Once an Eagle

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.

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!

This DVD contains the full miniseries as it originally aired. For those in doubt, you can check the Internet Movie Data Base ([...]). Here's the link to the full episode list, if this system allows it to post through:[...]As you can see, there were seven episodes, not 8 as some have misremembered, the first airing on 2 December 1976 and the last on 13 January 1977.All seven episodes are present and accounted for, sir!Episodes 1 and 7 were two hour episodes, the rest being an hour each. That was a total of 540 minutes of air time, INCLUDING THE COMMERCIALS. Take the commercials out and you're down to 400-some-odd minutes... exactly what's on this disc set.I found the quality to be as good as possible considering the source material: a TV miniseries in the days before Hi Def. I also just watched "Rich Man, Poor Man", from the same era, and the quality was exactly the same.My discs functioned flawlessly. The interactive menu works just fine.Now, for those who have read the book -- as I have -- this miniseries never did contain the entire book. I remember thinking that at the time of the original airing. The original novel carries the story further in time than the TV show did. Obviously a decision the producers and network made at the time... and obviously it's too late to change that now.So, if you liked it then and want to revisit it, do so with confidence. It aged well!If you haven't seen it, you should. There aren't too many works around that were written by people who lived that era of the military, and especially not many that are done so well. Irwin Shaw did it with "The Young Lions". Jones's "From Here To Eternity" trilogy. Very few others.PS:The links were, indeed, edited from my review, so I've added them as a comment to this review.

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. I finally found a copy of it!