Once an Eagle [Blu-ray]

I recall watching this series in the 1970s when it first was shown. As a retired career military officer I've wanted to read the book for many years, but its length was discouraging. Finally got the book and could not put it down, a crash course on professional leadership and military ethics. This video series shows that well, but like anything that Hollywood writers get their hands on from well written classics such as Once An Eagle, the authors seem to give up rights on critical portions being heavily altered for audience appeal.The early chapters introduce some characters long before they appear in the book, context of most battles and the travails of forced marches are left out, leaving the viewer scratching their heads at times. However, as the video chapters progress, the script gets a bit more faithful to the novel, though the ending is not the book's ending, which goes on to a Vietnam-like war.All that said, it was quite enjoyable seeing our old stars in roles not imagined for them as you read the book. However, nobody could possibly play Sam Damon better than Sam Elliott. In many ways this was the role that truly launched his Hollywood career. Despite its shortcomings, the video is well worth the time to view it.One final note. Being an old TV video, I expected the standard definition 4:3 screen. What I didn't expect was the fine quality video in it, not pixilated with more modern UHD screens. For that I give this video two thumbs up and five stars.

Awesome video that I can watch over and over again!

Anton Myrer's book, ONCE AN EAGLE, is one of the all-time great military novels, charting the career of a professional soldier, from enlistment as a private just in time to participate in the Pancho Villa Expedition, through service in WW1 where his is awarded a Congressional Medal of Honor, and receives a battlefield promotion from sergeant to commissioned lieutenant. It continues to follow him through the bleak years between the wars, through service in the Pacific as a general officer during WW2, finally culminating in Southeast Asia, where America's involvement in Vietnam (fictionalized into "Khotiane") is just beginning. Through it all, Sam Damon epitomizes what every soldier should be, honorable, brave, compassionate, fierce in battle, but magnanimous in peace, a leader who LEADS his men by example, rather than pushing them from behind. His conduct is contrasted with another officer, West Pointer Courtney Massengale, a political officer, making his career in staff positions rather than in combat, who back-stabs, manipulates, and cons his way to the top.This film adaptation, first run as a serial on NBC's BEST SELLERS series, is not as good as the novel, but it is very,very good. Sam Elliott, as Damon, gives one of his very best performances. The rest of the cast, particularly Cliff Potts, as the charming but treacherous Massengale, Darlene Carr as Sam's wife Tommie, and Glenn Ford as Tommie's dad, a veteran officer who becomes Sam's mentor in the Army, is also good.The film cuts large parts of the novel, ending in WW2 and never progressing to Southeast Asia. Also, the action in which Sam earns his battlefield commission does NOT earn him a Medal of Honor (a mistake I think).But it is faithful to the spirit, if not always to the absolute letter, of Myrer's novel, and should be seen by anyone who admires that book as I do.Highly recommended!

I hope this review finds a home amongst the long suffering hardcore fans who must've been in agony (30+ years!) for the official release. But it's here and I hope you guys enjoy the well-deserved DVD production.First off, I'm a huge fan of the tv mini-series format that ran from the 70's thru the late 80's, and I was stunned that I had never heard of this production before. Not once ever. As I think about it, I'm still amazed that this slipped past for so long.I read all 35 reviews that were posted here since 1998 (IMDB reviews) - and I agree with all of you wholeheartedly - this was a fantastic and truly wonderful production.And I also agree it was a dastardly crime that it took this long for 'Once An Eagle' to be given back to the viewing public.Okay, onto the review. (some spoilers - so be warned)As new fan of the series, I was surprised at how good the story that was told. Typically, as others have mentioned, the WWII drama is over the top, hyper-melodramatic and ultimately "Hollywood-ized" - presenting a false empty impression of the lives of soldiers, both officers and enlisted; especially those soldiers who did their service in between WWI and WWII. Can you imagine being a 2LT for 17 years?!?You couldn't have better defined the transition between a peacetime Army and wartime Army. The crafty officers who ably played the political game often meant that battle troops would be left behind in the promotions department; creating the initial paper-pusher trained service that combat hardened Imperial Japanese forces could take advantage of.Love that scene when John Fujioka, despite portraying an army officer who looks suspiciously like Hideki Tojo, clearly represented the real-life naval attaché to Washington D.C. in that period - a certain Captain Isoroku Yamamoto who often deftly deflected concerns that Imperial Japan would ever be a threat to the United States. That clever warrior. He was already on a war footing back in '28, thirteen years before Pearl.And very interestingly, I enjoyed how the production dealt with Court's homosexuality without having to confront it, which would have skewed the storyline in a pathetic attempt to validate some kind of political point, either pro or con. Very well done. Subtlety like this is a lost art in today's world of screaming-in-your-face lack of diplomatic skills. I realize that some may disagree with me here. But that's my impression given the collective scenes of the man on a personal level; what little there was to reveal - was very revealing indeed.I've read the comparisons between this and 'Winds Of War'. Until I had seen 'Eagle' - I would've been hard pressed to say that anything was better for the period. And because of the budget, obviously the battle scenes will always favor Winds. But the true character and temperament of the war, the men and women who were involved - you have to watch Once An Eagle.My only serious complaint was the ending. It felt like it was shortened by one episode, with many unanswered and unresolved questions. For example:- What happened with Sam's decision to hold Court responsible for his actions at "Palladium"? Of course he stuck to his guns and went forward, but what about after?- The point at which 'Palladium' occurs suggests the latter part of the war, mid-to-late 1944. There was still a lot of fighting and many battles left in the Pacific theater - was Sam ever given a chance to command again? Or did he lose his chance by accusing a fellow officer of dereliction and murder? Typically those charges in an official inquiry will always taint both officers involved - irrespective of the results, but the ending doesn't point to any single foregone conclusion.- Did Sam and Tommie ever resolve their issues with one another, the loss of their son, and get back together? I know that things pointed in that direction, but to see them put Donny to rest *as a couple* and move on would have been a reward for viewers who traveled with them throughout their amazing journey. A summation, perhaps after the war had ended, showing them at the home on the lake. Something.- Was Jinny ever able to settle down and find a life of her own apart from her highly dysfunctional family?- Was it possible, however remotely, that Donny somehow survived? I know they had the funeral, meaning the Army Air Corp was able to retrieve the remains. But it happened back then that some aviators survived - concealing their American identities by tossing their dog tags into a pile of burning wreckage to throw off & evade opposing forces, attempting to contact partisans, and maybe even make it back to the allied lines.Even a counting of... skulls... would mean little if the B-29 stuck bottom first - the ball turret gunner's body would have essentially disintegrated making an accurate accounting improbable. Or even worse - had the B29 been unable to drop its payload before impact - what would the corps troops think? The bodies, what little remained, would be completely destroyed thereby making a count of the tags meaningless if not impossible. I can't see how anyone could make an honest appraisal in those situations. Questions like these haunted families for years afterwards, so I honestly see it as possible.Overall - fantastic and well worth the 7 hours spent.I always and thoroughly enjoy stumbling onto a hidden unexpected gem. :-)

Follows the careers of 2 military men and their lives. Very enjoyable

This is a classic up there with the Winds Of War. A shame it is not available on region 2 so it is available to fans of this genre. The acting is great one of Sam Elliot's best early television roles it handles all aspects of the history of that period American involvement in the Great War and the period between the Wars leading up to the Second World War. I would recommend it to all. i remember watching this back in the 80's and have been waiting for it to be released on any format.

An excellent mini-series from the 1970s. My only disappointment is that the dvds ran for a total of 442 minutes which indicate that it was cut by 78 to 98 minutes. I believe the print was taken from a video release. However, sound and picture quality were more than acceptable.

This is NBC's interpretation of Anton Meyer's "Once An Eagle". Given the budget they had, at that time, as well as the special effects that existed at that time, I'd have to say that they did a Helluva job! An unkind person could whine about it being a VHS rip, but a true fan would overlook that and be damned grateful to enjoyhaving a copy of such a rare video artificat!In any case, I'm more than satisfied to have it, and consider myself very fortunate to have it! It was delivered well before it was expected, in beteer condition than was promised, so the sellar gets my business in the future!Well done job!

Good mini-series from the '70 's I enjoyed it the second time around and I'm sure I will more as weather and age catch-up!