Errol as Soames...


I have yet to see this movie, but I'm trippin over Errol as such a dislikeable character as Soames. After having seen Damian Lewis' excellent performance in the recent Forsyte Sagas, I am very interested in seeing how Flynn chooses to play Soames.

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Flynn wanted the part because it was contrary to his usual screen persona and would stretch his acting muscles - he did a very good job. But this was a very unusual undertaking for M-G-M in 1949 - it is, after all, a story in which adultery figures prominently.

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I haven't seen this film for about twenty years (and it's not available on DVD in the UK), but the one thing I remember about it is Flynn's performance. It's maybe not the best interpretation of Soames, but it's certainly so against-type for Flynn that it is utterly compelling.

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Well, I finally found a copy of That Forsyte Woman on VHS for like $2 on Amazon. In comparison to the recent Masterpiece Theater version of the Forsyte Saga, it was pretty awful. The stories were essentially the same, but That Forsyte Woman had none of the passion and scandal evinced in the later version, and the story was fairly "sanitized".

It was interesting to see how WELL Garson's Irene tolerated Flynn's Soames, but how openly verbal he was about his desires to control her. Yet in the recent version, Irene's aversion to Damian Lewis' Soames is so palpable, you feel she might literally have a psychiatric breakdown if he touches her one more time. His controling manipulation is much more deft and psychological, as opposed to Flynn's Soames verbal manifestations of control. That of course alludes to the sexual manipulation that is made clear in the modern version, yet only opaquely refered to in the earlier one. An interesting comment on how facets of the same story take on different heft for audiences in different eras.

For as terrific an actress as Greer Garson was, I couldn't really understand WHY her Irene fell in love with Bosinney. He wasn't anything special, and neither was Young Jolyon. Errol as Soames I thought was terrific. He really is such a fabulous actor, it makes you sad to think what heights he could achieved if he wasn't only limited to the "galant cavalier" roles he always played.

http://saucybetty.blogspot.com

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I bought this on DVD for $10 at a market stall in Fremantle (Western Australia) yesterday. I'm a big fan of The Forsyte Saga and found this somewhat disappointing.

I found it really hard to see what the problem was between Garson's Irene and Flynn's Soames, whereas in the mini series it was clear that she detested him, and that her flesh would creep if he even brushed against her accidentally.
And why she would have preferred either of Robert Young or Walter Pidgeon to him is beyond me.

Young Jolyon being banished from the family for running off with the French Governess AFTER the death of his first wife made no sense at all, although I could understand them being upset the way it happened in the book and mini-series. The wife was still alive when he and Helene ran off together.

And the end was all wrong. Yes, it is good to forgive, but the fact is she didn't!


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Errol Flynn makes That Forsythe Woman. Robert Young was totally miscast as Bosinney. I know the story so I knew she wanted the Bosinney character, but in reality Soames was far more attractive.

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This was on TCM yesterday morning, but I only caught the last half hour of it because I'd just made it home from work. My embarrasssing little confession is that I utterly failed to recognize Errol Flynn was the actor who played Soames, until the end credits rolled!

There are at least two reasons for my failure to realize who it was that played Soames:

(1) I can usually tell an old MGM picture when I see one, and I've always associated Errol Flynn with Warner Bros Studios (I'm aware that he went to work for other studios later in his career, though).

(2) Flynn was the best thing in TFW! He was so compelling, so UNLIKEABLE, yet mesmerizing as Soames that it never entered my mind that Flynn could ever play a part like this that would require some acting range! However, I've always thought Flynn a good actor, often VERY good. If he had had more work like TFW, I daresay I would have considered him a GREAT actor!

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Nowadays we would use the expression control freak regarding Soames. He makes MY skin crawl! Yes, Errol Flynn is quite different, and quite good.

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You will not be disappointed. Errol was even better than Damian Lewis. Unfortunately no one would have picked Robert Young as Bosinny over Errol Flynn as Soames.

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That's the problem I have with this film. I believe Errol is quite compelling as Soames, but come on, Robert Young as Bosinney? Who would choose him over Errol Flynn, LOL! As another poster said, somebody like Peter Lawford would have been more believable as the one to lure Irene away from Flynn's Soames.
As it is, when I watch this film, I have to think, "What is she thinking!?"


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Errol and Greer got along famously off screen, she found him far more personable than Gable. I think their friendship makes their performances so stellar.

________________________________________
Get me a bromide - and put some gin in it!

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I recently DVR'd this movie again. Errol Flynn is wonderful as Soames. It made me sad to think the kind of career Errol could have had. He stole the movie from everyone else.

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^^Have to agree that Flynn stole the film. Garson was overly confined in her role. If only Flynn had led a healthier life he could;d have done more.

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I think if you were to look at the mini-series from the 1970s (and read the book), you'd understand this better. Her problem, basically, is that she resents being raped.

Soames is really rather unlikeable, imho, in all versions. I seem to remember feeling a bit sorry for him when I read the books (in what feels like a hundred) years ago when I was a teenager. If it makes you feel any better, he does wind up marrying someone else (who really doesn't want him but her mother wants his money) and has a daughter upon whom he dotes.

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It seems many of the negative comments here about this film are made from a Pov comparing it to the mini-series. I am not sure why such a comparison leads to such conclusions, but did find Flynn's performance enlightening. I enjoyed this film very much. Garson and Flynn were great.

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