L'aigle noir

When the horses of a coach with two ladies speed after a shot, the Czarina Catherine II (Louise Dresser) sees the young Lieutenant Vladimir Dubrovsky (Rudolph Valentino) rescuing the ladies. She invites Dubrovsky to have dinner with her, but he is sexually harassed by the czarina and flees from the palace. He receives a letter from his father telling that he had been evicted from his lands by the corrupt Kyrilla Troekouroff (James Marcus). Meanwhile the czarina issues an arrest warrant authorizing the arrest of Dubrovsky dead or alive. Dubrovsky heads to his home town, but his father dies and he promises revenge against Kyrilla. He wears a mask and is called "The Black Eagle", and leads a group of unsatisfied men to fight against Kyrilla, stealing from the riches to deliver to the poor. However, when he meets Kyrilla's daughter Miss Mascha Troekouroff (Vilma Banky), Dubrovsky falls in love with her. Dubrovsky needs to rethink and choose between "eye for an eye and tooth for a tooth" and his love for Mascha.

"The Eagle" is a melodramatic and romantic silent movie with a hero that is a combination of Zorro and Robin Hood. The plot is entertaining and well constructed but it is funny to see, for example, Dubrovsky forgetting his friends and his promise to kill the man that stole the lands of his father that died after just because he is in love with Kyrilla's daughter. My vote is seven.

Title (Brazil): "O Águia" ("The Eagle")

Note: On 23 May 2024, I saw this film again.

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

Enjoyable adaptation of Russian novel for American screen with well-polished Rudolf Valentino as the former Czarist officer who extracts revenge as the "Black Eagle" against the landowner who cheated his father. Valentino performs macho acts and is not cast only as a ladies man. Excellent directing by Clarence Brown, good re-writing to fit an American audience, some tricky camera shots, and wonderful sets add to the enjoyment of this very good film. Vilma Banky sizzles as the beautiful romantic interest that makes the erstwhile thief select love over vengeance. This is the next to the last time that we see Valentino. Gary Cooper (uncredited) appears as one of the masked cossacks -- you will never find him. Recommended.

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.

I saw "The Eagle" a few years ago with a sound effects track and very appropriate Tchaikovsky orchestrial music. This beautiful addition set the stage for Czarina's imperial Russia. Mr. Valentino's duel role as Lieutenant of the imperial guard and eventually as THE BLACK EAGLE out for revenge on behalf of his father's family depossession by a crooked neighbor and judge, plans just do. The crooked land owner has a beautiful daughter who defects his ultimate goal. Happy Ending. Clarence Brown, director, helped make "The Eagle" a good movie.

Charles Farenga