Fall of Eagles
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Movie Reviews of Fall of Eagles
Movie Review: The Last Courts of Europe
Summary: 5 Stars
My heartfelt thanks to whoever is responsible for our finally being able to get DVDs of some of the best of British-made TV of the 1970s and 1980s -- a period of series-making featuring excellent ensemble casts, meticulous attention to detail, and above all, no dumbed-down or politically-correct history. Fall of Eagles is one of the best of these productions.
One reviewer has said, rightly, that as you watch this series you want to scream at your television to stop the inevitable progress toward World War I -- the culmination of ignorance, double-dealing, misunderstandings, fatalism, and downright stupidity on the part of the three major European empires and their rulers. The Hohenzollerns of Germany, the Habsburgs of Austria-Hungary and the Romanovs of Russia were determined to preserve their rule by "Divine right" while ignoring the social chaos, poverty, and burgeoning spirit of revolution among the many ethnic and cultural populations they controlled.
The series does a great job of showing that these rulers were rather unremarkable people coping with basic human experiences in very remarkable circumstances. They did not have exceptional intelligence or ability, some were prone to annoyingly histrionic behavior (Kaiser Wilhelm II), some were memorable, some oblivious of the world around them (Tsar Nicholas II and his Empress), some were pretty thick, and several, like Empress Elizabeth of Austria (SiSi), were outright flakes. They were surrounded by sycophants, but also by a few people of intelligence and integrity who could have steered them on less disastrous courses but who were largely ignored. And so we have the story of Prussia's territorial aggrandizement and unification of the German empire, Austria's attempts both to ignore and squelch the increasingly active Hungarian move toward autonomy, and Tsar Nicholas II's lethargic and pathetic obliviousness to the threat of the charismatic and politically savvy Lenin. Their Europe would disappear in the ashes of World War I, never to rise again.
If you love this series and want to know more about these fascinating people and times, let me recommend the book The Last Courts of Europe; A Family Album of Royalty at Home and Abroad, 1860-1914, by Robert K. Massie (available here at Amazon at a very reasonable price, a lot cheaper than I bought it years ago before there was an Amazon!). All of the people in the series are in it, both in text and a wealth of rare contemporary photographs -- you will marvel at how expertly the actors were made up to look like their real life counterparts. Most of these rulers were grandchildren of Queen Victoria of Great Britain, "Granny Queen", who had nine children and 44 grandchildren, all of whom married into the major and minor royalties of Europe. As you will have learned by watching the series, "Cousin Willy" (Kaiser Wilhelm II) and "Cousin Nicky" (Tsar Nicholas II) actually were cousins by way of their mothers, who were daughters of Queen Victoria. "Cousin Nicky" was visited aboard his royal yacht by "Uncle Bertie", King Edward VII of England.
If you are a history buff, or interested in the pre-World War I era, or you just plain like good television drama, you can't go wrong with this series. Yes, of course you may feel that some omissions should have been included, but on the whole, the series does an excellent job of exactly what it set out to do, show the intricate tapestry of Europe as it was and how it all came apart in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Again, I thank whoever is responsible for bringing it to us on DVD. Here's hoping there are more of such series to come.
Movie Review: Patrick Stewart as Lenin -- "Make it So!"
Summary: 5 Stars
Well, the long awaited series that was a part of PBS television in the 70's has finally made it to DVD. I only saw bits and pieces of this Masterpiece Theatre presentation when it was originally aired. In particular, the sections on the state of Prussia during the time of Bismarck. There is no doubt that it is extremely well done and impressive. It is somewhat scholarly in the sense that we are seeing "insider" politics regarding the monarchs of Europe during a time of transition of power, when Europe gave up on the fantasy of a God ordained Leadership in favor of other radical ideas. I am reminded of that Al Stewart line in his song "Manuscript" "and the Czar in his great Winter Palace called for the foreign news...an Archduke was shot down in Bosnia...but nothing much!" This is what you are going to witness in this great production. As noted by another reviewer, the insight into the development of the Bolshevik party, led by Patrick Stewart as Lenin leaves us without much information on the various parties involved in the formation of that Socialist empire. It concentrates on Lenin and the immediate people in his circle. The parts about the Prussian Empire are interesting, the Austrian-Hungarian Empire under Franz Joseph are made more clear and a considerable amount of time is spent on the Romanov family and all of the silly decisions and fantasy that envelope that tragic situation. The German empire under the Kaiser is somewhat entertaining and informative regarding the immaturity of Willie, especially when he starts sending romanticized paintings, done in bad taste regarding the "Yellow" race to his "relation" Czar Nicholas. Nothing was more underestimated than the Japanese empire or more overestimated as to the God ordained connection of the various monarchs to make decisions in Europe.World War I was the result, and this tragic "Christian Civil War" brought about untold consequences for the entire world. You are left with the impression of "if only" when you see this History lesson unfold before your eyes. Perhaps Mad King Ludwig II of Bavaria (not covered here in any capacity) has been proved correct in the hindsight of 20/20 armchair historians regarding his extreme dislike of Prussian military ventures and their probable consequences on World History. Yes! This series is well worth your investment, although I have to report that one of my discs would not run in my DVD out of the four that this series covers. However it did run on my computer curiously enough. Try not to be too tired when you view this series, there is a lot of low conversation that you will miss that is important. A real boon for History buffs! Well recommended.Movie Review: Fine Production of Lesser-Known Historical Time
Summary: 5 Stars
Fall of Eagles is an excellent series, the type of work the BBC and Masterpiece Theatre is best known for. The performances are first rate: especially Patrick Stewart as Lenin (driven, ruthless) and Barry Foster as Kaiser Wilhelm II (pompous, self-deluded). These two performances alone are worth the price of the box set - they are the ones that all others should be measured against.
I have to disagree with another reviewer's opinion of Wilhelm's father, Kaiser Frederick. He was not weak - he was a principled man of integrity who unfortunately came up against Bismarck and lost. Fritz and Vicky were high-minded liberals who wanted better living and working conditions for their people. Unfortunately, while they 'played the game' honorably, their opponents did not - so they were chewed up and spit out by the existing power structure.
I spent some time in Vienna last summer and visited the Sisi Museum - Empress Elizabeth as she is shown in the first and fourth episodes. Someone said that Sisi was Austria's Princess Diana - different time frame, but beautiful young woman almost crushed by the royal system who dies tragically. Go look her up - in some paintings, she has a Liv Tyler look, in others, she sort of looks like Julia Roberts.
Russia's Nicholas and Alexandra are rightly portrayed as flawed personalities who can't stay out of their own way. One sees the inevitability of SOME other system - ANY other system - taking over in Russia.
There's a screen on the third DVD of a conversation between Germany's Kaiser Wilhelm II and Austria Crown Prince Franz Ferdinand which is almost comical - the haughty/clueless talking to the haughty/clueless. Ironically, Wilhelm comes off as the MORE level-headed of the two. If this portrayal of Franz Ferdinand is anywhere near the truth (and I'm inclined to think it is, based on the truthfulness of the rest of the series), perhaps Europe was better off without Franz Ferdinand, although, of course, his assassination in Sarajevo was the trigger to the bloodiest war in history, WWI. This scene shows that Europe might have been worse off had he lived.
Another reviewer mentioned something about Queen Victoria and Prince Albert being the only contemporary monarchs who saw their position and duty as a public trust. After watching this series, you will no longer wonder why the others - Romanov, Hapsburg, and Hohenzollern - all fell apart. The leaders of Russia, Austria, and Germany are shown for what they were - dull (not just unintelligent but BORING), limited men and women who can't help but bungle their way into WWI.
Movie Review: An Astounding Achievement
Summary: 5 Stars
When painting stories from 70 of the most tumultuous years in European history, no matter how large the available canvas, the artist must be quite selective. This 13 episode treat from 1974 is nearly perfect in every way, choosing events and people emblematic of this troubled time. I cannot vouch for the historical accuracy the way a professional historian could, but these certainly fit everything I know and seem reasonable and believable. If the actual conversations are invented, the reality of these doomed people is dazzlingly re-created.
30 plus years ago, British television had tiny budgets with which to work. Austere sets, limited costumes, minimal trappings to flesh out the look, and yet they created masterpieces still fondly remembered. I, Claudius, The Pallisers, and The Forsytes, and many others, all remain in the mind long after their closing credits. This series, new to me, joins that august company. The difference between then and now (and between British and American) is superlative scripts and splendid acting. Familiar faces abound throughout these tales, as we see and hear a supporting cast that has appeared in many BBC and British films. No weak spots, no boring or inept performances, just skilled artisans who deftly and completely capture what these famous names must have been like. Patrick Stewart is probably the most recognizable actor from this set, and his Lenin is absolutely believable. But he is by no means alone in inhabiting his character.
The recent film The Illusionist takes place during the same time, and concerns a fictional Austrian Prince; the suicide of the real prince is wonderfully portrayed in the episode "Requiem for a Crown Prince". What a difference we see between a tale told about people with emotions, desires, and beliefs, who are allowed to grow, sputter, and ultimately be what they are, and a contemporary film with a beautiful look, stunning and opulent sets, marvelous clothes, swords, trains, carriages and hats, but blessed with cartoon good and evil and devoid of soul. Garish and silly, sterile and dead, no matter how much gorgeous decoration is heaped upon it.
I only wish they had filmed another 20 or 30 episodes. A gripping, riveting story, wonderfully told that, after the somewhat sluggish first episode, holds your imagination and your intellect. Historical knowledge is certainly helpful, but not required, and I bet you'll be pulling out your atlas and reading your encylopedia after.
Movie Review: An Important History Lesson
Summary: 5 Stars
I can't overstate how much I enjoyed this series. The sets,
the authentic costumes, the acting are all superb. My favorite
performances are those by Patrick Stewart who plays Lenin (the make-up men even gave Stewart the slighty Oriental eyelids that Lenin had, inherited from his Kalmyk grandmother), Barry Foster as Kaiser Wilhelm II, Curt Jurgens as Bismarck and Charles Kaye
as Tsar Nicholas II. Stewart's performance as Lenin is stupendous, displaying his cold fanaticism.
It should be pointed out, however, that the episodes are of
uneven quality. The episodes focusing on the Hapsburgs, i.e. the first where Emperor Franz Josef marries the Empress Elizabeth (his beloved "Sisi") and the later episode about the
suicide pact involving his son Crown Prince Rudolf and his mistress are not as well done as the others. On the other hand,
the episode showing Lenin's bringing about the historic split in the Russian Social Democratic Party into his Bolshevik (Majority) faction and the opposing Menshevik (Minority) in 1903 can stand alone as a dramatic program on its own. Here clearly shown are the roots of the tyranny the fanatic, amoral Lenin created and his split with Trotsky that, in spite of a reconciliation in 1917, would end up help bringing about his (Trotsky's) ultimate downfall at the hands of Stalin.
One scene in another episode that particularly impressed me showed that death of Tsar Alexander III and the conveying of the crown to his son Nicholas II. Nicholas is kneeling in front of the Russian Orthodox Patriarch who is proclaiming him
Tsar of all the Russias and Nicholas looks extremely vulnerable, child-like and really almost pathetic, incapable of bearing the burden of autocracy that he received.
One problem with the shows about Russia is that the major anti-Jewish pogroms that accompanied the revolutionary ferment of 1905 are not mentioned. Although there is mention of persecution of the Jews, these pogroms poisoned that attitude of the Western Democracies against the Tsarist regime, in the end leading to public pressure to prevent Britain from giving refuge to the Tsar and his family after they were overthrown. This is in spite of the fact that King George V of England was the Tsar's cousin. This is not made clear in the program.
In spite of this, the series is fantastic and I recommend this BBC historical series from the golden years of the 1970's.