The Forsyte Saga (1967)
The Forsyte Saga is a 1967 BBC television adaptation of John Galsworthy's series of The Forsyte Saga novels, and its sequel trilogy A Modern Comedy. The series follows the fortunes of the upper middle class Forsyte family, and stars Eric Porter as Soames, Kenneth More as Young Jolyon and Nyree Dawn Porter as Irene. It was adapted for television and produced by Donald Wilson and was originally shown in twenty-six episodes on Saturday evenings between 7 January and 1 July 1967 on BBC2, at a time when only a small proportion of the population had television sets able to receive this channel. It was therefore the repeat on Sunday evenings on BBC1 starting on 8 September 1968 that secured the programme's success with 18 million tuning in for the final episode in 1969. It was shown in the United States on public television and broadcast all over the world, and became the first BBC television series to be sold to the Soviet Union.
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Episodes
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1. A Family Festival1967-01-07 · 50mIn 1879 London, the elder generation of Forsytes gather at Uncle Timothy's to exchange gossip about two younger relatives: James's daughter Winifred is engaged to the charming but
- 2 2. A Family Scandal1967-01-14 · 50mYoung Jo’s decision to divorce his wife for Helene and their child shocks the family, and causes Old Jo to adjust his will in favor of granddaughter June. Elsewhere, stuffy lawyer
- 3 3. The Pursuit of Happiness1967-01-21 · 50mWinifred and her profligate husband Monty must appeal to James to ease Monty’s debts, as Winifred gives birth to her son, Val. The accidental death of Young Jo’s first wife allows
- 4 4. Dinner at Swithin's1967-01-28 · 50mIn 1886, the Forsytes are abuzz over the engagement of 17-year-old June to bohemian architect Philip Bosinney. However, Old Jo has one condition: Philip must earn £400 a year befor
- 5 5. A Man of Property1967-02-04 · 50mMonty continues to rack up debts, while Soames' marital woes worsen. Attempting to improve his disastrous marriage, Soames engages Bosinney to build a mansion for Irene at Robin Hi
- 6 6. Decisions1967-02-11 · 50mAs the affair between Irene and Bosinney becomes increasingly public, Soames threatens legal action against the architect regarding cost overruns at Robin Hill. June hides her conf
- 7 7. Into the Dark1967-02-18 · 50mA thick fog envelops London, masking tragedy. Irene waits to flee with Bosinney, who's driven to distraction when learning of Irene's rape. The next day, the Forsyte men gather en
- 8 8. Indian Summer of a Forsyte1967-02-25 · 50mDistraught, destitute, and alone, Irene returns to Soames for one last night, then deserts him for good. Four years later, Jolyon and his family have settled into the house at Robi
- 9 9. In Chancery1967-03-04 · 50mEight more years pass, during which Helene dies and June, now financially independent, strikes out on her own. Monty continues his profligate ways, stealing Winifred’s pearls and s
- 10 10. The Challenge1967-03-11 · 50mThe South African Boer War creates anxiety for James, while Winifred and Soames attempt to extricate themselves from their marriages. Soames hires a private investigator to follow
- 11 11. In the Web1967-03-18 · 50mInvestigators shadowing Irene in Paris detect her growing affection for Jo, and gather enough evidence to proceed with Soames’s divorce. Val and Holly secretly become engaged, whil
- 12 12. Birth of a Forsyte1967-02-25 · 50mQueen Victoria’s isn’t the only death in this episode which also includes births, marriages, and divorce. Young Jolly dies in South Africa, while his sister Holly and Val Dartie ma
- 13 13. Encounter1967-04-01 · 50mTwenty years have passed (the Great War slips by here) as the third generation of Forsytes takes center stage. Jon has grown into an earnest and naive young man who decides to trai
- 14 14. Conflict1967-04-08 · 50mThe elder Forsytes continue to hide the details of the family feud from Jon and Fleur. Michael Mont, the perky son of a baronet, courts Fleur and gains the respect of Soames, while
- 15 15. To Let1967-04-15 · 50mThe annual cricket match between Eton and Harrow facilitates awkward encounters. Fleur scrambles to get Jon to the altar before he learns the truth behind the family feud. Before h
- 16 16. A Family Wedding1967-04-22 · 50mJon and Irene relocate to Canada. On the rebound, Fleur marries Michael Mont, who assumes narration of the series. Two years and more pass, during which a new cast of characters ar
- 17 17. The White Monkey1967-04-29 · 50mWilfred confesses his love of Fleur to Michael, as Soames lobbies for a grandchild. The board of directors is slow to act, while Elderson’s subordinate Butterfield confirms Soames’
- 18 18. Afternoon of a Dryad1967-03-06 · 50mAs Michael is tortured by the thought that Fleur may be interested in Wilfred, he encounters June, who lets slip some family history: Fleur was on the rebound from her first great
- 19 19. No Retreat1967-05-13 · 50mBoth Michael and Tony address issues of trust in their marriages. The Bickets leave the squalor of their London slum in favor of a new life in Australia. Elderson admits his larcen
- 20 20. A Silent Wooing1967-05-20 · 50mThe scene shifts briefly to the Carolinas, where Jon and Irene are guests of young Ann Wilmot and her brother Francis. A gentle romance blooms, and Jon marries Ann. Back in London,
- 21 21. Action for Libel1967-05-27 · 50mMarjorie Ferrar’s threats of libel action against Fleur are meant to extract money and a public apology, but Soames contrives to turn the tables and prove Marjorie guilty of immora
- 22 22. The Silver Spoon1967-06-03 · 50mMichael and Fleur drift further apart as last ditch efforts to settle the libel case fail, and Ferrar vs. Mont is heard in court. The episode is dominated by the bruising cross-exa
- 23 23. Strike1967-06-10 · 50mSocial fallout from the Ferrar case drives Fleur and Soames on a trip around the world. Michael joins them in Washington, DC, at the very moment when Irene, Jon, and Ann arrive. So
- 24 24. Afternoon at Ascot1967-06-17 · 50mJune lobbies for Soames to commission a portrait of Fleur. Michael buries himself in social work, but cannot mask his anxiety regarding his marriage. Likewise, Ann fears she is no
- 25 25. Portrait of Fleur1967-06-24 · 50mThis moody episode illuminates Fleur’s restlessness, and Soames’s feelings of mortality. Looking toward the future, Soames installs young Butterfield in his law office to oversee F
- 26 26. Swan Song1967-07-01 · 50mThe final episode of the series begins with an adulterous consummation, and ends in death. Jon succumbs to Fleur's seduction and immediately regrets his infidelity to his wife, Ann
Cast
Eric PorterSoames ForsyteImages
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