# History of the Eagles (2013)

> A two-part documentary that traces the rise, breakups and enduring popularity of the Eagles through archival footage, concert performances and home movies.

Canonical page: https://ember.film/tv/65068

## Facts

- Seasons: 1
- Episodes: 2
- Episode runtime: 185 min
- Status: Ended
- Genres: documentary, music
- Network: Showtime
- Cast: Don Henley, Glenn Frey, Timothy B. Schmit, Joe Walsh, Randy Meisner, Bernie Leadon, Don Felder, Jackson Browne
- TMDB rating: 8.2/10
- IMDb: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2194326/

## Ember's analysis

- Pacing: measured
- Intensity: mild
- Complexity: accessible
- Violence: none
- Tone: nostalgic, candid, reflective, warts and all

## What critics say

Critics and audiences broadly admire the film's intimate archival patchwork and candid portrait of the band's clashes and excesses, though its length is a recurring note.

## Synopsis

History of the Eagles (2013) is an American music documentary miniseries created for Showtime, presented as a two-part set. Directed by Alison Ellwood, it assembles a patchwork of rare archival material, concert footage and unseen home movies to chart the evolution of the Eagles, one of the most defining American bands. Founding members Don Henley and Glenn Frey carry much of the narration, joined by bandmates Joe Walsh, Timothy B. Schmit, Don Felder and Bernie Leadon, with appearances by Jackson Browne, JD Souther and Bob Seger. The engine is the band's long arc from Los Angeles canyon beginnings to superstardom and the friction that followed, as egos clash, former members look back and industry figures weigh in. The film runs roughly three hours across two discs, with an additional live performance from the Hotel California tour era in Washington, D.C. Its tone is candid and nostalgic, weighing triumph against bitterness with a reflective, unvarnished eye. Fans of Muscle Shoals and Festival Express will find resonance in its blend of archival music history and frank band testimony, and anyone drawn to classic rock mythology will appreciate its intimate, warts-and-all access.

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