Set in the Imperial Court of 18th-century Russia, "The Eagle" is a dashing and romantic adventure in which Rudolph Valentino gives what many consider to be his finest screen performance. Here is a role tailor-made for the legendary Valentino--that of Vladimir, the handsome young Cossack guardsman who is banished after rejecting the amorous advances of Catherine the Great (stunningly portrayed by Louise Dresser) and becomes the "Black Eagle," a Russian Robin Hood dedicated to robbing the rich and giving to the down-trodden peasants.
 |  | Valentino as a Russian masked avenger! |  |
Silent screen legend Rudolph Valentino reached enormous heights of popularity in the 1920s before his untimely death not long after starring in "The Eagle", which is a terrible shame because judging by his performance in this film in particular, it is evident that Valentino was more than just a pretty face and had a lot of talent to offer. First cast in some dubious character roles (such as in "The Married Virgin") Valentino was soon established in the typical Hollywood heroic and irresistably charming leading man role for whom all women swooned. "The Eagle" is a good example of this role in which Valentino demonstrates not only his usual magnetism and appeal, but also humour and an overall fine feeling for details and subtle comedy. Very much in the style of Zorro and Robin Hood made popular a few years earlier by Douglas Fairbanks Sr, "The Eagle" is Russia's version of this masked avenger fighting for the poor against injustices, and all in glorious Hollywood style. Although the sets and costumes give the film a distinct Russian flavour, the story is definitely classic Hollywood entertainment all the way with tongue-in-cheek comedy, indispensable romance, standard action and adventure, and the triumph over bad in an unexpected happy ending. The story is quite interesting and entertaining from the very onset which shows how Valentino as a Cossack guard first gets into trouble by resisting the Czarina's romantic advances, resulting in her condemnation of him as a deserter, wanted dead or alive. At home, his dying father has been cheated by a wealthy landlord out of his entire estate, and as the peasants rally around him crying for justice, Valentino dons the Zorro-like mask and becomes known as `The Black Eagle' vowing to take revenge on the greedy landlord, but wouldn't you know it: Valentino's love interest turns out to be the daughter of the man he is after! This enjoyable and satisfying story is enhanced by good acting, especially by Valentino, and the picture quality is very good throughout. The musical accompaniment is a theatre organ and is well-suited to the scenes, although I can imagine that an orchestral score playing Russian-style music would further enhance this film. In any case, "The Eagle" is thoroughly entertaining in true Hollywood style and should satisfy even those who are not great Valentino fans.
May 4, 2007| | | Great film, lackluster restoration | |
The movie is worth 5 stars and more; it's only the quality of the DVD transfer that is meriting a 4-star review. This DVD is my only experience with this movie, since I never had a laser disc player, but hearing about how beautiful the laser disc version this very same company used to offer was, it's shameful that they put out the lackluster rendition in lieu of their far superior print. On the one hand, we're lucky to have this on DVD when only about half of Rudy's major movies are currently available on that format (the rest are on videos that aren't sold in most major retail chains, and those videos too deserve restoration work and DVD treatment), and that most of his major movies, and even a fair amount of the movies he made before becoming famous, are still with us when so many other silent movies are lost, but considering all of that, more care should have been demanded. It's one thing to say it's expected in a film of this age, but obviously there was a much better print available previously, a print which didn't have dust, specks, and lines speckled over it. However, in spite of that, it's in very good condition; from having read about the condition of the print, I was expecting much worse. This isn't a film like his earlier movie 'Moran of the Lady Letty'; a solid underrated movie which is practically unwatchable in many spots because oftentimes faces and objects are little more than blurs. This movie has none of that; you can see everything and everyone clearly, and since it's such a good story, the background disturbances can be overlooked. The background music of the organ is also a problem in this transfer; it's not as bad as the background music in 'Moran,' but still just doesn't seem to fit with the mood of the movie. I would have expected authentic Russian pieces to be played in the background, giving the movie an even more Russian feel (I'm also a longtime Russophile in addition to liking classic cinema).
In spite of the lacking transfer job, the story is still wonderful, combining drama (my favourite genre) with a lot of comic moments, like when Vladimir, while posing as Marcel, is so distracted by the presence of Masha at the supper table that he puts way too much pepper in his soup, or when the ring on his finger gets stuck and he has to pull on it for awhile before he can give it to Masha. If there were another DVD edition put out, this time with proper music and the old laser disc print, it would be even better and more highly-recommended.
January 24, 2005 | | Could We Have The Old Version, Please? | |
If you don't have a copy of Valentino's most engaging silent, "The Eagle", in your collection, you should certainly have this, but you should know that it is far - very far - from the best version that has been available. This edition is sourced from the Killiam Collection, and is evidently from a 16mm reduction print that saw long use and little care. Contrast and detail are poor, to say the least. There is a sad, tired musical accompaniment that is best turned off, frankly.
What's awful about all this is that this same company, Image Entertainment, once offered a far superior version. Its 1989 laserdisc edition was based on a clean 35mm print from the Rohauer Collection that had excellent contrast and detail. The score was a magnificently well-suited one by Carl Davis; it went so well with the film that once you've had a viewing with Davis's compositions, seeing "The Eagle" with any other score is unthinkable.
"The Eagle" is indispensable to a collection of silents, but this edition is not a patch on what Image itself has offered in the past. It is to be hoped that the company can clear whatever obstacles are keeping it from offering a DVD release of what was one of the best silent-film offerings on laserdisc.
Two stars out of five- I'm docking two for the ghastly print, two for the wretched score that takes the place of Davis's work, and adding one back to be charitable, because this movie is one of Valentino's best, and you should have it, even in a version as shabby as this. December 26, 2002
| | | Good Movie - Poor transfer | |
This is not a review of the movie - other than to say it has been one of my favorite silents for over 20 years. This DVD, by Image from the Killiam Collection, seems to be from a somewhat deteriorated positive print of the movie accompanied by a rather mundane organ music tract. Image themselves, released a Laserdisc copy from the Rohauer Collection with full orchestra music in 1989 that was far superior. Hopefully they will be able to re-master that on for release on DVD in the future.
July 22, 2002 | | "The Eagle" on DVD -- wonderful film but poor print | |
"The Eagle" is probably silent screen star Rudolph Valentino's best film. A delightful romantic swashbuckler set in the 18th century Russia (although costume-wise it looks 19th and early 20th century), it is full of action, romance, and also plenty of humor. Valentino is a lieutenant in the czarina's army who becomes a sort of Russian Zorro in order to avenge his father's murder by a neighboring landowner who had stolen his land. His plans for revenge go awry when he falls in love with the charming and lovely daughter of his enemy played by Vilma Banky, who would be reteamed with Valentino in his final film, "The Son of the Sheik." "The Eagle" was directed by Clarence Brown who went on to direct Greta Garbo, and made a number of classic sound films including "National Velvet."
"The Eagle" as a film deserves 5 stars but I can only give this new DVD print 3 stars. Unfortunately, the poor picture quality of this DVD is from the Killiam Collection and is released by Image Entertainment. It has an organ score which I found to be so-so.
...The only real plus here with this DVD is there are chapter titles so you can jump to your favorite scenes. There are no other extras here. July 13, 2002
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