visit his weekend estate, Mapledurham. He shows off his art gallery, a collection of beautiful paintings which he seeks to own, but not understand.

In the meanwhile, Dartie and his cousin-in-law George spend their time gambling and cavorting with prostitutes. He has given Winifred's pearl necklace to one of them. He embarrasses his son, Val at the casino by stumbling about and falling down drunk. Dartie comes home after his son runs off, and his wife says that her pearls are missing. At her accusation, he reacts frantically and puts a gun to his head shouting, "I'm lower than the servants in this house and I'm tired of it." However, when he pulls the trigger he finds that it was not loaded. He admits that he gave her necklace away. "I gave them to a Spanish beauty, neck like a swan." He decides to leave his family and go to Buenos Aires. Soames tries to convince Winifred to begin divorce proceedings, and he expresses his desire to "start again" as well. Winifred states that she would not like a divorce, which would humiliate her and her children. Soames visits his father who tells him to have a son.

Jolyon is preparing for an exhibition of his watercolors at Robin Hill. Soames comes to visit, along with Val, asking if Jolyon knew if Irene had "any men" as grounds for divorce. He agrees to see her if and when she returns to London. Jolyon goes to her apartment and asks her if she could provide what Soames needs for a divorce, but she admits she cannot help him.

In the meantime, Val and Holly are getting along and falling in love. They are unaware of the Forsyte history.

Jolyon visits Soames and tells her there is nothing she could do to facilitate a divorce.

Soames: If Irene won't free the ties of our marriage, she must abide by its duties. I retain my rights.

Jolyon: Your rights? To do what?

Soames: I've not forgotten the nickname your father gave me. "The Man of Property!" I'm not called names for nothing.

Jolyon: She is a human being.

Soames: She is my wife. Irene...Forsyte. I'll thank you to leave her alone from now on.

Jolyon: She chooses Heron.

Soames: Do you hear me? Leave Mrs. Forsyte alone.

Jolyon: Think very carefully Soames before you try to bully her. She's not alone this time.

While he forces Winifred's hand in her own divorce, once Soames believes that he must be with Irene, he does not follow his own advice to divorce and move on.

[edit] Seven

Despite his feelings for Annette, Soames's feelings for Irene are easily rekindled. His obsession with her returns when he sees her again, even after twelve years. He pays her an unexpected visit and wants to resume his marriage to her since she won't grant a divorce. He follows her and asks her to bear him a son. A prostitute saves her from him, and she escapes. She consults with Young Jolyon, and they conclude that he will not rest until she grants him a divorce, or gives him an heir— one way or another. Irene reveals to Jolyon that Soames had once before forced himself on her. She quickly leaves for Paris to escape his harassment. During their talk, Jolly had overheard his father shout, "Damn Soames Forsyte!" Discovering his sister's romance with Val Dartie, Jolly forbids that they see each other again, prejudiced by what he overhead his father say. He tries to blackmail her into giving Val up, by threatening to tell their father what she has been doing.

Winifred is humiliated in court, but realizes that Soames had no intention of divorcing Irene. Soames hires a private detective to find and follow Irene, saying that he is doing it for a client. Jolyon meets Irene in France to visit and bring her, her annuity. There they spend time together and begin to fall in love.

Val and Holly are secretly engaged but are discovered by Jolly who reveals the Dartie divorce proceedings. Jolly forces Val to prove his love by going with him to enlist in the Boer War.

In the meantime, Dartie comes home to Winifred.

Holly and June become nurses, and ship out to South Africa, where Jolly is ill with typhoid fever. Jolly dies, an event that hits Young Jolyon very hard. Soames discovers Irene and Young Jolyon together at Robin Hill just after they have learned of Jolly's death, and accuses them of adultery. They are not lovers, but they know that without admitting guilt, Irene will never be free of Soames. Irene and Soames divorce, but she and Jolyon go away together as a couple.

Val comes home along with Holly. He has been discharged after a stray bullet hit his ankle. He announces to his family that he and Holly are married and that they are moving to South Africa. Soames and Annette go to her mother's restaurant, and he sees Irene is pregnant with Jolyon's child. Annette disobeys him when he tells her to kick Irene out of the restaurant. Soames runs off and is in such a rage that he bites his lip until it bleeds.

Soon afterward, Soames and Annette are married and having a family party at Mapledurham, Annette announces that she is pregnant. Soames relishes the prospect of producing an heir at last, as does his father who tells her, "A boy, you hear me? A boy." Meanwhile, George reads the paper aloud, which announces that Jolyon and Irene Forsyte have had a son. At Robin Hill, June and Irene reconcile.

Annette has a difficult delivery, and the doctor tells Soames to choose between saving his wife or his baby, either way, she will never have another baby again. Soames gambles that the baby will be a boy, and tells the doctor to do what they can to save the child at all costs. Annette survives and they have a baby girl. He is disappointed and decides to leave his wife's side and go to his father, who is dying. He lies to his father and says he has had a baby boy. Soames returns home in the morning. To his great surprise, he falls in love with his daughter immediately. Holding her in his arms, he names her Fleur.

[edit] Differences with the novels

Please help improve this section by expanding it. Further information might be found on the talk page or at requests for expansion.

[edit] Response

Critical response was positive overall. Maclean's gave the series a glowing review.^[2] TIME magazine gave the production a tepid review, calling it "lush, well acted--and stale."^[3] People magazine proclaimed it the "Show of the Week" and called Lewis's performance "a constant marvel."^[4]

[edit] DVDs

Please help improve this section by expanding it. Further information might be found on the talk page or at requests for expansion.

The series was released as a three DVD box set on October 8, 2002. It was not rated by the MPAA. It was released by Acorn Media, and had a runtime of 426 minutes.

[edit] References

[edit] External links