There was a lot of excitement in the World War One community last season as the Crawley family and their servants faced the challenges of the Great War. The next season of Downton Abbey, in which Lord Grantham, his extended family and staff, confront the turmoil of the postwar period, is now showing in the UK and will arrive on PBS in the States in January. Before then, however, we thought you might want to consider renting or downloading some earlier dramatic series that had extended segments covering the events of 1914-1918. Below is our first installment of three that the Trip-Wire staff have just revisited. Next month, we will feature three of Masterpiece Theatre's classic series with WWI connections.

Fall of Eagles First Shown on the BBC in 1974 This absorbing 13-episode series captures the broad sweep of changes in three empires, Russian, Austro-Hungarian, and German, from the Revolution of 1848 to the abdication of Kaiser Wilhelm in November 1918. Its dramatic effectiveness, though, lies not in large scale battlefield scenes but in its character development, revealed in the dialogue, actions, and habits of the many principals. The decline and fall of these empires is revealed in nuanced detail, as viewers experience the increasing remoteness and disconnection of rulers from their people and their total inability to see, let alone embrace, change. They fossilize before our very eyes. Episodes 10 to 13 deal specifically with World War I, each from a different perspective. "Indian Summer of An Emperor" (10) focuses on Franz Joseph, his relationship with Franz Ferdinand, and the assassinations in Sarajevo. "Tell the King the Sky Is Falling" (11) covers mobilization and the outbreak of war, with an emphasis on Russia. "The Secret War"(12) dramatizes Lenin's life in Switzerland and the machinations involved in bringing him back to Russia via private train through Germany. The last episode, "End Game" (13), looks at Germany in the last months of the war, up to Kaiser Wilhelm's abdication and arrival in Holland. Although the series is nearly forty years old it has held up extremely well because of the wonderful script, emphasis on character development and interaction, and amazing performances. My five favorites among the huge cast are Barry Foster as Kaiser Wilhelm, Curt Jurgens as Bismarck, Gemma Jones as Princess Vicky, Charles Kay as Tsar Nicholas, and Patrick Stewart as Lenin. Diane Rooney

Reilly, Ace of Spies First Shown on ITV in 1983 A superb team of writers and actors was assembled to depict the career of the man who is considered the model for James Bond, Russian-born Sigmund Rosenblum, who later assumed the Irish identity of Sidney Reilly. (This, as depicted in the series, was to annoy his British handlers.) His portrayal of Reilly made New Zealander Sam Neill a household name in America. The World War One content of the 12-episode series is on the periphery of the battlefields—Reilly got everywhere, knew everyone, but avoided the trenches. By 1912 Sidney Reilly had, among other assignments for Great Britain, investigated Russian oil interests in the borderlands of Persia (presumably to forward fuel possibilities for Admiral Fisher's dreadnoughts); subverted Russian capabilities (limited though they were) in Port Arthur on the eve of the Russo-Japanese War; and furthered British naval priorities by allegedly representing the German shipbuilding company Blohm & Voss in St. Petersburg when Russia was seeking to rebuild her northern fleet after the naval disaster in the war with Japan. Reilly's work obtaining details of those ships and their armaments for the British may well have been useful for the Admiralty from 1914-1918. In several episodes Reilly crosses swords with arms dealer Basil Zaharoff, wickedly portrayed by Leo McKern. Early in the war, Reilly, himself, turned up as an arms dealer based in New York. As for his actual service during the Great War, reports are varied and murky, as well they would be with him. Reportedly, among other exploits, he parachuted into Germany and posed as a German officer, to what avail is not reported. His rank was supposedly captain in the Royal Canadian Air Corps. The World War One and concluding episodes focus on his effort to undermine the Bolshevik Revolution. The portrayals of David Burke as Stalin and Tom Bell as Dzerzhinsky (head of the Cheka) are highlights of the series. In the end the pair lure Reilly back to Russia and execute him in 1925. This series is one for your library. All the parts are perfectly cast (look for Bill Nighy, for example, as a noble but doomed amateur British spy in the German shipyards) and the dialogue and narrative remain engrossing after many viewings. No wonder Ian Fleming couldn't resist Sidney Reilly—no one can. Kimball Worcester

Once an Eagle First Shown on NBC in 1976 This nine-hour epic is based on Anton Meyer's fine novel of the same title that covers the entire career of a U.S. Army officer starting with his service in the First World War. Comparisons, however, can stop with these minimal facts. Except for well-chosen lead Sam Elliott and the always-reliable Glenn Ford, the entire cast of the TV series seems to have studied their craft at the "Overacting School of Dramatics." The military content is dismaying, too. Uniforms, insignia, soldiers' language, haircuts, the look of the battlefields, and much else are all out of kilter. The battle segments give no insights or details on the actual operations of the AEF. Skip the TV series, but read the book. It's got a most admirable and interesting protagonist and conveys enduring lessons on leadership. MH