Product Reviews
Once an Eagle was a seven-part miniseries originally telecast December 2, 1976 through January 13, 1977; the first and last installments ran two hours each, while the interim episodes each ran 60 minutes. Based on the Anton Myrer novel, the series charts thirty years in the careers of two military men, from the outbreak of World War I to the aftermath of World War II. Sam Damon (Sam Elliot) is the "Gallant," a straight-arrow type who is an excellent family man and praiseworthy warrior. Courtney Massingale (Cliff Potts) is the "Goofus," a womanizing, self-aggrandizing conniver who knows how to play the angles to the top. Once an Eagle was the second of four story arcs seen on the NBC anthology series Best Sellers; it was preceded by Captains and the Kings, and followed by Seventh Avenue and The Rhineman Exchange. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
Product Notes
Once An Eagle is the epic story of America in the 20th Century, told through the lives of two career soldiers, spanning the tumultuous years from WW I to the Vietnam Era. Based on the best-selling novel by Anton Myrer, Once An Eagle is one of the most acclaimed mini-series of all time, alongside "Winds of War" and "War and Remembrance". Sam Elliott takes on the role of Sam Damon, a courageous and compassionate man who finds his calling leading his men in war and in peacetime. Cliff Potts, on the other hand, plays Courtney Massengale, a ruthless achiever who will let nothing stand in his way to the top. The eve of America's entry into WW I finds the men friends, but as events unfold, the vast difference in their personalities leads to a face-off in a life an death struggle of good vs. evil. Beautifully photographed by J.J. Jones, who received an Emmy Nomination for Outstanding Cinematography, Once An Eagle brings history to life, as the two men strive to fulfill their destinies in a world torn by war.