Fall of Eagles

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Template:Short description Template:Use dmy datesTemplate:Use British English Template:Infobox televisionFall of Eagles is a 13-part British television drama aired by the BBC in 1974. The series was created by John Elliot and produced by Stuart Burge. The series portrays historical events from 1848 to 1918, focussing on three ruling dynasties: the Habsburgs of Austria-Hungary, the Hohenzollerns of Germany and the Romanovs of Russia. The scriptwriters were Keith Dewhurst, John Elliot, Trevor Griffiths, Elizabeth Holford, Ken Hughes, Troy Kennedy Martin, Robert Muller, Jack Pulman, David Turner and Hugh Whitemore.

Overview

The series tells the story of the final decades of three great empires brought to downfall by historical events. Each empire used an eagle in its heraldry. The central theme is the effects of centuries of despotism, with a lack of social reform and the devastating effects of World War I, that caused revolutionary movements to form.[1] It begins in the aftermath of the Revolutions of 1848 and continues through the Armistice of 11 November 1918, covering about 70 years of history in 13 episodes.[2] The episodes' vignettes move between the three empires: Austria-Hungary, Germany, and Russia.

Episodes

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Cast

Cast, in order of first appearance, and sorted by episode and empire. The narrator of the series was Michael Hordern.

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Music

The music accompanying the main title and credits is the Trauermarsch (Funeral March), the first movement of Mahler's Symphony No. 5. The closing theme music is the central section from the first movement of Shostakovich's Symphony No. 6.

Reception

One positive review of the series states: "This ambitious series captivates the audience by depicting the years of revolution, in which the well cemented monarchies of central and eastern Europe slowly disintegrate. However, the show does not attach any sentiments with royalty or the happenings in wake of its collapse."[3]

Media

Fall of Eagles was released on video and DVD in autumn 2004 in the United Kingdom, with the release including a photo gallery and a comprehensive 40-page historical notes booklet written by Andy Priestner providing further details on the historical events and characters in the series. It includes new interviews with Gayle Hunnicutt (The Golden Bowl, Dallas, The Martian Chronicles), Charles Kay (Edge of Darkness, To Serve Them All My Days) and director David Cunliffe (The Onedin Line, The Sandbaggers, Victoria and Albert).[4] It was later released in May 2006 in the United States,[1] without the companion booklet.

A separate book based on the series titled The Fall of Eagles: The Death of the Great European Dynasties (Template:ISBN) by Cyrus Leo Sulzberger II[5] was first published by Crown in 1981.[6]

References

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External links

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