Fall of Eagles

I can hardly recall when I've viewed a television mini-series on DVD with more pleasure.The Story: This 1974 BBC mini-series portrays the events and incidents which ultimately sparked off World War I and details much of the horror (as well as the lunacy) of that tragic conflagration, 98% of the focus being on the Europeans and Russia. There's little mention of the late-period U.S. involvement which does not at all take away from this remarkable production.After 1848, the iron-fisted European Monarchs (chiefly Russia, Prussia/Germany, and the Austrian-Hungarian Empire) began to feel significant pressures to initiate reforms by the people whom they ruled. Great Britain's monarchy had pretty much already lost its legislative power to the country's Prime Minister and Parliament but, especially prior to World War One, the English monarchs were somewhat sympathetic with the European rulers for two reasons:1. Great Britain's royalty was strongly rooted in Germany.2. Three of Queen Victoria's grandsons had respectively become (or ultimately became) the rulers of Great Britain (King George V)); Germany (Kaiser "Willy" Wilhelm II); and, Russia (Tsar Nicholas II). She also had many other descendants and in-laws sprinkled across the European continent and intermarrying within the family realm was much encouraged. Unfortunately, Queen Victoria sported the hemophilia gene which carried on down to many of her descendants - the stricken females were the "carriers" and the males bore the disease.Due in part to intriguers, old alliances, economic issues, treaties, and outdated philosophies, (but primarily to the outright hubris, power-monging, and stupidity of the involved monarchs), a chain of political events challenged the egos of these autocratic leaders and they all failed to envision the consequences of their bad tempers and collective apathy.This mini-series particularly hones in upon the human facets of all these national peccadilloes from unfortunate royal successions, to the disastrous Russo-Japanese War, to mishandling insurgent trouble in the Balkans, to the aloofness of the Tsarina Alexandra and her ill-advised partnership with "starets" Grigory Rasputin. The chronicle ends with the murder of the Tsar and his family and Russia's Bolshevik Revolution.As an enthusiastic history buff of this realm and period I'm compelled to remark that the casting throughout the episodes was nothing short of flawless. Here are just a few who will have you convinced that they were the actual characters (in both appearance and mannerism) whom they respectively portrayed:Charles Kay -- Tsar Nicholas IIGayle Hunnicutt -- Tsarina AlexandraPatrick Stewart - Ulyanov (Lenin)Curt Jürgens -- Otto von BismarckBarry Foster - [adult] "Willy" (Kaiser Wilhelm II)Michael Aldridge - Grigory RasputinAdditionally, these folks were each clearly plugged in to the actual historical personalities whom they played. The volume of research which perceptibly went into this mini-series becomes immediately apparent to the viewer.The titles of the episodes would tell the prospective buyer very little in regard to what transpired in each one. At the cost of yielding up a lengthy review which some folks will not wish to read, I have appended a brief description to each entry. Many of these fine actors are not listed on the Internet Movie Database [IMDB] website and only a few are named on the product packaging. (I'm hardly an expert on WW I and if I have spoken poorly in describing some of these events, please forgive my unawareness):1) Death Waltz - [Begins on Disc #1.] A narrator (Michael Hordern, who briefly narrates intermittent spots throughout the series) opens the scene in 1848 describing insurgent activity in the Balkans. Hapsburg Emperor Franz Joseph of the Austrian-Hungarian Empire crushes the ethnic Hungarians who were rioting over the self-rule issue. The Archduchess Sophia (Pamela Brown) expresses open discontent with her son's, Franz Joseph's (Miles Anderson) new wife, Elisabeth (Diane Keen), a young lady who sympathizes with the rebellious Hungarians. [Episode directed by Bill Hays.]2) The English Princess - The scene opens in London, 1858: Queen Victoria (Perlita Neilson) and Prince Albert's (Frank Thornton) daughter, "Vicky" (Gemma Jones) marries Prussian Prince Frederich "Fritz" William (Denis Lil), thereby linking the two monarchies. Vicky gives birth to their son, "Willy," ("young Willy" being played by Adam Cunliffe.) Prince Albert dies. Conflict arises between Prussia, ruled by Kaiser Wilhelm I (Maurin Denham), and Austria. In 1870, the rising power-baron of Prussia, Otto von Bismark (Curt Jürgens), provokes France into attacking Prussia and the French are ultimately soundly defeated at Sedan. German-Prussian unification moves closer to reality under Bismarck's shrewd guidance. [Episode directed by David Cunliffe.]3) The Honest Broker - France is left very weak after the war with Prussia - Napoleon III flees to England and France proclaims a Third Republic. Prussia becomes formidable with increasing industrial development. Germany is finally united under the House of Hohenzollern. Princes of the German states gathered at the Versailles Palace's Hall of Mirrors in France to proclaim Wilhelm I of Prussia as Emperor Wilhelm I of the German Empire subsequent to the French capitulation in the Franco-Prussian War. A "League of Emperors" is formed: Austrian Emperor Franz Joseph, German Kaiser Wilhelm I, and Tsar Alexander III (Tony Jay.) Bismarck ("The Honest Broker") had become Chancellor of Germany and ultimately served for two decades. Wilhelm I dies in 1888 but his son Fritz lives only briefly thereafter and then dies of throat cancer - this places an inept and hubristic "Willy" in power as Kaiser Wilhelm II, ("adult Willy" is giftedly played by Barry Foster.) "Willy" brashly forces Bismark into retirement. [Episode directed by David Cunliffe.]4) Requiem for a Crown Prince - This is my personal favorite among all the episodes because it's all about a sex scandal, murder, and suicide within a royal family. This entry also features a bounty of magnificent outdoor scenery. In 1889, the Emperor of Austria-Hungary was Franz Joseph. His son, the liberal and philandering Crown Prince Rudolph committed suicide by blowing his head off with a handgun, shortly after having killed his very young mistress at the royal family's sprawling and elaborate hunting lodge. Franz Joseph (Laurence Naismith) and his wife, the Empress Elisabeth (Rachel Gurney), attempt to suppress the scandal (unsuccessfully) and the Emperor's liberal nephew, Franz Ferdinand, thus becomes the heir apparent to the Austrian-Hungarian Empire. [Episode directed by James Ferman.]5) The Last Tsar - [Begins on Disc #2.] The episode commences in 1884 under the new reign of Alexander III of Russia. Alexander's son, Nicholas (Charles Kay), carouses throughout St. Petersburg with rowdy friends, lending scant personal attention or concern to the fact that he is the Tsarevich, (heir apparent to the Russian throne.) Vladimir Ilyich Ulyanov (a.k.a. "Lenin," played by Patrick Stewart) arrives in St. Petersburg (the "northern capital" of Russia), and sets up shop where he meets his future wife, Nadezhda Krupskaya, (Lynn Farleigh.) Nicholas travels to Germany to propose to his princess cousin, Alix of Hesse who becomes the future Tsarina Alexandra (Gayle Hunnicutt). The event manifests a sizeable family reunion of European royals with Queen Victoria ("old" Queen Victoria is played by Mavis Edwards) at the helm and Kaiser Wilhelm II providing moral support for his anxious cousin, Nicholas. Alexander III dies unexpectedly and Nicholas becomes "The Last Tsar" (Nicholas II) to ever rule Russia. At the beginning of this entry, "young" Nicholas (at his Grandfather's funeral) is played by John Sanderson. [Episode directed by Bill Hays.]6) Absolute Beginners - Anarchists, Jews, social revolutionaries, and Marxists all become active in Russia, especially in St. Petersburg. Trotsky (Michael Kitchen) and Lenin meet for the first time. In 1903, (two years before the first Russian Revolution, which failed), the Bolsheviks (majority) and the Mensheviks (minority) part ways over party doctrines at an "Exile Congress" held in London. Another key character, Martov, is played by Edward Wilson. [Episode directed by Gareth Davies.]7) Dearest Nicky - Kaiser "Willy" Wilhelm II urges Nicholas II to attack the Japanese over the sticky issue of Japan wanting the Russian military presence eliminated from Port Arthur on the Korean Peninsula. This was a strategic and crucial military and economic Pacific port for Russia. Von Plehve (Bruce Purchase) raises his concerns with the Tsar about dangerous domestic revolutionary activity. Kaiser Wilhelm II provokes the ire of Great Britain as Germany lends naval support to the Tsar and some British fishing boats are misguidedly sunk, having been foolishly mistaken for Japanese war ships. Corrupt Russian officials conspire with Orthodox Church leaders and their minions to repress Russian workers. Von Plehve, who was an inept minister, reviled by most Russians, is assassinated when a bomb is tossed into his carriage. The Tsarevich, Alexis, is born - the child is cursed with hemophilia. Workers gather by the thousands at the Tsar's Winter Palace in a peaceful assembly to present the Tsar with a petition in a plea for basic rights. Soldiers and police fire indiscriminately on the group and the incident becomes known internationally as "Bloody Sunday" - the Tsar and the Tsarina remain insensitive to the human carnage. [Episode directed by Bill Hays.]8) The Appointment - In Russia, Grand Duke Sergius (the Tsar's uncle) is assassinated by revolutionaries. The hard-core Ratchkovsky (Michael Bryant) is subsequently appointed by the Tsar to administer the police force, including the "Black Band" secret police. Ratchkovsky allows revolutionary thought and insurrection to blossom. Exiled revolutionaries are thus duped into returning to Russia and Ratchkovsky's Black Band assassins begin killing off key revolutionary leaders. Father Gapon (Kenneth Colley) is bribed to function as a police informant. The Duma (parliament) is formed with Sergei Witte (Freddie Jones) as leader. In 1905, Moscow is stormed by the military to quell worker strikes. As more peaceful conditions prevail the Duma is dissolved by the Tsar. [Episode directed by David Cunliffe.]9) Dress Rehearsal - [Begins on Disc #3.] 1908: King Edward VII of Great Britain (Derek Francis) meets with his nephew, Nicholas II, aboard the latter's ship, the "Standart." Russian Foreign Minister Alexander Isvolsky (Peter Vaughn) commences a diplomatic intrigue: He instigates a pact with Austrian Foreign Minister Aehrenthal (John Moffatt) to help open the Dardanelle Straits (a waterway controlled by Turkey along the Gallipoli Peninsula) to Russian Naval warships. The secret Russian quid pro quo is to involve the abandonment of Russian support for their close allies, the Serbs, as Austria expands its Empire. Isvolsky operates autonomously, neither informing the Tsar or his key ministers of his ill-conceived covert plan. The crushing defeat of Russia by Japan leaves Russia in economic and military ruin. Aehrenthal fleeces Isvolsky into signing a surreptitious deal between Austria and Russia which, when revealed prematurely, sets off a firestorm of rage across Europe as Austria announces its annexation of Bosnia-Herzegovina. The Tsar appeals to his cousin, German Emperor Wilhelm II, to intervene with Austria but the Kaiser ultimately supports the annexation. Austria's army stands against Serbia -- Serbian appeals to the Tsar go unanswered. By this final series of international incidents, the World War One battle lines are plainly established. French Foreign Minister Clemenceau is artfully played by John Bennett; Great Britain's Foreign Secretary, Sir Edward Grey, is played by Tom Criddle, and; Frank Middlemass conveys a particularly first-rate performance as the Russian Chairman of the Council of Ministers, Stolypin - Middlemass is also renowned for his inspired performances in both Crime & Punishment - The Complete Miniseries (as Mameladov) and, as General Kutuzov in War & Peace (1972). I also wanted to remark that in this episode, the Tsar and Tsarina's hubristic attitude episode is artfully manifested by the festivities scene on the Standart, where the entire family dances lightheartedly to Chopin's Polonaise in A Major, op. 40 No.1, "Military," (Chopin: Favorite Piano Works) while the masses in St. Petersburg are wretched and starving. [Episode directed by Rudolph Cartier.]10) Indian Summer of an Emperor - Austrian Emperor Franz Josef, now 84, faces anti-monarch insurgency in Serbia, Romania, Montenegro, and elsewhere throughout his realm. "Moving pictures" (films) come to Austria! Crown Prince Franz Ferdinand (Peter Woodthorpe) sets up a farcical "rabbit hunt" for his pal Kaiser Wilhelm II (they shoot just released tame rabbits from the rear seat of a luxury car.) "Willy" gives him some sage counsel on dealing with the ethnic minorities within the Empire: "Rule them with an Iron Fist!" Franz Josef expresses his distaste for Franz Ferdinand's wife, the Archduchess Sophie. Franz Ferdinand and Sophie are assassinated by revolutionaries as they tour Sarajevo, thus making Franz Josef's other nephew, Archduke Karl (Roy McArthur), the heir apparent. Other key characters/actors include T.P. McKenna as Count (General) Conrad von Hotzendorf; Heather Page as the Archduchess Zita (Karl's wife), and; George Merritt as Ketterl (faithful servant to Franz Josef.) This episode would have been much better if they had portrayed an outdoor scene of Franz Ferdinand's assassination but for some reason, this pivotal incident was glossed over and simply referred to in the script by the principal characters. [Episode directed by Donald McWhinnie.]11) Tell the King the Sky Is Falling - July 29, 1914: Austrian armies attack Belgrade, Serbia. The Serbs plead for help from the Tsar. Russian and German armies both mobilize - Germany declares war on Russia on August 1. On August 3, Germany attacks Belgium and France. Concern for the Tsarevich Alexis's (Piers Flint-Shipman) hemophilia reaches a pinnacle. The Tsar foolishly takes on the job of military Commander-in-Chief and travels south to his headquarters near the front. The Tsarina, who blindly follows the deplorable advice of the incompetent and malicious Interior Minister Alexander Protopopov (Hugh Burden), the witless Madame Vyrubova, and the infamous "Mad Monk," Grigory Rasputin (Michael Aldridge), quickly reduces political matters in St. Petersburg to a shambles. The Duma, led by Mikhail Rodzianko (Charles Gray) is again dissolved. When the malleable and naïve Tsar is persuaded to reconvene the Duma, the Tsarina throws a hysterical tantrum and quickly travels to the front to put pressure on her husband to reverse himself yet again. Prime Minister A. F. Trepov (Frank Mills) attempts to bribe Rasputin to turn on the Quixotic Alexander Protopopov but the unsavory Mad Monk refuses - but he accurately predicts to Trepov his own (Rasputin's) imminent death and the fact that the Russian Monarchy will soon fall to the revolutionaries. [Episode directed by David Sullivan Proudfoot.]12) The Secret War - Kaiser Wilhelm II tires of the war. He is persuaded by his advisors that the eastern front must be promptly eliminated in order to strengthen their forces against France and Great Britain. To that aim, a decision is made to disrupt Russia politically by supporting the Marxist Bolsheviks, a group which opposes the war and is willing to strike a separate peace with the Central Powers. Unrestricted submarine warfare, an idea promoted by Admiral Von Holtzendorf (Alan Cullen), brings the United States into the war on the side of the Allies. Rasputin is murdered. The Duma, agitated by Kerensky (Jim Norton), gains strength. St. Petersburg has been re-named "Petrograd" (because the original name sounded "too German") - food riots continue there and the Imperial Garrison begins to mutiny, siding with the workers. Dr. Alexander Helphand (Michael Gough) meets with German Chancellor Bethmann-Hollweg (Peter Copley) to make arrangements for Lenin and other revolutionaries to re-enter Russia, from Switzerland, via a train through Germany. Kerensky, a Social Revolutionary Party leader in the Duma, presses to prolong Russia's participation in the war. The Tsar orders the Duma to dissolve and they reject his order. Revolution prevails as Cossacks refuse to follow royal commands. Protopopov is arrested and the Tsar is forced to abdicate by General Ruzski (Esmond Knight.) Lenin arrives in Petrograd to a hero's welcome. [Episode directed by Michael-Lindsay Hogg.]13) End Game - [Begins on Disc #4.] In October, 1917, Lenin's Bolsheviks seize power in a nationwide coup. They sign a separate peace agreement with Germany in March, 1918, taking Russia out of the war. Austrian Emperor Franz Josef dies and the new Emperor, former Prince Karl, urges Germany to the peace table. Austria's monarchy and its army disintegrate. Former Tsar Nicholas II and his entire family are murdered by the Bolsheviks. (It would have been nice had there been more focus on this appalling incident - it simply rates a minor mention.) In August, 1918, the Germans unsuccessfully launch an attack on their western front against the Allies - Great Britain counter-attacks with large tanks and the German soldiers reel. Kaiser Wilhelm II meets with his military and ministerial staff near the front to discuss terms for an armistice. General Ludendorff (Michael Bates) collapses from exhaustion. German Field Marshall Hindenburg (Marius Goring) remains calm and steers policy. The Kaiser's cousin, Prince Max (Laurence Hardy), is appointed Chancellor of Germany - he forces the radical General Ludendorff to resign with the backing of the Kaiser. Then, Prince Max publicly announces the Kaiser's abdication and while the Kaiser is furious, he's nonetheless powerless to regain his monarchy. Prince Max resigns and hands over the government to the Social Democrat leadership - Hindenburg supports them with the military to restore order throughout the country. Former Kaiser "Willy" Wilhelm II flees to Holland and is given refuge at the mansion of Count Bentinck (Kevin Brennan.) I laughed aloud when the director shrewdly injected some clever humor at one point just to lighten the script: The Kaiser is in his last gasp of power, timidly approaching his wife with the subject of their son's illicit love affair with a French widow, and to calm his nerves he hums Wagner: The Ride of the Valkyries, Overtures and Choruses. [Episode directed by Rudolph Cartier.]Some interesting trivia, if you'd like to read most of this fascinating true story in book form (sometimes, word for word) then you can acquire this noteworthy book, originally published in 1967 but now revised: Nicholas and Alexandra. It's quite helpful to one's comprehension to read the book prior to viewing the mini-series.Another item, the "Fall of Eagles" title refers to the respective monograms of each of the three monarchies (two Central Powers and one Allied Power), Austria-Hungary, Prussia/Germany, and Russia. Each of these insignia features some depiction of an eagle.Finally, the incidental music for the mini-series was composed by Kenneth Platts. The opening and closing theme, however, is the opening trumpet and orchestral performance of Mahler: Symphony No. 5, a momentous composition completed by the Bohemian born Austrian composer-conductor in 1902 -- it was arguably the most famous of all his symphonies. Ironically, Mahler died in 1911, prior to the start of World War One - but this was certainly a fine selection for characterizing the relevant music central to the location and period of the account.To summarize, this mini-series comes in double-boxed packaging (very nice) and is conveyed on four discs, the final one featuring a few interviews with one of the episode directors and some key cast members. There's also a "photo gallery" on this disc. The aspect ratio (4 x 3) is configured to fill the traditional-type television screen but looks just fine on a widescreen TV too. The clarity of the picture is terrific - all outdoors shots were captured on film and the indoor scenes were shot on videotape. The total running time for the entire mini-series is 10 hours 50 minutes I highly recommend it.

Fall of Eagles is another of those wonderful BBC serial dramas from the 1970s, with elaborate costumes, highly literate scripts, and an attention to detail which is rarely found in these less patient times. In 13 episodes, this is the story of the last sixty years or so of the great Hapsburg, Hohenzollern, and Romanov dynasties. There is a large cast which includes many faces familiar to fans of Masterpiece Theater in the 1970s and early 1980s. This series was first shown on the BBC in 1974, then on PBS in the late 1970s, and then in severely edited form on TBS and Bravo in the 1980s. The episodes tend to be heavy on dialogue and light on action, but the scripts draw heavily from speeches, conversations, letters and diary entries of the various characters, providing an abundance of rich historical detail.Since it has been so long since the series has been seen in its entirety, here is a brief summary of each episode:1. Death Waltz. Dealing with the early years of the marriage of Emperor Franz Josef of Austria and his beautiful young wife Elisabeth, this episode provides a good contrast between the absolutism of the Austrian court and the rise of European liberalism and the growing nationalism of ethnic groups like the Hungarians.2. The English Princess. This chronicles the difficulties faced by Victoria, Princess Royal of England. The eldest daughter of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert, Vicky had been raised by her father to be a voice for constitutional government and liberalism. After Vicky married Frederick, Crown Prince of Prussia in 1858, she clashed repeatedly with the Prussian government over its plans to force the unification of Germany as an absolute monarchy. Very good performance by Curt Jurgens as Otto von Bismarck.3.The Honest Broker. Continuing the German story line, this episode focusses on Bismarck after his successful unification efforts, particularly on his alienation of Vicky and Fritz's son Willy from his parents. After Willy becomes Kaiser William II, he then turns the tables on Bismarck and fires him, allowing for a very nice "I told you so" scene between Vicky and Bismarck at the end.4. Requiem for a Crown Prince. Returning to Austria, this is the story of the Mayerling tragedy, in which Crown Prince Rudolf first murdered his teenage mistress and then shot himself. This episode is filmed as a crime drama, with dates and times repeatedly flashing on the screen as we see the murder/suicide first discovered, then covered up.5. The Last Tsar. Here we have the story of Nicholas II as a playboy tsarevich who cavorts with a ballerina while courting a shy German princess named Alix. Nicholas finally convinces Alix to accept his proposals and change her religion to Orthodoxy and her name to Alexandra. This episode contains one of my favorite lines: When one of Queen Victoria's granddaughters asks if it is a good idea for first cousins to marry each other, the old Queen regally proclaims "The same blood only adds to the strength!" (This is a verbatim quote from one of the Queen's letters, by the way.) This episode ends with the death of Tsar Alexander III, Nicholas' father.6. Absolute Beginners. This is the least "royal" episode. It concentrates on Lenin's rise to power within the Russian Marxist movement and his creation of the Bolshevik party. Some of the discussions drag a bit, and its not really clear what divides Bolshevik from Menshevik from Social Democrat from Social Revolutionary, but this episode does give a good idea of Lenin's energy, charm, and utter ruthlessness.7. Dearest Nicky. Kaiser William II bombards Nicholas II with endless letters of advice and appallingly ugly paintings during the first years of the Tsar's reign. We get a good picture of Nicholas' fatalism and lack of initiative, and of Empress Alexandra's resolve to maintain the absolute monarchy and block any reforms within Russia. The scenes showing Nicholas and Alexandra's misery over their son and heir's hemophilia are particularly well done.8. The Appointment. Another Russian story, set in the period after the 1905 Revolution and the establishment of a semi-constitutional monarchy. The main character is a double agent who simultaneously deals with the revolutionaries and the Tsar and the Empress, weakening reform efforts and increasing the instability. There's a particularly fine scene showing Alexandra interviewing the double agent while an orchestra plays "I am a Courtier" from Gilbert and Sullivan.9. Dress Rehearsal. This deals with the Balkan Crisis of 1908, which nearly started World War I six years early. The diplomatic machinations and double crosses are well portrayed. There are some nice scenes showing King Edward VII of England visiting Nicholas and Alexandra and otherwise playing a pivotal part in helping to prevent conflict.10. Indian Summer of an Emperor. The least well done episode, focussing on Franz Josef in the summer of 1914. This mainly consists of a series of discussions before and after the Sarajevo assassinations and is meant to illustrate the diplomatic missteps which led to war, but it tends to be tedious. There are some charming scenes showing Franz Josef with his platonic lady friend Katharina von Schratt, whom he visited every morning for coffee and conversation.11. Tell the King the Sky is Falling. The best episode, depicting Russia during World War I as the few competent leaders try to convince Nicholas to make reforms before its too late. Gregory Rasputin is well played both as lecher and as holy man. There's a particularly strong performance by Rosalie Crutchley as Grand Duchess Marie Pavlovna, aunt of the Tsar and the most domineering of all the Romanovs.12. The Secret War. Here we see the February Revolution that overthrows the Tsar and the subsequent negotiations between various Russian revolutionary/Marxist groups and the German government, leading to Lenin's triumphant return to Russia and his seizure of power in the October Revolution. Kaiser William II is allowed to be uncharacteristically cautious in warning his ministers not to trust the Bolsheviks.13. End Game. The final episode, concentrating on the fall of the German monarchy and the last months of World War I. The increasing desperation of the German High Command is well depicted. My favorite scene shows the Kaiser with his wife, talking about their now estranged/dead British and Russian relations, with the German Empress breaking into tears when talking about the Tsar and Empress, saying "Why did they shoot the children? They didn't have to shoot the children!" over and over.This is a fine series with some excellent moments. If you're not familiar with late nineteenth century/early twentieth century royal European history some of the episodes might be confusing, but history buffs and royal aficionados will enjoy it immensely.

First, I wish it had subtitles. I'm hearing-impaired and I found much of it hard to follow.Second, I wish it had gone into the causes of the war a little more.Third, I wish it had gone into the war itself a little more.Out a a 13-part series, probably 11 parts were devoted to telling us just why these stupid royals so richly deserved the downfall that awaited them. I have no problem with that. But the fact remains that the three dynasties described would probably have gone on for another fifty years or even longer if the war hadn't come along. Most of the buildup had little to do with the war, and most of the action happened off-camera.I read the book this was based on many years ago but I don't remember it as well as I'd like to. I think this series follows the book fairly well, but apparently it was made on a limited budget so most of the real action happened off-camera; for instance, when the heir to the Austrian throne was killed (the incident that most directly led to the war) that happened off camera and all we get are people's reactions to it. I would have liked to see a little more, although I understand that these miniseries from the 1970s and such were limited as to what they could do on camera. Maybe a remake...But I waste time being wistful. What's there is very good, and the assembled cast of British character actors is as fine as you'll see: Michael Hordern, Charles Kay, Patrick Stewart and Curt Jurgens to name a few. The episode on Mayerling was downright riveting, like watching a detective story. Fine performances throughout and a great deal of stuff to learn.I still miss the subtitles, though.

Fall of Eagles is an excellent BBC series. The dialogue with the actors is believable.A very young (33 years old) Patrick Stewart of Star Trek fame played an excellent Lenin.The fall of the Romanov dynasty in Russia was particularly tragic, yet inevitable.

First--a STRANGE FACT---The Car in which Franz Ferdinand was killed in had license plate numbers ofA 11 11 18----as in 'Assassination--Nov 11 '18 ( the war ended on 11 11 1918) --- This is a wonderful aide for people, especially younger adults, to learn about history, a topic that is sadly lacking, apparently, in this day and age. Henry Ford famously said 'History is bunk', BUT later retracted that. 'To ignore history is to repeat it', and the MASSIVE blunders made by the crowned heads of Austria, Germany and Russia and their 'advisors' led to millions of deaths and much misery, that has continued unto today. The rise of communism, YUCK, the EU reported the results of a long term study saying that more than 84 MILLION people were MURDERED or died prematurely due to the effects of communism. On a personal note, my Uncle Ralph, after graduating from the U of M engineering school, went 'over there' in 1917 as a member of the US artillery, while my Uncle Harold, in 1915, at age 17 (tho living in Ann Arbor) joined the French Army and fought for 3 years in the trenches. We have his diary, he was there when the 'Christmas Truce' of 1914 was REPEATED by the French and Germans in 1915!While there are some quibbles with the 'facts', there is a HUGE mistake, apparently due to a lack of research, or a decision to add some interest. Franz Ferdinand, whose assassination 'kicked off' WWI was NOT (unlike Kaiser Wilhelm) a war monger. He wanted to maintain good relations with Serbia, and was killed while on a goodwill mission to Serbia. He said that Austria must avoid war at any cost, as it would cause the end of the Hapsburg Monarchy as well as spell doom to all the other crowned heads of Europe. But in the film he is portrayed otherwise....a DUMB DUMB DUMB mistake. By the way, if you visit Prague, go to Konopiste Castle, the home of Franz Ferdinand, and take the (expensive) PRIVATE guided tour of the rooms where he and his wife and children lived----well worth the price! He was a very democratic thinker for a royal. Oh, and Lenin is portrayed as smarter than he really was ( you should get a glim of his school reports, essays and papers as a young man--YIKES! )Back to the film---Although filmed in 1974, the quality of the picture (color) and sound are both fine.

This is a competent account of the events, except that the early part displays the usual English prejudice against Prussia and Prussians. But what else can you expect from the English? Is it fear of a nation which no longer exists?

buena serie histórica sobre los cambios producidos en la Rusia zarista y las consecuencias de los mismos, el único inconveniente es que esta en ingles y no trae subtitulos en español, por lo demás excelente

guardate, è l'unica serie che può descrivere in modo soddisfacente e fedele la storia di hohenzollern, asburgo e romanov, e che è pure a colori! non esistono competitori