MissGreerGarson.com by Ed S.
That Forsyte Woman (1949)
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Some of Ed's favourite moments
- Colour! Costumes! Greer has long hair! The more I see this movie the more I enjoy it.
- This is an "artsy" Greer-fest. Greer is beautiful, everyone tells her she's beautiful, everyone tells everyone else how beautiful she is, and Walter is there to ensure a happy ending for Greer. All in all, it's a very pleasant film to watch. Too much melodramatic music, though.
- If you're a fan of the Galsworthy books, then you might be disappointed that it leaves out too much of the book, which is not surprising since it's only a two-hour movie, so what do you expect? Go watch "The Forsyte Saga" mini-series.
- In fact, I'm going to read the Forsyte books myself. And I want to see the two mini-series as well, though I can't imagine who could fill Greer's shoes.
- All three leading men are in love with Greer, of course, but as usual she ends up with good old Walter. However, he's the only leading man that doesn't get to kiss her. (Maybe he was sick and tired of kissing her so much in their other movies.)
- Walter Pidgeon is in the very same predicament here that Greer herself was in one year earlier in "Julia Misbehaves". When his character was younger, he gave up a baby daughter so that she could be raised by his spouse's rich family.
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Errol Flynn is wonderful here.
He had actually been slated to play one of the other leading men, but here he's delightfully dour and cold and ruthless, while not quite villainous.
His famous meeting with Greer is dramatized in the small biography found herein. - In fact, his performance has made me resolve to read the first Forsyte novel, "The Man of Property."
- Robert Young is very good as well, especially in his first two scenes alone with Greer. And he sure gets to kiss Greer an awful lot.
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In the get-together at the beginning, amongst all the
old Forsyte men, you can see Halliwell Hobbes, who
played Robert Taylor's butler in "Remember?".
"I thought he only painted the aristocracy." - In Errol Flynn's "My Wicked, Wicked, Ways" he tells of a day during the shooting of this movie when he called for a helicopter to bring him into work because it was snowing in Los Angeles.
- There was some concern over how the Queen of MGM would get along with the Knave of Warner Brothers. Here is how I believe that Flynn's conversation with his manager went something like this:
FRED
Errol, have you been drinking?
Errol, have you been drinking?
ERROL
No, of course not. ...Well, maybe a little bit.
No, of course not. ...Well, maybe a little bit.
FRED
Now, look, she'll be here soon. You can't treat her like one of your nubile starlets, you know.
Now, look, she'll be here soon. You can't treat her like one of your nubile starlets, you know.
ERROL
Look Fred, when have you ever known me to ---
Look Fred, when have you ever known me to ---
FRED
Mister Gordon won't give you the Soames role if you upset Miss Garson.
Mister Gordon won't give you the Soames role if you upset Miss Garson.
ERROL
I'm not playing that limp-wristed Bosinney-ninny.
I'm not playing that limp-wristed Bosinney-ninny.
FRED
Then let's start things off on the right foot with Miss Garson, shall we?
Then let's start things off on the right foot with Miss Garson, shall we?
ERROL
I'll show that bastard Warner what I'm capable of.
I'll show that bastard Warner what I'm capable of.
FRED
Just think of the alimony that you're still paying. You need this job.
Just think of the alimony that you're still paying. You need this job.
ERROL
Don't worry, Fred. Remember, I've met the King and Queen of England.
Don't worry, Fred. Remember, I've met the King and Queen of England.
FRED
Oh, here she is. Best behaviour, now.
Oh, here she is. Best behaviour, now.
ERROL
As always.
As always.
FRED
...Oh, Miss Garson, how do you do? I'd like to present Mister Errol Flynn.
...Oh, Miss Garson, how do you do? I'd like to present Mister Errol Flynn.
ERROL
[He slaps Greer on the rump.]
Hiya, Red!
[He slaps Greer on the rump.]
Hiya, Red!