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Amazon.co.uk Review
The Forsyte Saga is often cited as the first television miniseries; it wasn't, but there's no question that it was a singular, powerful cultural phenomenon that deservedly got under the skin of European viewers in 1967. Today the 26-episode production, based on several novels and short stories by John Galsworthy, is a more timeless enterprise than many of the protracted British TV dramas that have followed. While it would be wrong to consider The Forsyte Saga high art, it's certainly a mesmerizing and inspired mix of theater, sprawling Victorian narrative, thinking man's soap opera, and some finely tuned, 1960s black-and-white production values that (especially when shot outdoors) are strikingly handsome.
Above all, Forsyte is driven by its characters--perhaps to an extreme, though the two-generation storyline makes no apologies for creating compelling people whose capacity for short-sighted blundering, bursts of grace, and slow-brewing redemption make them recognizably human. Eric Porter towers over everything as Soames Forsyte, a humorless attorney whose guiding principles of measurable value cause great heartache but slowly evolve, leaving him a graying, good father, arts patron, and sympathetic repository of memory. From the cast of 150 or so, other standouts include Susan Hampshire as Soames's troubled daughter, Nyree Dawn Porter as the wife of two very different Forsyte men, and Kenneth More as the family's artistic black sheep. --Tom Keogh
Product Description
United Kingdom released, PAL/Region 2.4 DVD: LANGUAGES: English ( Dolby Digital 2.0 ), English ( Subtitles ), SPECIAL FEATURES: Alternative Footage, Behind the scenes, Biographies, Box Set, Cast/Crew Interview(s), Interactive Menu, Multi-DVD Set, Scene Access, SYNOPSIS: Originally shown as 26 hour-long episodes, this box set spans the fortunes of the Forsytes, a merchant family, from 1870 through to the 1920s. The story begins in 1879 and Winifred Forsyte is to marry man of means Monty Dartie, while Jo Forsyte is having a relationship with Helene, the Austrian governess of his daughter. When Jo's wife dies he marries his mistress, only to be cut off by the family. Episodes in chronological order are: 'A Family Festival'; 'A Family Scandal'; 'The Pursuit of Happiness'; 'Dinner at Swithin's'; 'A Man of Property'; 'Decisions'; 'Into the Dark'; 'Indian Summer of a Forsyte'; 'In Chancery'; 'The Challenge'; 'In the Web'; 'Birth of a Forsyte'; 'Encounter'; 'Conflict'; 'To Let'; 'A Family Wedding'; 'The White Monkey'; 'Afternoon of a Dryad'; 'No Retreat'; 'A Silent Wooing'; 'Action for Libel'; 'The Silver Spoon'; 'Strike'; 'Afternoon at Ascot'; 'Portrait of Fleur'; and finally 'Swan Song'. SCREENED/AWARDED AT: BAFTA Awards, Emmy Awards, ...The Forsyte Saga - Complete Series - 7-DVD Box Set
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
94 of 95 people found the following review helpful
Format:VHS Tape
I saw this many years ago on television and it is as facinating now as it was then. I even forgot that I was watching it in black and white!
If you are a reader of good books you will know that screen versions are usually disappointing. Of course, there is not all the detail but having read the books the timing and content of this presentation is accurate enough to draw you through the epic saga without the usual irritations of "screen licence". It is one of the very few book-to-screen productions I would highly recommend - the others are also BBC Drama Productions.
54 of 55 people found the following review helpful
Format:VHS Tape
I have been given volumes 1 and 2 of this saga. Having seen the original episodes when first shown on television, I was prepared to be disappointed (memory can view things through rose-coloured spectacles). Not so! I have been enthralled by these episodes, not being able to wait to see the next one on the video. The acting is superb - Kenneth More, Nyree Dawn Porter, Eric Portman, to mention a few. The fact that the series is in black and white does not detract from it at all. I can't wait to purchase the next volumes, which I will do as soon as I can afford them. I thoroughly recommend this to any one who has an interest in life as it was in the rarefied atmosphere of those days of the affluent middle class, and what goes on behind the facade.
133 of 137 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
Now available on 7 DVDs, comprising all 26 episodes plus several hours of additional features, this most celebrated and splendid of BBC TV serials was the brainchild of adapter and producer Donald Wilson. Its world-wide success is known to all, but some might not be aware of the following: -
Donald Wilson was denied funds to produce it for ten years. Had there been a delay of a further year the series would have been filmed in colour, as he wished, rather than black and white.
The first of the John Galsworthy novels on which the series is based contains almost no dialogue. BBC script writers supplied the dialogue that helped make the ten siblings in the eldest Forsyte generation so memorable.
Galsworthy intended the Forsytes to represent the rapaciousness, greed and snobbery of the English upper middle class. In this adaptation they are much more endearing.
Being filmed in black and white made it possible to interpolate archival film of Queen Victoria’s funeral procession and of combat scenes from WW1.
Joseph O’Conor who plays the part of Old Jolyon was two years younger than Kenneth More who plays his son.
Eric Porter and Margaret Tyzack, who play Soames Forsyte and his sister Winifred, are in each episode and are required to age almost 50 years.
Although never credited, the music that opens and closes each episode is the first movement, “Halcyon Days”, from the suite “The Three Elizabeths” written in the early 1940s by Eric Coates.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Just wonderful
We loved it so much; we were very sorry indeed when we came to the end. Every word spoken so clearly and a marvellous cast. There is only one word for it, perfection.
Published 1 day ago by Laura
The Forsyte Sage - Original TV series with Eric Porter et al
I'm so delighted to discover that this original and extraordinarily well produced and acted TV series is at last available for purchase. Read more
Published 17 days ago by Diana from Down Under
Forsyte Saga
Watching this series takes me back to when I first watched it, I loved every minute. The fact that's it in Black and white doesn't matter, the excellent acting and the drama holds... Read more
Published 1 month ago by Chrissy B
Oldies, but Goodies
This was black and white, but was still a most enjoyable saga to watch. I had seen it many years ago and watched the more recent adaptation, which was also good. Read more
Published 1 month ago by pammac
Forsyte Saga
Excellent reproduction and good to see the old series once again.Hails from an era of excellent actors and actresses who had a vocation for their work.
Published 2 months ago by DrQ
wonderful viewing
It is really good to have something set aside to watch when there is nothing worth watching on normal television broadcasts. Read more
Published 3 months ago by woody
Vintage Stuff
I'll confine myself mostly to technical matters for this review. The series itself is what it is - a family saga played out at length by some excellent (and one or two slightly... Read more
Published 3 months ago by P. Kendell
The Forsyte Saga - Complete Series (1967)
Having not seen the original Forsyte Saga since the early 70s I was worried that my recollection of how good it was, could have proved to be wrong. Read more
Published 4 months ago by Liz Donlan
Evergreen
This series never grows old! I had worn out my VHS version over the years, so treated myself to the splendid CD set, and am thoroughly enjoying being back among the Forsytes. Read more
Published 4 months ago by Pandora Amos
The Forsyte Saga 1967
The Forsyte Saga is in black and white with subtitles.For an 80yr old and deaf,it is very good entertainment,
R.Weekes
R.Weekes
Published 6 months ago by R. W. T. Weekes
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