Aquila nera

I seldom see this title mentioned on lists of great silent films, and perhaps it doesn't belong in the same heady company with the works of Murnau and Eisenstein, but surely The Eagle belongs on anyone's list of the most entertaining movies made during the silent era. It is first-rate escapism, a real "movie-movie" that can hold its own with the best swashbuckling sagas of Douglas Fairbanks and Errol Flynn, and that counts for a lot in my book. It's also one of the best movies in which Rudolph Valentino appeared (along with his next film, The Son of the Sheik, which unfortunately proved to be his last), or in any case it's one that holds up well for modern viewers, offering just the right blend of action, suspense, comedy, and romance, all presented at a brisk tempo. Valentino rapidly improved as an actor during his brief career, so in these final appearances there is no trace of the nostril-flaring histrionics on display in some of his early performances. At the pinnacle of his career as a movie star, Valentino is at the top of his game in this action hero role, charismatic and self-assured, but displaying just a touch of self-mockery to keep things in perspective.

Rudy plays a Cossack officer, Lieutenant Dubrovsky, stationed in the court of Catherine the Great. (The Czarina is played by Louise Dresser in a brief but memorable turn.) Dubrovsky catches the Czarina's eye when he manages to regain control of a runaway carriage just outside the palace gates, and in this way he also meets a beautiful young lady named Mascha (Vilma Banky), with whom he becomes involved. The plot kicks into gear when Dubrovsky rejects the Czarina's advances; soon afterward, he assumes the persona of the Black Eagle, an outlaw devoted to avenging his father, whose lands have been appropriated by an evil count named Kyrilla -- who just happens to be Mascha's father. Valentino's character in this film is often described as a "Russian Robin Hood," but the parallel with Zorro is stronger, especially when he manages to operate under the very nose of his arch enemy in the guise of a foppish French tutor, Monsieur Le Blanc. Much of the film's humor comes from these scenes, but when the time comes for action The Black Eagle is all business, and Valentino proves himself as dashing and gallant as Douglas Fairbanks while cutting a more romantic figure.

The Eagle points up the importance of silence in Valentino's career, for while he was said to have a pleasant voice it might have been difficult to accept him as a Russian officer in a talkie; let's face it, Rodolfo Alfonzo Raffaele Pierre Filibert Guglielmi di Valentino d'Antonguolla would have a hard time persuading anyone of his Russian heritage if we could hear him speak. Leading lady Vilma Banky, who was as beautiful as Rudy was handsome, spoke limited English with such a thick Hungarian accent that talkies ended her American film career, so this movie could not have worked so well with the same cast as a talkie, even if Valentino had survived into the 1930s. And besides, the highly stylized 19th century "Russia" of this film is very much a Hollywood fantasy concoction anyhow, the sort of thing that worked best in silent cinema. One of my favorite aspects of The Eagle is the elaborate Art Deco design scheme by William Cameron Menzies, which at times almost suggests the world of Dr. Seuss (a bit of an exaggeration, perhaps, but not by much). Combine Menzies' sets with the stylish cinematography of George Barnes, spice the mix with George Marion Jr.'s witty title cards, top it off with the slyly tongue-in-cheek performances, and you have all the ingredients for a cinematic feast.

In sum, I feel it's the comic elements of The Eagle that make it such a fun film, the sense that the filmmakers are discreetly giving us a little wink to let us know they're well aware this is all cotton candy. Speaking of comedy, the cast features a couple of Keystone veterans in supporting roles: Mack Swain, who was so memorable as the delusional prospector in Chaplin's The Gold Rush, has a brief uncredited bit as an inn-keeper who misunderstands Monsieur Le Blanc's needs; and veteran character actor George Nichols, who plays the corrupt judge, directed a few of Chaplin's earliest comedies, including The Star Boarder and Cruel, Cruel Love. Maybe it's the Keystone pedigree that boosts the comedy content here, but whatever the case this film stands as a highly enjoyable example of what Hollywood craftsmen were capable of when the silent cinema was at its peak.

...mix of masked-hero action and romantic comedy from director Clarence Brown and based on a novel by Pushkin. Young Lt. Vladimir Doubrovsky (Rudolph Valentino) of the Russian Army is forced to go on the run after spurning the romantic advances of the Czarina (Louise Dresser). Once back in his home village, Doubrovsky learns that local baron Kyrilla (James Marcus) has been cheating the people out of their land, money and possessions, including Doubrovsky's own father, who died of despair at his losses. Doubrovsky vows revenge, and so adopts the guise of the Black Eagle, a Zorro-like masked bandit-hero who, along with his band of cohorts, makes life miserable for Kyrilla. However, when Kyrilla's beautiful daughter Mascha (Vilma Banky) comes home from abroad, Doubrovsky is smitten, and so he impersonates her new personal tutor to infiltrate Kyrilla's estate and to woo Mascha. Also featuring Albert Conti, George Nichols, Carrie Clark Ward, Gary Cooper as a masked extra, and Gustav von Seyffertitz.

Valentino is good here, although I wish there had been more action scenes with him as the Black Eagle. Dresser is fun as the lascivious Czarina. William Cameron Menzies provided the gorgeous production design, and director Brown dazzles with a "how'd they do that?" tracking shot over a sumptuous banquet table. My only real complaint would be that the movie can't seem to decide what it wants to be, and therefore sells both efforts a bit short. This was only my second Valentino film (after 1922's Blood and Sand), and it would prove to be his next-to-last film. It was a big hit for him after a run of disappointments, and signaled a big comeback which would be cut short after one more film and his death at age 31 in 1926.

I saw "The Eagle" made in 1925 a few years back on video from Nostalgia cable. It had a sound effects addition and a beautiful Tchaikovsky orchestral score by Michael Hoffman. Mr. Valentino played the first of his duel role career as a fearless lieutenant in the imperial Czarina home guard. When Valentino learns of his father's swindle by a crooked neighbor and lawyer, he rushes home to find his father dying and estate forfeitured. He seeks revenge as THE BLACK Eagle, sort of Robin Hood. The crooked neighbor has a lovely daughter who comes between Valentino carrying out his intentions. Will THE BLACK EAGLE EXTRACT his due? The ending straightens out any ill intentions.

Charles Farenga

This is a very good period melodrama that also features one of Rudolph Valentino's best roles. The Robin Hood-like story combines drama, excitement, revenge, romance, and more in a well-crafted movie that is entertaining to watch. Vilma Banky and Louise Dresser head up a good supporting cast that works well with Valentino.

The story setup has Valentino's character on the run from an angry Czarina, even as he is cheated out of his family possessions by a dishonest nobleman. He turns outlaw to avenge his family name, only to have everything complicated by romance. It's a good story, though a largely familiar one, and the cast and director Clarence Brown make it enjoyable.

It's a good role for Valentino because it plays to his strengths and doesn't ask him to do much more. Banky is sympathetic as the daughter of the crooked Kyrilla, and Dresser does a very good job as Empress Catherine, bringing out her personal desires and her ruthless use of power. Albert Conti and James Marcus also give good performances, while Brown keeps things moving at a good pace and tells the story effectively, with an occasional lighter moment to keep things from being taken too seriously. "The Eagle" combines a good story, cast, and production values, and it works quite well.

THE EAGLE (United Artists, 1925), directed by Clarence Brown, is a worthy adventure story starring the legendary Rudolph Valentino (1895-1926) in one of his better silent films set in imperial Russia under the reign of Catherine II.

Valentino plays Vladimir Dubrovsky, a handsome young lieutenant in her majesty's imperial guard, who becomes a hero of the hour when he rescues a runaway carriage with the beautiful Mascha Troekouroff (Vilma Banky) and her maiden Aunt Aurelia (Carrie Clark Ward) as the occupants, and returning the wandering horse to its titled owner, Catherine II, the Czarina (Louise Dresser). Impressed by the young Cossack, the Czarina invites Dubrovsky over to dine with her. Realizing that she wants to add him to her one of many lovers, he rejects her advances. Later when Dubrovsky comes to visit his father (Spottiswoode Aiken), he arrives only to find that he has been robbed of his estate by Kyrilla (James Marcus), a vicious landowner, and left to die in a peasant's hut. Wanting to avenge his father's death, Dubrovsky abandons his military duties by assuming a bandit's disguise, forming a group of followers in his cause, and becoming know as "The Black Eagle." While becoming the Russian "Robin Hood," there is a 5,000 rubles reward for the capture of Vladimir Dubrovsky for desertion by the Czarina. In order to gain entrance to Kyrilla's home, Dubrovsky assumes the identity of Monsieur LeBlanc, a French tutor, and bides his time to revenge himself on the man responsible for his father's death. However, things start to change when he meets the beautiful Mascha once again (first as the lieutenant who rescues her from the runaway carriage, and second posing as The Black Eagle who robs her and her aunt of their worthy possessions), who happens to be Kyrilla's daughter.

THE EAGLE is old-fashioned screen entertainment that borrows from the combination of recent successes to THE MARK OF ZORRO (1920) and ROBIN HOOD (1922) both starring Douglas Fairbanks, but minus the swashbuckling. As with Fairbanks, THE EAGLE is fast-paced, simply tongue and cheek, including some witty title readings such as "Revenge is sweet, but sometimes a girl is sweeter," or a memorable line in which The Eagle goes by, "The Eagle does not war against women." Along with some authentic dress designs, compliments of Adrian, this production also includes expensive set designs by William Cameron Menzies that help make THE EAGLE capture the flavor of old imperial Russia. Clarence Brown direction is first rate, featuring fine camera style tracking over the long dinner table during a social function dinner scene at the home of Kyrilla.

Also featured in the cast are Albert Conti as Captain Kuschka; George Nichols as The Judge; and Michael Pleschkoff as the Captain of the Cossack Guard. As for Louise Dresser, with little screen time, first during the early portion of the story and again during the film's final ten minutes, she makes an very impressive Catherine II in her scene stealing performance. Because Valentino and the Hungarian-born Vilma Banky worked so well together in THE EAGLE, they were reunited again in THE SON OF THE SHEIK (1926). A new love team might have emerged with these two big hits of the day, but sadly, after the release of their second pairing, Valentino stunned the world when he died at the age of 31. Over the next few years, THE EAGLE and THE SON OF THE SHEIK would play as a double bill whenever revived in theaters.

THE EAGLE became one of twelve selected films presented during the summer months on public television's weekly series of "The Silent Years" (1975) as hosted by Lillian Gish, with a theater organ score by Lee Erwin from the Paul Killiam collection, the same print used when aired on cable television's Turner Classic Movies. The popularity of THE EAGLE assured its availability during the early years of video cassettes. In a very hard to locate video, distributed as early as 1980 (manufacturer unknown), the copy featured a fine 1920s style Movietone score consisting of classical Russian symphonies that were used for latter theatrical reissues, along with original opening movie titles. In later years, various other prints became available, such as Video Yesteryear with an accu-speed copy longer than the standard 74 minutes; the Blackhawk (later Republic Pictures) video with the use of the print used in "The Silent Years," as well as a video labeled "Legendary Silents" with the Thames orchestral score conducted by Carl Davis. It is also available on DVD. Whichever and however THE EAGLE is presented, its availability does rest assure on a new generation of audiences and rediscovery of the legend of Valentino. (***)