stylus22 As mid-70s military oriented mini series' go this one is okay, but it does not do the book justice. The book, by Anton Myrer, is a sweeping epic that follows Sam Damon from his late high school years where, failing to get an appointment to West Point, he enlists in the peacetime Army, much to the chagrin of his uncle whose tales of the Spanish American war had inspired him to seek a military career; "Boy, you don't join the Army in peacetime!". The book ends at the beginning of the Vietnam era, before the USA has become involved in it, but Courtney Massengale is more than eager for the conflict to escalate and Sam Damon, well, I don't want to drop any spoilers about the book (read it!) If I'm not mistaken, the book is still required reading at West Point; if you can find a copy I urge you to read it. I forst encountered it as Reader's Digest condensed book in the late 60s-early 70s and loved it so much that the first time I saw a copy for sale I bought it. For what it what it is, the mini series is okay, as okay as any 1976 mini series can be. The Banzia attack was a bit disappointing, especially the Japanese jibber-jabber and for the most part it seems as if it was made on are a very tight budget. The casting was great; lots of BIG names and names that would be big in the future (Melanie Griffith). The opening sequences were a little disorienting, mostly from the inclusion of Indy-style race cars that the Unsers would have been driving as well as 70s-80s model Formula One cars. What's up with that? The formatting of the discs was a rather "unusual" but, it was likely one of the first mini series' of its type to be put on a DVD. Personally I would recommend The Winds of War and War and Remembrance over Once An Eagle. I enjoyed the mini series for what it was. but the ending with Sam walking away from a screeching Massengale was pretty lame, especially if you know that the story still has another 20-years to go

jireynolds67 I saw Once An Eagle at the time this Mini Series was broadcast in late 76 and early 77. I was in the military at that time and could see how some of the characters in the film were quite similar to actual members of the military which I had worked for and with during my time in the service. I believe it was the best film concerning the military which I have ever seen. I retired from the military in 1977 and have many memories of over twenty four years of service. Although it has been over thirty years since I saw Once An Eagle, I have never forgotten it and wish it had been broadcast again, after I had a VCR, so I could have recorded it. Recently I have searched the internet, trying to find a copy of this excellent Mini Series, with no luck. I am not the only one whom wishes it would be broadcast again or at least be put out on a DVD. If it were available, I would certainly buy more than one copy as there are people whom I would like to give a copy to so they could also see this excellent film.

Skragg Partial spoiler. I've been attached to it since it was new (it and "Captains and the Kings", which were both parts of a revolving set of miniseries), but partly for lopsided reasons. As great as the actors in general were, I think Cliff Potts was especially good as Courtney Massingale, making him the villain, but (until you see the last parts, or maybe that one scene with the daughter) impossible to HATE. (He played a slightly similar role in "Silent Running" - he was one of the three men in the first parts who teased Bruce Dern constantly, but his character was never really nasty.) One thing the story DIDN'T do was hammer home the subject of Courtney's impotence, instead of reminding you here and there. Of course, I'm sure it made a connection between that and his ambition, but, if so, it was really allowed to speak for itself. (I can only imagine the pushy way it would probably be SPELLED OUT to an audience, if it were made NOW.) So, until the horrible thing he does to those soldiers (or the other horrible part with his daughter), he's much more of a TRAGIC character, and Cliff Potts really put that across. And there was also Clu Gulager, who was very believable as the vicious character Merrick. And, among all the supporting actors, there was Lynda Day George, who (before Jane Seymour got this label) seemed to be in one miniseries after another. Anyway, it was one of the first miniseries, but also one of the best.

btraven Shown in UK as part of best sellers series along with Captains and the Kings. Couldn't wait for each new part of the mini series still remember it after 27 years so it must have been good. Why doesn't someone show this series again?