Fall of Eagles is a 13-part British television drama aired by the BBC in 1974. The series was created by John Elliot and produced by Stuart Burge. The series portrays historical events from 1848 to 1918, dealing with the ruling dynasties of Austria-Hungary (the Habsburgs), Germany (the Hohenzollerns), and Russia (the Romanovs). The scriptwriters were: Keith Dewhurst, John Elliot, Trevor Griffiths, Elizabeth Holford, Ken Hughes, Troy Kennedy Martin, Robert Muller, Jack Pulman, David Turner, and Hugh Whitemore. Overview The series tells the story of the final decades of three great empires brought to downfall by historical events. Each empire used an eagle in its heraldry. The central theme is the effects of centuries of despotism, with a lack of social reform and the devastating effects of World War I, that caused revolutionary movements to form. It begins in the aftermath of the Revolutions of 1848 and continues through the Armistice of 11 November 1918, covering about 70 years of history in 13 episodes. The episodes' vignettes move between the three empires: Austria-Hungary, Germany, and Russia. Episodes Cast Cast, in order of first appearance, and sorted by episode and empire. The narrator of the series was Michael Hordern. Austria-Hungary Episode 1 Pamela Brown – Archduchess Sophia, mother of Franz Josef Miles Anderson – young Emperor Franz Josef of Austria Diane Keen – Elisabeth Sandor Elès – Count Andrassy Ann Penfold – Helene, Elisabeth's older sister Donald Gee – Count Majlath Kathleen Michael – Princess Hildegard of Bavaria Noel Fredericks – Aide to Franz Joseph Episode 4 Rachel Gurney – older Empress Elisabeth of Austria Laurence Naismith – older Emperor Franz Joseph Emrys James – Count Taaffe Anthony Newlands – Philip of Coburg James Cossins – Count Josl Hoyos Frank Wylie – Police Commissar Gorup Susan Tracy – Crown Princess Stephanie, Rudolph's wife Irene Hamilton – Baroness Vetsera, mother of Countess Vetsera Rosamund Greenwood – Fraulein von Ferenczy, Maid to Elisabeth Kenneth Benda – Professor Widerhoffer, royal physician Carleton Hobbs – Abbot Grünböck Michael Sheard – Losehek, valet to Prince Rudolf Patrick Durkin – Bratfisch Vernon Dobtcheff – Count Stookau, uncle of Countess Vetsera David Neal – Baltazzi Olaf Pooley – Police President Baron Krauss Leon Lissek – Police Agent Bayer John Herrington – Stationmaster Peter Harcourt-Brown – Gamekeeper Episode 10 Nora Swinburne – Katharina Schratt Peter Woodthorpe – Archduke Franz Ferdinand T. P. McKenna – Count Conrad von Hotzendorf Michael McStay