The Forsyte Saga
Jun. 1st, 2024 09:15 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
poliphilo The Forsyte Saga was British TV's first blockbuster adaption of a classic novel. It showcased TV's ability to unroll a long leisurely narrative- and we watched it (I was 16) knowing it was something a bit special. Now, like everything else ever committed to film or tape, it is available on YouTube.
I watched the first episode last night, wondering if it still stood up. And, allowing for black and whiteness and all that, it pretty much does. It stars Eric Porter (very much a stage actor) in the rewarding role of bad cousin Soames Forstye and Kenneth More (very much a film actor) in the less rewarding role of Young Jolyon Forsyte. I love Kenneth More and even though he's 20 years too old and the character is a Mary Sue he has a wattage that outshines everybody else of screen. The moral of the story- that money can't buy you love- is struck like an Edwardian dinner-gong but, well, that's Galsworthy for you...
I won't be watching any more. I've been reassured that the admiration and affection I feel for the show wasn't misplaced...
From YouTube to Wikipedia which informed me that....
1. Galsworthy was a humourless man but much loved. He lived the latter part of his life in Sussex (just like me) and his ashes were scattered from an aeroplane over the South Downs.
2. Eric Porter was deeply uncomfortable with the exposure and fame that came with the success of the Saga. He might have been a big, big star but sort of fumbled the opportunity- and was, perhaps, happier that way.
3. Kenneth More said he would never do Television- because Television was killing live theatre- and then he did....
I watched the first episode last night, wondering if it still stood up. And, allowing for black and whiteness and all that, it pretty much does. It stars Eric Porter (very much a stage actor) in the rewarding role of bad cousin Soames Forstye and Kenneth More (very much a film actor) in the less rewarding role of Young Jolyon Forsyte. I love Kenneth More and even though he's 20 years too old and the character is a Mary Sue he has a wattage that outshines everybody else of screen. The moral of the story- that money can't buy you love- is struck like an Edwardian dinner-gong but, well, that's Galsworthy for you...
I won't be watching any more. I've been reassured that the admiration and affection I feel for the show wasn't misplaced...
From YouTube to Wikipedia which informed me that....
1. Galsworthy was a humourless man but much loved. He lived the latter part of his life in Sussex (just like me) and his ashes were scattered from an aeroplane over the South Downs.
2. Eric Porter was deeply uncomfortable with the exposure and fame that came with the success of the Saga. He might have been a big, big star but sort of fumbled the opportunity- and was, perhaps, happier that way.
3. Kenneth More said he would never do Television- because Television was killing live theatre- and then he did....
no subject
Date: 2024-06-01 11:01 am (UTC)I watched three-quarters of this series with my mother two years ago; he was amazing.
no subject
Date: 2024-06-01 12:34 pm (UTC)