Happened to watch the bulk of Part 1 (Austro-Hungarian Empire) yesterday. The actors (particularly Miles Anderson and whomever played his mother) looked very amateurish and the dialogue went from inane to imbecilic. I'm quite surprised the rating is as high as 8.3. I suppose, the programme picks up as it moves on.
shareI remember when this was on in 73 and I thought was the most brilliant piece of drama ever. I became really interested in European history after that. Stick with it, watch it a few times and it will get better. Looking back now though, the acting was pretty "clunky! compared to these days.
shareWell, fast-forwarded to the second installment yesterday. Lo and behold, Frank Thornton (Capt. Peacock) appeared as the German Prince. The dialogue was marginally better than the first episode, but still at the elementary school-level. Persuaded by the reviews here, I paid good money for this DVD set. I guess, I’ll trudge on!
shareIt helps if you have interest in the era. The show really picks up once you get Kaiser Wilhelm II and Czar Nicholas II involved. If the dialog is childish, it is only because these were two grown children that were utterly unable to rule their nations.
shareIt does help if you are interested in modern European history. The period leading up to WW1 was my favorite time period, so when I accidentally discovered this series on Bravo 10+ years ago, I had history geek spasms! But I think this series is so well done it might get people interested in this time period.
"You may very well think that; I couldn't possibly comment."
This is probably the best costume drama ever produced for TV. Unlike today's T&A heavy dramas this focuses on the characters.
The first episode with the Austrians is actually one of the weakest of the bunch. Episode II with the English Princess Vicky really hits the stride. In fact you expect to see the same story as part I. A young women marries into the royal family... but this is so different. The Austria stories are the weakest of the bunch.
Episode 1 is one of the two weakest in the series. Episode 6, which focuses on Lenin, is the other.
However, there is an enormous amount to enjoy in the other 11 episodes.
They Got Guns
We Got Guns
All God's Chillun' Got Guns!
Skipped the intermediate episodes and went to the last one. Sorry to say that my initial opinion has not in any way changed.
shareToo bad. I personally love this series. I respect your opinion, though. Just goes to show that people have different tastes -- and there's nothing wrong with that.
shareI really cannot see how the acting is amateurish and the dialogue childish (not even in the weaker episodes). Today the acting is far worse, being both less realistic and also less grand. What new shows like the new 'Doctor Who' and you will see that the acting, especially in conveying emotions, is overly manic, childish and inane. In recent TV shows, when there is a need for realistic grief or fear they overplay it. In short modern TV is fueled with overacting and clumsy dialogue.
I agree that the Austrian episodes are the weakest (the Mayerling episode was superb though), however, I believe the communist-orientated episode was one of the best in the entire series and very well balanced; a far cry from the gradually demonised communists of 'Secret Army' and the red devils of the 1980s.
"An eye for an eye only ends up leaving the whole world blind" - Gandhiji
All I saw were poor production values; the budget was clearly minimal.
As for your biblical tagline, a new interpretation is that punishment should be equal to the crime, instead of clearly disproportionate--ie, an eye for an eye instead of the death sentence.
God is subtle, but He is not malicious. (Albert Einstein)
I completely agree. I also detest the heavy handed use of music in today's TV and movies. If they remade this series today, half the characters would disappear in an effort not to confuse the allegedly moronic general public. I still have vivid memories of the first time I watched this marvelous series, and I still enjoy it when I watch my copies yearly. I love European history, as does my family, so I already knew much of the material. As in so many UK productions, the likenesses between the actors and historical figures seemed pretty canny.
Put puppy mills out of business: never buy dogs from pet shops!
Yep, sorry, but I think you're in the minority. This is a great series. I remember when PBS aired this back in the late 70s or so, and I had been waiting for its release on any medium here in the States, till I was able to get the DVD set.
I think the writing is good, and the performances are also good. The cream of British film and stage is represented, as it was in other great miniseries like "I, Claudius" or "Nicholas Nickelby" (though to be fair in comparing the two, "Nickelby" was staged by the Royal Shakespearean Company)
I do concede that it helps to be a history buff, which I am, especially for this period, but still, I think it's worth the price and it's always a treat to take a day and have a "Fall of Eagles" marathon.
"The bigger the government, the smaller the citizen."
Yes, this was really a good show, a brilliant show But why are you asking, since it seems you already have your mind made up?
[deleted]
The Russian episodes are the best, especially "Tell the King the Sky is Falling" and "Dress Rehearsal". I agree the Austrian episodes are weak, though the one about Mayerling is interesting, with the dates and times flashing on the screen like a crime docu-drama. The one about Lenin's rise to power is basically incomprehensible unless you have an exhaustive knowledge of Bolsheviks, Mensheviks, Social Democrats, Social Revolutionaries, etc.
share"Dress Rehearsal" has the best lines. And I love the Russian minister who is warning, "no adventures."
And I love the head of the Russian Secret Police in "Tell the King..." He is great when he says, "you killed the wrong man. We wanted the brother." Then says, "we'll get him at the funeral." Classic stuff.
I was NOT impressed. I started several episodes, but the sluggish pace and the sleepy ,,acting'' always made me quit after wasting fifteen minutes that I'll never get back.
God is subtle, but He is not malicious. (Albert Einstein)
I liked all the episodes, but I generally agree that the Prussian and Russian episodes are better than the Austrian (or Austro-Hungarian) ones, with the exception of the Mayerling incident episode; 'Requiem for a Crown Prince' which I thought was the best episode in the series.
I actually liked that episode about Lenin, but then again I have studied the Russian revolution and I am a Communist (though not a Soviet as I think Soviet "State Capitalism" is as bad as any form of Capitalism) so I do have an interest in the Anti-Tsarist side of the revolution.
I also did like the first two Prussian episodes quite a lot and the Russians were interesting though making up the bulk of the series...which I do think needed to be done.
"Nothings gonna change my world!"
I'm pretty sure I saw this show in rerun in Houston Texas in the later '70's.
Gemma Jones played Princess Vicky and went on to star in "The Duchess of Duke Street" and a film with Oliver Reed, I believe. I am reading a book now about Princess Vicky, a well-meaning princess who lived a difficult life, sadly dying after her beloved husband and soon after her mother, Queen Victoria.
"Two more swords and I'll be Queen of the Monkey People." Roseanne
Princess Vicky was a fascinating, if tragic, woman. I've read several excellent books about Vicky and her sisters, as well as their offspring, in the past two years. What an intriguing group of women!
Put puppy mills out of business: never buy dogs from pet shops!
No. This was horribly written and directed. Complete failure.
I am not, by any means, the modern totally inane action oriented guy, but I like some mixture of scenery and adventure with the lines. These are just lines delivered. It goes beyond boring. It goes beyond drama. I have directed slow piece stage works, and there are ways to make the tedium of lines more active.
About all we get is one of the characters shooting birds while talking, and even that drags. I have worked under dozens of stage directors who would've done better than this, and none who were this dismal.
Again, don't blame the actors. Blame the director. It is director's job to bring life to this. This director gave us a snoozefest.
Now go away or I shall taunt you a second time
that's not funny!
I agree with this opinion wholeheartedly. As a writer, I have to say that the few episodes I managed to get through were amateurishly put together. There were a couple decent performances from actors in the later episodes, but there wasn't a lot they could do to redeem the writing. And mind, I'm not talking about dialogue here. I'm talking about scene selection. The things this show chooses to highlight on screen are regularly uninteresting and unimportant. Sure, they're working on a limited budget and trying to focus on character development, but frankly, those are very poor excuses. The writing here is just lazy. For all the drama of the lead-up to the Great War, you'd think they could find a way to make it interesting. And yet somehow, they didn't.
shareThis series is amazing, especially if you love history and if you have a particular interest in the events leading up to WWI. It is also fun to see so many famous actors/actresses in their waning years and so many who were newbies then but are well known now. I know the first time I saw it, I almost fell off of my chair when Patrick Stewart showed up as Lenin!
While it seems like there are way too many episodes, for me, it was like a book that I couldn't put down. It's kind of like when you first look at how thick a book like Anna Karenina is, and you go,"Oh, Jesus!" But then when you sit down to read it, it flies by.
"Think, before you drink, before you drive me mad!"
I first saw this when PBS aired it in the late '70s and it left a strong impression. So I purchased the DVD boxed set when I saw it was available. Since then I have watched the entire series 3 times (and will probably watch it again before the year is out), picking up little bits of information each time. And after each viewing, I walk away wishing it were longer.
The first episode may be the slowest but then again, the reign of Franz Joseph was an increasingly stagnant time in Austrian history. However it does a very good job in showing the Empress Elizabeth's transformation from a rather silly child to someone capable of matching wits with her formidable mother in law.
True, those with an interest in the era will get more from the series than the casual viewer. However there are enough excellent performances (Barry Foster as Wilhelm II, and Sir Patrick Stewart as Lenin stand out) to make this worthwhile.
I first saw this in 1974 and am currently watching it on DVD. What a marvellous series this is! As another commenter said, this is an excellent introduction to late 19th and early 20th century European history which focuses on people and relationships. Watching this as a teenager, it certainly fuelled my interest in the history of the period and started me on a reading spree to learn more. I think it has stood the test of time very well - OK it is a little stilted and very studio based - but at least I can hear every word that is said by the actors (unlike most modern drama) and enjoy intelligent dialogue, streets ahead of modern stuff.
There'll always be an England ....