The Eagle of the Ninth

I would have been 9 when this was shown and most definitely something I would have watched - however I cant for the life of me recall it! Being a BBC Scotland production, I wonder, as living in east anglia, if this wasn't shown in my area?

Loved the book when i first read it as a child in the 70's and thankfully didn't have to wait long to see the series shown in Australia. Rosemary is still one of my favorite authors and i love everyone in this series. Marcus and Esca are great and i even named my dog after Esca-and she was a girl. Best version. Glad i now have it on DVD.

Yes, this production must certainly have been networked by the BBC on the original transmission date as I welll remember watching it back in 1977 (and was living in the west of England at that time). Very well done in all respects - though perhaps the relationship between Roman officers and soldiers (even in an Auxiliary cohort) was portrayed as a little too familiar. This would not have been the case at the time. Roman society was deeply differentiated by class and social status and this would have been even more marked in a military context.

I read the novel as a child back in the 1950s (I have always been a great admirer of Rosemary Sutcliff's novels) and well remember the superb 1957 BBC radio serialisation (now lost) of the book by Felix Felton, broadcast on Children's Hour.

Just as a point of interest, we now know (from archaeological excavations) that Isca Dumnoniorum (Modern Exeter) was originally founded as the base of Legio II Augusta (49-73 CE) and that by the second century (when this story is set) had been abandoned by the Roman army and become a civilian settlement) the new Cantonal capital of the Domnonian tribe.

No matter, this and some other historical anomalies do not detract in the sightest from the story. I am also pleased that the serial has now been released on DVD and may be enjoyed by a new generation of viewers.

Had looked for it a long time on DVD, just found it on Amazon UK, which is what brought me here.

To the other reviewer - yes it was shown in the South of the UK. I lived in the Midlands at the time and recall talking to my brother about it when it broadcast.

It followed the book very well as I recall (unlike, say, the Eagle remake) even down to the dialog.

I'm getting all nostalic to see it again.

At long last the BBC famed series has been released on DVD! For our contemporary tastes, the writing may take some time to enter the heart of the matter, but it's true to the pace and charm of the original novel to the last bit of dialogue.The first part let us into the minds of the characters, feeling, experiencing and growing with each of them. Stellar acting carries the tale in the first three episodes (short budget is obvious, but the filming is very skilfully done), before "the hunt begins". Every character should be named, but a young Anthony Higgins is a truly perfect Marcus (Rosemary Sutcliff herself thought so!) and Christian Rodska, a very touching and fierce Esca. Patrick Holt shines as an astute Aquila, as does Gillian Bailey, a feisty and beautiful Cottia. They add a lot to their short screen appearances, and so does Victor Carin: he is a truly magnificent Guern (he nearly steals every scene.) Highly recommended.