The Forsyte Saga
The Forsyte Saga

The Forsyte Saga

1967 1 Seasons 26 Episodes ⭐ 8.5 Drama

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.

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.

Seasons & Episodes

EP 1

A Family Festival

The elder generation of Forsytes gather at Uncle Timothy's to exchange gossip about two of the younger members of the fa

EP 2

A Family Scandal

Young Jo’s decision to divorce his wife to live with Helene and their child shocks the family, and causes Old Jo to ad

EP 3

The Pursuit of Happiness

Two sons are born. Winifred and her profligate husband Monty must appeal to her father James to ease Monty’s debts, as

EP 4

Dinner at Swithin's

Several years have passed, and the family is abuzz over the engagement of young June Forsyte to bohemian architect Phill

EP 5

A Man of Property

Winifred’s spendthrift husband Monty continues to rack up debts, while Soames has bigger marital problems. Attempting

EP 6

Decisions

As the affair between Irene and Bosinney becomes more and more public, Soames threatens legal action against the archite

EP 7

Into the Dark

A thick fog envelops London, masking tragedy. Irene waits to run away with Bosinney, who is driven to distraction when h

EP 8

Indian Summer of a Forsyte

Distraught, destitute, and alone, Irene returns to Soames for one last night, then deserts him for good. Four years late

EP 9

In Chancery

Eight more years pass, during which Helene dies and June, now financially independent, strikes out on her own. Monty con

EP 10

The Challenge

The South African Boer War creates anxiety for James, while Winifred and Soames attempt to extricate themselves from the

EP 11

In the Web

Investigators shadowing Irene in Paris detect her growing affection for Jo, and gather enough evidence to proceed with S

EP 12

Birth of a Forsyte

Queen Victoria’s isn’t the only death in this episode which also includes births, marriages, and divorce. Young Joll

EP 13

Encounter

Twenty years have passed (the Great War slips by here) as the third generation of Forsytes takes center stage. Jon has g

EP 14

Conflict

The elder Forsytes continue to hide the details of the family feud from Jon and Fleur. Michael Mont, the perky son of a

EP 15

To Let

The annual cricket match between Eton and Harrow facilitates awkward encounters. Fleur scrambles to get Jon to the altar

EP 16

A Family Wedding

Jon and Irene relocate to Canada. On the rebound, Fleur marries Michael Mont, who assumes narration of the series. Two y

EP 17

The White Monkey

Wilfred confesses his love of Fleur to Michael, as Soames lobbies for a grandchild. The board of directors is slow to ac

EP 18

Afternoon of a Dryad

As Michael is tortured by the thought that Fleur may be interested in Wilfred, he encounters June, who lets slip some fa

EP 19

No Retreat

Both Michael and Tony address issues of trust in their marriages. The Bickets leave the squalor of their London slum in

EP 20

A Silent Wooing

The scene shifts briefly to the Carolinas, where Jon and Irene are guests of young Ann Wilmot and her brother Francis. A

EP 21

Action for Libel

Marjorie Ferrar’s threats of libel action against Fleur are meant to extract money and a public apology, but Soames co

EP 22

The Silver Spoon

Michael and Fleur drift further apart as last ditch efforts to settle the libel case fail, and Ferrar vs. Mont is heard

EP 23

Strike

Social fallout from the Ferrar case drives Fleur and Soames on a trip around the world. Michael joins them in Washington

EP 24

Afternoon at Ascot

June lobbies for Soames to commission a portrait of Fleur. Michael buries himself in social work, but cannot mask his an

EP 25

Portrait of Fleur

This moody episode illuminates Fleur’s restlessness, and Soames’s feelings of mortality. Looking toward the future,

EP 26

Swan Song

The final episode of the series begins with an adulterous consummation, and ends in death. Jon succumbs to Fleur's seduc

Popular Cast

Eric Porter
Eric Porter
Soames Forsyte
Susan Hampshire
Susan Hampshire
Fleur Mont née Forsyte
Nyree Dawn Porter
Nyree Dawn Porter
Irene Forsyte née Heron
Kenneth More
Kenneth More
'Young Jolyon' Forsyte
Fay Compton
Fay Compton
'Aunt Ann' Forsyte
Lana Morris
Lana Morris
Helene Hillmer
Margaret Tyzack
Margaret Tyzack
Winifred Dartie
John Welsh
John Welsh
James Forsyte
Joseph O'Conor
Joseph O'Conor
'Old Jolyon' Forsyte
Terence Alexander
Terence Alexander
Montague 'Monty' Dartie
John Bennett
John Bennett
Philip Bosinney