Themes: Self-Destructive Romance, Crumbling Marriages, Love Triangles
Main Cast: Errol Flynn, Greer Garson, Walter Pidgeon, Robert Young, Janet Leigh
Release Year: 1949
Country: US
Run Time: 112 minutes
Plot
Though one might have expected friction between MGM's resident "nice lady" Greer Garson and Warner Bros. notorious "bad boy" Errol Flynn, the two got along splendidly during the filming of That Forsyte Woman. Based loosely on The Man of Property, book one of John Galsworthy's Forsyte Saga, the film casts Garson as Irene Forsyte, the independently-minded wife of tradition-bound Victorian "man of property" Soames Forsyte (Flynn). Rebelling against her husband's repressed nature and preoccupation with material possessions, Irene falls in love with unconventional architect Philip Bossiney (Robert Young). When he proves to be too free-spirited even for her, Irene moves on to the Forsyte clan's black sheep, Young Jolyon (Walter Pidgeon). Soames makes a belated attempt to win his wife back, but once again proves incapable of warmth, compassion or understanding. The casting-against-type of Garson and Flynn was fascinating, even when the film itself dragged (Flynn in fact was slated to play either Bossiney or Young Jolyon, but insisted upon taking the less characteristic role of Soames). That Forstye Woman was lavishly photographed in color on MGM's standing "British" sets. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Review
That Forsyte Woman is based upon the first book in the "Forsyte" series that were much better served by the BBC mini-series. Not that Woman is a bad film; it just pales in comparison to the later adaptation. Part of that is simply a matter of compression; even one of Galsworthy's books was too rich in detail to make an easy transition to a 112-minute film. As a result, the movie has to simplify a great deal of the plot and characterizations, and som much of it comes across a bit too "soapy" or melodramatic. Casting is also a bit problematic. Greer Garson has all of the class and spirit required for the role, but she seems a bit ill-at-easeat times. Cast against type, Errol Flynn comes off very well, but his innate strength and appeal subtly throws things off balance, and Robert Young and Walter Pidgeon are not strong enough to put things back on an even keel. Still, the performers all have good moments, and the lavish production is eye-catching, with special praise for Irene Valles and Walter Plunkett's beautiful costumes. If less than perfect, Woman is still enjoyable. ~ Craig Butler, All Movie Guide
Daniel B. Cathcart - Art Director, Cedric Gibbons - Art Director, Walter Plunkett - Costume Designer, Irene Valles - Costume Designer, Compton Bennett - Director, Frederick Y. Smith - Editor, Bronislau Kaper - Composer (Music Score), Jack Dawn - Makeup, Joseph Ruttenberg - Cinematographer, Leon Gordon - Producer, Jack D. Moore - Set Designer, Edwin B. Willis - Set Designer, Ivan Tors - Screenwriter, Arthur Wimperis - Screenwriter, Jan Lustig - Screenwriter, J.B. Williams - Screenwriter, John Galsworthy - Book Author
Irene (Greer Garson) is the wife of Victorian "man of property" Soames Forsyte (Errol Flynn), having married without love but after many proposals. Rebelling against her husband's preoccupation with material possessions, a list in which she is included, Irene falls in love with unconventional architect Philip Bosinney (Robert Young), who is engaged to Soames' niece June (Janet Leigh), one of Irene's closest friends. Soames learns of Irene's affair with Bosinney, and rather than allowing Irene to leave him, he reasserts his physical rights. When Soames and Bosinney discover that Irene has run away, Bosinney rushes out in the foggy London streets after her, only to be run over in an accident. After Irene learns of Bosinney's death she takes refuge with Soames' cousin Young Jolyon (Walter Pidgeon), who is June's estranged father but has sympathy for Irene's plight. Irene and Young Jolyon eventually marry, after Irene spurns Soames' attempts at reconciliation.
