94 minSeason 1 • Episode 7
LatestTwo-hour conclusion. Sam Damon (Sam Elliott) in New Guinea during World War II, finally confront Massengale's (Cliff Potts) self-devouring military ambition in an effort to save lives. Damon's frustration with the war and demands from his family leads him into an affair with an Australian nurse, while his wife marries against his wishes. A military board of inquiry takes up the matter of military incompetence against Courtney Massengale.
Once An Eagle is a 1976 nine-hour American television mini-series directed by Richard Michaels and E.W. Swackhamer. The picture was written by Peter S. Fischer and based on the 1968 Anton Myrer novel of the same name. The first and last installments of the seven-part series were each two-hour broadcasts, while the interim episodes were 60 minutes. The mini-series concerns the thirty year careers of two military men, from the outbreak of World War I to the aftermath of World War II.
Acting
Sam Elliott's breakout leading role — the mustache speaks.
Writing
Moral complexity rare for 1976 network television.
Production
Sprawling period detail across three decades of American warfare.
Sam Elliott
Sam Damon
Darleen Carr
Tommy Caldwell
Glenn Ford
George Caldwell
Ralph Bellamy
Ed Caldwell
Dane Clark
Harry Sheppard
Andrew Duggan
Gen. McKelvey
John Saxon
Capt. Townshend
Cliff Potts
Courtenay Massengale
Amy Irving
Emily Pawlfrey Massengale
Lynda Day George
Marge Krisler
Kim Hunter
Kitty Damon
Forrest Tucker
Col. Avery
Clu Gulager
Alvin Merrick
James Cromwell
J.L. Cleghorne
Juliet Mills
Joyce
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Anton Myrer spent 14 years researching the novel, interviewing over 200 veterans. The miniseries was NBC's most expensive production to date.
Still required viewing at West Point, though cadets debate whether Damon's idealism is aspirational or dangerously naive.
US
