The Forsyte Saga is a British drama television serial that chronicles the lives of three generations of the upper-middle-class Forsyte family from the 1870s to the 1920s. It is based on the novels of John Galsworthy's The Forsyte Saga, for which he won the Nobel Prize in literature in 1932.
The books were adapted by Granada Television for ITV in two series:
The Forsyte Saga in 2002, covering the novel The Man of Property (1906), the interlude "Indian Summer of a Forsyte" (1918), and the novel In Chancery (1920); The Forsyte Saga: To Let in 2003, covering the novel To Let (1921).
Additional funding was provided by the American PBS station WGBH, the 1967 BBC version of the same novels having been a success on PBS in the early 1970s.
Development and production The author Malcolm Bradbury wrote that the prospect of 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 a smile because investment in a classic project is good.
The makers of the 2002 version felt that any new production would be compared with the 1967 version, which had set the standards for period drama for 25 years. The idea came initially from David Liddiment, ITV's director of channels, who seized on the Forsyte novels not only as a great achievement in English literature, but also for their iconic status in British television. Granada were thinking big from the outset of the project – this was clearly something that could not be dashed off as a two-parter. The initial plan was for two series, the first an adaptation of The Forsyte Saga and the second continuing with A Modern Comedy.
Sita Williams (producer) joined the project in late 1999, and was quickly talking to writers and working on the adaptations. Casting began in 2001, initially for the leading roles of Soames, Irene, and Bosinney. (Williams had seen Damian Lewis in the miniseries Band of Brothers.)
The timing of the events in the series and in the novels differs considerably, with the first novel beginning in 1886 and the series opening in 1874. The writers understood how difficult it would be to present events in the order of the novels. Williams stated that, "The novels actually start with the engagement of June to Bosinney, in the middle of the story. You learn about Soames' wooing of Irene and about Young Jolyon's affair with the governess, Hélène, through the gossip and memories of the other characters. It's great for a novel, but not for TV. This isn't like adapting Dickens, who wrote perfect, straightforward, linear narratives. Galsworthy is more complicated than that. So we had to look at the back story and tease out the important things and put them on screen."
Cast Character Actor Description Soames Forsyte Damian Lewis a solicitor, husband of Irene and then Annette, father of Fleur Irene Forsyte (née Heron) Gina McKee first wife of Soames, lover of Bosinney, third wife of Jolyon, mother of Jon Young Jolyon Forsyte Rupert Graves a painter, husband of Frances, Hélène, Irene Frances Forsyte (née Crisson) Sarah Winman first wife of Jolyon, mother of June June Forsyte Gillian Kearney daughter of Jolyon and Frances, engaged to Bosinney Philip Bosinney Ioan Gruffudd an architect, fiancé of June, lover of Irene Old Jolyon Forsyte Corin Redgrave brother of James, father of Young Jolyon James Forsyte John Carlisle a solicitor, brother of Old Jolyon, father of Soames and Winifred Emily Forsyte Barbara Flynn wife of James, mother of Soames and Winifred Aunt Ann Forsyte Judy Campbell eldest of the senior Forsyte siblings Aunt Hester Forsyte Ann Bell a spinster Aunt Juley Small (née Forsyte) Wendy Craig a widow Uncle Swithin Forsyte Robert Lang a bachelor Winifred Dartie (née Forsyte) Amanda Root sister of Soames, wife of Montague Montague Dartie ('Monty') Ben Miles a bounder, husband of Winifred Imogen Dartie Alice Patten daughter of Montague and Winifred Valerius Dartie ('Val') Julian Ovenden son of Montague and Winifred, husband of Holly Hélène Forsyte Amanda Ooms a governess, second wife of Jolyon, mother of Holly and Jolly Holly Dartie (née Forsyte) Amanda Ryan daughter of Jolyon and Hélène, wife of Val Jolyon Forsyte ('Jolly') Christian Coulson son of Jolyon and Hélène Annette Forsyte (née Lamotte) Beatriz Batarda a waitress, second wife of Soames, mother of Fleur Fleur Mont (née Forsyte) Emma Griffiths Malin daughter of Soames and Annette, lover of Jon, wife of Michael Mont Jon Forsyte Lee Williams son of Jolyon and Irene, lover of Fleur Michael Mont Oliver Milburn son of a baronet, husband of Fleur George Forsyte Alistair Petrie cousin of Soames and Winifred Prosper Profond Michael Maloney admirer of Winifred, lover of Annette
Episode plots for the first series: The Forsyte Saga This plot summary covers the six episodes of the first series which was based on the first two novels and first interlude of John Galsworthy's trilogy The Forsyte Saga.
Episode 1 In 1874 the Forsytes gather to celebrate Winifred Forsyte's engagement to Montague ("Monty") Dartie, a charming but penniless man. Her cousin Young Jolyon is absent, having arranged to stay at home with his infant daughter, June, and her French governess, Hélène. Jolyon and Hélène acknowledge their feelings for each other, and Jolyon announces that he intends to leave his wife Frances. As a result, he finds himself cut off from June and the rest of the Forsyte family, and forced to live on a small allowance from a family trust controlled by his uncle James Forsyte, a solicitor.
Nine years later, Young Jolyon has a son with Hélène and a daughter on the way. Seeking capital to purchase a larger house, he approaches his uncle James who, with his son and business partner Soames, refuses to make any payments beyond the regular allowance.
Soames becomes interested in the beautiful but poor Irene Heron while on business in the seaside town of Bournemouth, where Irene lives with her widowed stepmother. She initially refuses his proposal of marriage, concerned by his inability to perceive beauty in art, and to treat it as simply something to own.
Winifred gives birth to a child, Imogen. Monty gives her a string of pearls as a gift. She wonders how he could have afforded them considering that her father James did not settle money or a house on her when they married.
Under pressure from her stepmother, who cannot understand Irene's reluctance to accept such a wealthy suitor, Irene reluctantly accepts Soames's proposal on the condition that if she should not be happy he will let her go. They share an awkward kiss in the street.
Young Jolyon and Hélène are living in a modest house in St John's Wood with their two small children when they learn that Jolyon's estranged wife Frances has died. He is now free to propose to Hélène, and she happily accepts.
Two years later, Irene is trapped in a loveless marriage. Soames is obsessed with his need for an outwardly-perfect wife, and with the prospect of a son; Irene, however, finds the idea repugnant and secretly takes steps to avoid getting pregnant. She strikes up a friendship with the now 17-year-old June, who has been raised by her grandfather, Old Jolyon. June wishes to become engaged to a 26-year-old architect, Philip Bosinney, but Old Jolyon refuses to agree until Bosinney is able to earn £400 a year.
As soon as they meet, Bosinney and Irene feel an immediate attraction. Learning of her unhappiness from the talkative June, Bosinney becomes more focused on Irene and increasingly distant from June.
Episode 2 Disapproving of June's friendship with his wife, Soames decides to move Irene away from the city to somewhere where she can be better controlled. Without telling her, he commissions Bosinney to build a country house at Robin Hill near Richmond. Bosinney's fee of £350 will be almost enough to enable him to marry June. Old Jolyon decides to renew his relationship with his son, and he pays Young Jolyon and Hélène a visit. He finds them living a bohemian lifestyle with their two children, Jolly and Holly. Young Jolyon is eking out a living selling his watercolour paintings.
Meanwhile, the Darties are living a luxurious life and have a son, Val. But Monty has been squandering money on gambling, and bailiffs arrive to recover a debt of 100 guineas. Winifred's father James is thoroughly embarrassed, especially as their house is rented in his name.
Old Jolyon has been supporting his son over the years by covertly buying his watercolours. Feeling lonely since June's engagement, he seeks out his son at his club and attempts to make amends for the family breach by handing him a cheque for £10,000. Young Jolyon does not accept, but asks him to invest it for his children.
June is planning her wedding, although Bosinney is far less enthusiastic about it than she. June becomes frustrated at never seeing her fiancé, who always seems to be busy at the Robin Hill building site. When Bosinney goes to Soames's house to discuss Robin Hill, he finds Irene alone in the drawing room. They share a kiss.
Soames and Bosinney argue about the costs of the building project. Meanwhile, Irene and Bosinney's flirtations become more overt. At last, Bosinney openly confesses his love for Irene, and he publicly snubs June in the street. Rumours of an affair spread, and are strengthened when the pair flaunt their love by dancing together passionately at a ball. June runs off in tears. In the carriage home, Irene asks Soames to release her from the marriage, as he had promised, but he refuses. At home she runs into her room and locks the door against an enraged Soames.
Episode 3 Bosinney has exceeded the agreed cost of Robin Hill by £350 and, determined to ruin him, Soames sues for breach of contract. Confident that they can be together after the trial, Irene and Bosinney consummate their relationship. However, funds to defend the legal action are difficult to come by as new clients are reluctant to instruct an architect who is a defendant in litigation. June returns from a holiday in Switzerland and is told of the lawsuit. Despite Bosinney's infidelity, she still supports him against Soames.
Old Jolyon increasingly feels the need to reconnect with his son, and "to be a family again". To do so will result in a breach with his other relations, and he visits his brother James at his office to remove his will and his business from the family firm. He visits Young Jolyon and Hélène, offering to provide a house somewhere in the country where they can all live happily together. But the couple are wary, recognising that he will choose the house and that they will have little say. They explain that one can be happy despite poverty.
One night, Soames comes to Irene's room unannounced, and rapes her. The maid hears her screaming but can do nothing. Irene visits Bosinney at his apartment the next day, and he discovers the truth. In an uncontrollable rage, he heads out to confront Soames, but is unable to find him. As he runs through the foggy London streets, he is run over by a cab and killed.
When Bosinney does not appear at the court hearing the next morning to hear that the judge has ruled against him, June goes to his apartment. Irene arrives, too, Bosinney having missed an assignation with her. The two argue.
Recognising that her engagement with Bosinney is at an end, Old Jolyon asks June what she would think of living in the country with her father and his family. She suggests that Old Jolyon should make Soames an offer for Robin Hill, knowing that Soames will evidently not now need it for his wife.