Fall of Eagles on DVD

[NAOTMAA Fan]

Upstairs, Downstairs = Insane epicness.

[helenazar]

Did you catch him as Sejanus in I, Claudius? It was great, although probably it ranks as just another effort by the Red Conspiracy to Advance the Revolution Through Impressively Produced and Acted Costume Dramas.

Of course I saw him in I Claudius! He was great as Sejanus. I just love that mah. I also saw him live on Broadway and he was amazing there too. 

[Tsarfan]

Fall of Eagles portrays the three monarchies as a collection of duplicitous, inept buffoons
. . . .

Yes, you're right.  The three monarchies collapsed under the burden of superb government.

Seriously, though, upon watching the series the first time I also found the weaknesses of the three emperors to be portrayed almost as caricature.  But, then again, it is really hard to caricature some of the truly ridiculous things that presaged the fall of the three emperors:

-  the Kaiser's inept diplomacy and poor grasp of the vital interests of his neighbors, as displayed in the Agadir crisis and other of his "gunboat diplomacy" missteps
-  the salacious personal life and then the suicide of the Hapsburg Crown Prince, combined with the hamfisted handling of the ethnic minorities in an increasingly untenable empire
-  Nicholas' towering ineptitude as a ruler combined with a religious hysteric of a wife (remember this is a man who wrote his wife that he was combing his hair before meeting with ministers with a magic comb Rasputin sent him).

Fall of Eagles  is not the best way to learn history.  However, to an audience reasonably versed in the history of that era, it was a delightful bringing to life of the look and feel of an era where government and international politics was viewed as something of a family affair.

As for the portrayal of Lenin, I found him to be portrayed as nothing more than an intensely focused man for whom people were not individuals but simply cogs in machines that turned either with him or against him and had to be dealt with as such.  He was portrayed as a brilliant stragegist (which he was), a rabid revolutionary (which he was), a cold-blooded cynic (which he was), a ruthless exterminator of opponents even within the socialist and communist movements (which he was), and a man who set up a functioning government in a situation where no one else could (which he was).  In fact, I felt the portrayal of Lenin to be the most subtle and well-grounded portrayal in the entire series.  Nothing in the portrayal of Lenin suggested, to me at least, a representation of a man that anyone would want running their country.

[helenazar]

As for the portrayal of Lenin, I found him to be portrayed as nothing more than an intensely focused man for whom people were not individuals but simply cogs in machines that turned either with him or against him and had to be dealt with as such.  He was portrayed as a brilliant stragegist (which he was), a rabid revolutionary (which he was), a cold-blooded cynic (which he was), a ruthless exterminator of opponents even within the socialist and communist movements (which he was), and a man who set up a functioning government in a situation where no one else could (which he was).  In fact, I felt the portrayal of Lenin to be the most subtle and well-grounded portrayal in the entire series.  Nothing in the portrayal of Lenin suggested, to me at least, a representation of a man that anyone would want running their country.

Yes, exactly. And I think it was rather accurate. And I think he was the best character in the entire series too.

[Robert_Hall]

I agree, Lenin was striking.  But I felt all the actors did a beautiful job.  Barry Foster as the Kaiser was also remarkable. Just as would have inmaged him [the Kaiser] to be. The only real complaint I might have, is that other than the Romanovs, there was no real "end" to the other eagles.  The Kaiser at Doorn, Karl  in exile, ending the rules of one of the oldest dynasties in Europe.

[helenazar]

Barry Foster as the Kaiser was also remarkable. Just as would have inmaged him [the Kaiser] to be.

Yes, I agree. Most others did a very good job. I didn't like any of the Romanov characters though, Nicholas and Alexandra in particular were kind of flat and one-dimentional, IMO...

[Louis_Charles]

Really? I thought that Gayle Hunnicutt was the best Alexandra I have ever seen, and within the parameters of the character she succeeded in making you see the Tsaritsa. I haven't seen this in awhile, but I am thinking particularly of a scene early on with Ella, who tries to warn her what she will be getting into if she marries Nicholas, and Hunnicutt did an excellent job in making the audience see that Alexandra was incapable of listening to anyone if the advice went against her preconceived notions.

[halen]

Patrick Stewart is magnificence in whatever he does; even Canterville Ghost with Neve Campbell. When I re-watched I Claudius recently I cracked up when I first saw him. Captain Picard with hair. (I'm a Trekkie) Nice look on him.

He was great at Lenin,  as well.

I did enjoy Barry Foster role as the Kaiser, and over all, the entire production was good. Historically accurate, not so much in some places, but for a time piece, to get acquainted with the costumes, the props, was enough for me. I know when I sit down to watch a BBC production my historians curiosity will be somewhat sated. Incidents that occur throughout, names, places, people, only drive my insatiable appetite for more information. BBC, MasterPiece Theater, Merchant and Ivory. How I miss them. Thank god we have the opportunity to rent, buy, download (thank you Laura Mabee) all these great shows.

Louise

[halen]

Really? I thought that Gayle Hunnicutt was the best Alexandra I have ever seen, and within the parameters of the character she succeeded in making you see the Tsaritsa. I haven't seen this in awhile, but I am thinking particularly of a scene early on with Ella, who tries to warn her what she will be getting into if she marries Nicholas, and Hunnicutt did an excellent job in making the audience see that Alexandra was incapable of listening to anyone if the advice went against her preconceived notions.

I enjoyed the conversation with Gayle Hunnicutt talking about the production and her role as Alexandra.  Now that is one classy, articulate woman.
 

Louise

[helenazar]

Really? I thought that Gayle Hunnicutt was the best Alexandra I have ever seen, and within the parameters of the character she succeeded in making you see the Tsaritsa.

So far I have not seen any good dramatic portrayals of Alexandra. For some reason I didn't buy Hunnicut as Alexandra. Maybe it was because she doesn't look like her at all (I mean, come on, those big pouty lips?). She pouted too much in the film, and I don't think A was the pouty type... She did have some good moments, but on the whole I just didn't buy it... I guess she did the best with the script she had, but I think the writers could have done better with those 2 characters, especially Nicholas. He was portrayed as almost a complete non-entity, too one dimentional, which I don't think was really the case, even though it may often seem that way... It was a little too caricature-like. I suppose that they didn't have enough time to develop the characters too much, although I think they did a pretty good job with the others.

[Robert_Hall]

I thought Alexandra was well portrayed.  Neither too  romantic mush  nor cold as an iceberg and indicted for he [many] faults. Fairly balanced, in my opinion. And, perhaps Nicholas  was  pretty "one dimensional"  I do not see a great deal of personality and creativity coming out of the real thing either.
 And, BTW, the BBC is still going strong. They presented a new miniseries last season, Cranford, with Dame Judi Dench and just about every other  great British actress. Costume drama set in the mid 19th century.  I missed the first 2 or 3 episodes, so will buy the DVD when next in England. It will probably be on Masterpiece eventually.
 A Trekkie, eh?  I am a Dr. Who fan. Which  I watched for years and especially like the new incarnation. The Titanic  episode last xmastime was a lot of fun.  And now, Torchwood with John Barrowman. That show is really progressive. It is a spin-off of Dr. Who with David Tennant.

[halen]

I enjoyed Hunnicutt as well. I was struck at her reaction when Alexei was first diagnosed with hemophilia. After witnessing my sister's horrified (and that is putting it mildly) reaction when my nephew was diagnosed with Autism, I can say she pretty well was bang on as a grieving mother. That said, I must watch the segment with Alexandra and Nicholas again to get a better understanding of where Helen is coming from. 

It makes you wonder what a production company such as BBC could do now, especially with so much accurate  information regarding Alexandra and Nicholas known today. it would be nice to watch an up-to-date production reagarding the lives of Nicholas and Alexandra.


Louise

[Robert_Hall]

I doubt that a remake of F0fE will come about. It would just be far too expensive. But a new miniseries on N&A alone  might be interesting.  After all, they pop up in other shows, like The Lost Prince and Edward the 7th. Who knows? With the renewed interest  due to the  findings,  probably be viable.

[Robert_Hall]

Same with me, Helen, for the most part.  Even the detective shows.  And comedies. Another one of my fave shows from them  is Jeeses  & Wooster. I just LOVE that series ! I even have a "Bertie Wooster" outfit for fun occasions. ITV  comes up with some  pretty good shows as well. Sadly, they both come up with some pretty dreadful "reality" shows and talent contests, which  end up in a US version here.
 We do not have  cable or satellite  at our house, so I do not really know what the premium stations come up with.  Probably nothing like I, Claudius or Fof E though.

[helenazar]

When I re-watched I Claudius recently I cracked up when I first saw him. Captain Picard with hair.

Louise, just for you