MovieChat Forums > The Forsyte Saga (1969) Discussion > Coffin scene

Coffin scene

posted 18 years ago by sherlock-37
4 replies | jump to latest

The scene where the old aunt is lying in the coffin in the Church is one of my favourite scenes, so well done. All the old uncles are there, and then at the end Joe comes in and is welcomed back into the family by his father. It all works so well together, interesting camera angle, dialogue, plot, characterization, absolutely masterful. We hear the chit chat between the older men, and it's shot from above, and then heads turn as Joe comes in and stands at the back - level shot, and then the coffin goes underneath the camera and the old men file out, without a word, but with a lot of looks, finally the architect, and then Joe and his father, arm in arm. This is a real lesson in how to get across a lot of information, in a very compact way. A real classic. Wonder how they ever devised the shooting of it? Sudden inspiration, or a lot of planning? Talent anyways!

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[–] tiderolls 18 years ago

The scene was also symbolic in that they were in birth order from oldest to youngest and from Forsyte to non-Forsyte--and then there was Jo. He was always outside the perimeter. You don't see scenes set up like this much anymore, do you? As you said, "a lot of information, in a very compact way."

[–] Harold_Robbins 18 years ago

What's also interesting is that only the men attended the funerals at that time, even the funeral of a woman - the sisters did not not.

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[–] tiderolls 18 years ago

I wonder when that finally changed? In The Pallisers, Mary, the daughter, was at her mother's burial; I believe that series' time period ended around the 1880s. But they could've just done that for dramatic effect.

[–] octoberbest 18 years ago

Yes, it was 1885 if I remember correctly. And all of the Palliser children were at the old Duke's funeral, and that must have been ten years before. I've read that women didn't stay for the actual burial part of the ceremony. I'll have to read more on it.

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Arthur: But that would only leave you with one!