That Forsyte Woman

The stars, the elegance, the overly sophisticated literature. This is typical MGM. Sometimes it worked to great effect. Most of the time it became tiresome. Like with That Forsyte Woman (1949). While it's technically a perfect role for Greer Garson, surrounding herself with top male stars who all did good, this simply wasn't filmed in a way to make it interesting. So while nice to look at, with quality cast delivering, it is dull with a lot of dialogue which does nothing.

Greer Garson is good in the title role, but none of the rest of these folks, all from the colonies--Americans, Canadians, Australians--have the vaguest idea of how to play a Britisher, let alone a Victorian. Also, I imagine it's difficult to boil down a plot-heavy multi-volume series of novels into one Hollywood movie. Screenwriter Lustig mainly confines herself to the first volume "A Man of Property"), but still does not succeed in the attempt.

A sad attempt at cashing in on the popularity of another period drama, The Valley of Decision (which also starred Garson). The script feels like it was adapted by someone who only skimmed through a Cliff's notes to "A Man of Propery". The direction is uninspired and the film lacks any sort of mood or atmosphere. The choice of Flynn as Soames could have been inspired, but only with a skilled director. Pidgeon makes for a pretty dull Jolyon and charisma void Robert Young is the worst Bosseny ever.