DVD Review: The Eagle (1925)
Rudolph Valentino has always been considered the quintessential example of silent movie drama. His stardom was impactful, he remains a legendary figure in film history over 90 years after his death. Unfortunately, he is also often misrepresented as the sort of silent movie actor who relied on flaring nostrils and florid gestures in an overly melodramatic fashion. Screening his films will naturally prove that estimation wrong.
Kino Lorber has released his classic feature "The Eagle" on DVD and blu ray in a nice 2K restoration from the best sourced 35mm pre-print material.
"The Eagle," based on Alexander Pushkin's novel "Dubovsky," features Valentino as a Lieutenant in the Russian army who saves a lady and her aunt when they are trapped in a runaway carriage. He is rewarded by the Czarina with a promotion to general, but when she makes sexual advances, he runs away. The vengeful Czarina puts out a reward to bring him back dead or alive. However, when his countrymen are terrorized by an evil man, and his father is dying, Valentino dons a mask and goes to defend his people as The Black Eagle. He discovers that the evil nobleman is the father of the young lady he rescued. He infiltrates their home posing as a tutor, falls in love with the woman, and they flee together. When they are captured by the Czarina, she no longer seeks revenge and instead gives them her blessing.
At the time he made "The Eagle," Valentino's films were becoming somewhat less popular at the box office. While his 1922 feature "Blood and Sand" was a major success, his next few films -- "The Young Rajah," "Monsieur Beaucaire," "The Hooded Falcon," and "Cobra" -- were all flops of varying degrees. In fact, after the failure of "The Young Rajah," and some personal problems that made it into the newspapers, including a jail sentence, Valentino was off-screen for a couple years. His comeback film, "Monsieur Beaucaire," was a box office disappointment and subsequent films performed even more tepidly.
"The Eagle" was truly Valentino's comeback film, and contains all of the elements that had made him a star in films like "Blood and Sand," "Four Horseman of the Apocalypse," "Moran of the Lady Letty," and his biggest hit "The Sheik." In fact "The Eagle" was successful enough to warrant a sequel to "The Sheik." "Son of the Sheik" was an even greater success. Unfortunately, it was released the year that Valentino died.
Louise Dresser is excellent in the role of the Czarina in a scene that is generally the opposite of what usually happens in a Rudolph Valentino movie. Having the man summoned by a woman in power, and her attempt to seduce him as she has so many other young men, is essentially a role reversal of which Valentino the actor seems quite aware. His character's horrified reaction to the situation is amusing while still maintaining its connection within the narrative.
Vilma Banky is strikingly beautiful as the young woman with whom he is smitten, conveying just the right amount of innocence and sexuality to layer her character. James Marcus is at his villianous best as her daughter.
And, of course, the star of the film, Rudolph Valentino, runs the gamut of emotions from heroic stoicism, to muscular action sequences, to romantic melodramatics. He never appears to be stereotypically histrionic as per his misguided reputation in some quarters. In fact, the subtle nuance of his acting shows him as quite aware of the movie camera's intimacy, and his expressive face conveys a great deal of depth to his character.
Clarence Brown's direction is outstanding, exuding a warmth and softness in the scenes between Valentino and Banky, while gripping us with the dramatic elements of the narrative, and presenting excitement during the action sequences. The opening scene, where Valentino jumps atop a team of horses to stop the runaway carriage, is shown in a great tracking shot that sets the tone for the film and immediately captures the viewer's interest (Valentino insisted on doing the stunt himself). Another tracking shot, with the camera pulling back over a long dinner table, is equally impressive.
"The Eagle" is certainly on the short list among Rudolph Valentino's finest and most representative films. The Kino blu ray features the best quality along with a new musical score by the Alloy Orchestra. There is also an excellent, informative commentary track by film historian Gaylyn Studlar.
The film is available here: The Eagle