One of my all time favorites.

just watch it!

a film so unique, intoxicating and bizarre that it not only demands another viewing, but is also forgivable as a satirical comedy where the jokes eventually take the back seat.

The movie's not perfect, but it sticks the landing of its message. It was engaging - thrilling at times - and I personally thought it was a great time.

Watched it on NBC when it first aired, and have long thought "OAE" one of the best productions network TV has given us. Big screen or little screen, excellence always begins with the words, and Anton Meyrer's book provided a great story. A fine adaptation, a great cast, and an insightful look into military life between and during the wars. I hadn't been out of the military very long at that time, and I remember comparing various characters with people I had served with. It's no surprise to learn the book is now required reading for future officers.Terrific work by Sam Elliott, Glenn Ford, Darleen Carr and others, but I am surprised no one else has mentioned the outstanding effort long-time character actor Robert Hogan delivered as Ben Krisler, Damon's best friend. He brought real humanity, humor and depth to what might have been just a second banana part, and Hogan and Sam Elliott made the on-screen friendship solid and believable. Add my vote to those who would like to see it released again. For one thing I'd like to see if it stands up well after all these years...or if my memory has just burnished it brighter than it actually was :-).

I saw the TV mini-series and read the book several years later. The mini-series does an excellent job of following the book. Both are excellent. As far as purchasing this TV mini-series on DVD or Tape goes, Universal Pictures (NBC Now) owns it and they apparently do not have any plans to re-release it. Which is too bad because my wife and I are both big fans of Sam Elliot and this would be a must-buy for our DVD collection. Oh well......One of the things that the book and TV mini-series covers in great detail is the every day life of a career military person and what it actually entails to have to deal with some of the idiots that make life miserable for honest hard working military people. Also during the historical period covered in this mini-series the U.S. Military was in a downward spiral right after WWI. So no funds were available to maintain the military facilities or provide opportunities for advancement in rank or cost of living raises like we have days.So for a person to try and make a career out the military, they had really had to be committed to it.

Partial spoiler. I've been attached to it since it was new (it and "Captains and the Kings", which were both parts of a revolving set of miniseries), but partly for lopsided reasons. As great as the actors in general were, I think Cliff Potts was especially good as Courtney Massingale, making him the villain, but (until you see the last parts, or maybe that one scene with the daughter) impossible to HATE. (He played a slightly similar role in "Silent Running" - he was one of the three men in the first parts who teased Bruce Dern constantly, but his character was never really nasty.) One thing the story DIDN'T do was hammer home the subject of Courtney's impotence, instead of reminding you here and there. Of course, I'm sure it made a connection between that and his ambition, but, if so, it was really allowed to speak for itself. (I can only imagine the pushy way it would probably be SPELLED OUT to an audience, if it were made NOW.) So, until the horrible thing he does to those soldiers (or the other horrible part with his daughter), he's much more of a TRAGIC character, and Cliff Potts really put that across. And there was also Clu Gulager, who was very believable as the vicious character Merrick. And, among all the supporting actors, there was Lynda Day George, who (before Jane Seymour got this label) seemed to be in one miniseries after another. Anyway, it was one of the first miniseries, but also one of the best.

I first saw this while stationed in the Philippines in 1977, but missed a couple of episodes. In about 1981, I was able to see it again and made a VCR copy (Alas, commercials included). I have just about worn it out over the years. In my opinion, only one miniseries is better, that being "Lonesome Dove". I wish that someone would reshow it or somebody would make a DVD.