Customer Reviews

Hollywood Classics Collectors Edition - The Eagle [VHS]

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

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.

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.

"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.

This is my favorite Valentino movie. It allows him to use his natural talent as a comedian while still fulfilling what his audience expected of his as "the great lover".
Valentino plays Vladimir, a young Cossack officer who spurns the advances of Catherine the Great. (An amusing reversal especially when viewed along with the Sheik movies) Unfortunately, Vladimir's father wirtes to him begging him to get the Czarina's help. He has been swindled by a friend and is dying. Vladimir can do nothing but go home and watch his father die a broken man. He vows vengeance against Karilla, who betrayed his father, and becomes a sort of Russian Zorro called the Black Eagle.
Another unfortunate twist, Karilla has a daughter and since she is played by the lovely Vilma Banky you can guess what happens. Vladimir is smitten and is now stuck between loyalty to his father and band of followers and his love for her. Banky guesses who Vladimir really is right away (in spite of his disguises) and tries to get him to spare her father. Of course, Vladimir will have none of it and it looks like trouble until Vladimir is caught by the soldiers of the revengeful Catherine.
What happens next? Watch and see!

Valentino handles his swashbuckler duties with an airy charm. (A shame he never played the Scarlet Pimpernel!) His scenes with Louise Dresser's Catherine are particularly good. She is trying to charm him, he is trying to find a polite way out. Dresser thoroughly deserved her Oscar nod and it's too bad that Valentino was not given one as well. The rest of the supporting cast is also very good, Vilma Banky plays her usual role, the nice girl with a temper, and has an obvious chemistry with Valentino.

That said, this DVD, while ok, is not the greatest. The print quality is so-so and points. Bit of dust and lint got in the way of the transfer and can be distracting. The score is pipe organ. There are no extras besides scene selection. All in all, not an improvement on the VHS releases but you may as well buy it if you have an all DVD collection.

Check out this movie to watch the Valentino legend yourself but don't expect too much from the DVD.

I am a very big Rudolph Valentino fan. I love this movie. He just couldn't get any better than in this movie. The part with the Empress is the best. The look on his face is fabulous. I have seen just about all of Rudy's movies and this ranks as my second favorite. The first is Son of the Sheik. Vilma Banky was a beautiful star and was very good in this movie also.

This movie is a light action/romance/comedy which manages to balance all of the elements well. If you have never seen a silent movie, this is a marvelous place to start.

Valentino's preformance is charming as a "nice kid" who, after his father's death, becomes an outlaw. Matters are complicated by the fact that he has rebuffed the advances of Czarina Catherine the Great earlier in the movie. Matters become more complicated when he falls in love with his enemies sweet daughter. Matters become complicated still more when he takes a post as her French tutor in order to exact hsi revenge on her father.

While all of the comedy is excellent, the throw away bits are the best such as when Valentino is about to give Vilma Banky a ring but then it gets stuck on his finger or when he adds a few zeros to the reward offered for his capture on a wanted poster.

Wonderful, would recommend to anyone interested in classics and silent cinema.

Rudolph Valentino stars as a Russian soldier who is out to avenge his father's death. Valentino has been branded a deserter from the Army after rebuffing the advances of the Czarina, and running to his father's aid. Things get more complicated for Rudy, though, because he falls in love with the daughter of the man responsible for his father's tragedy. That's where the title of my review comes from (taken directly from a card in the movie). The film might sound kind of silly, and it is, but it moves along quickly and has enough action to keep it entertaining. Valentino is pretty good as the hero, and thankfully he doesn't overdo gestures and play to the back row like so many silent film stars had to, since they was no sound for dialogue. Vilma Banky and Louise Dresser, as the girlfriend and Czarina, play it up more, but are generally effective in their roles. I got more than I was expecting from this film, and I suspect most viewers will too. I far and away prefer sound films over silent films anyday, but once in a while it is kind of fun to step back in film history and see how things used to be.

Based on Pushkin's story, this is a fascinating Valentino film, as it's one in which he uses his marvelous comedic talent.

As Vladimir Dubrovsky, AKA "The Eagle", he's a Robin Hood character that falls in love with the daughter of his greatest enemy. He is also wanted "dead or alive" for having spurned the attentions of the Czarina (Louise Dresser is great as the lusty empress). He also masquerades as a French teacher, and is exquisitely graceful and romantic throughout the entire film. The thing to note in all Valentino performances are his expressive hands. Watching them, one would think they were moving to music. All his movements are imbued with a fluid elegance, but his hands are extraordinary.

Sadly, this film from 1925 could use restoration. It's fuzzy and the white or brighter portions fade out...however, it's better than nothing. This is a classic silent film, and should be viewed at least once, to see this beautiful actor, who's special spirit lives on through his work.

THE EAGLE was something of a comeback picture for Valentino. His popularity sagged after the disastrous MONSIEUR BEAUCAIRE in which he played a foppish aristocat who was a little too foppish for 1920's audiences. This story of a Russian Robin Hood taken from Pushkin was just what he needed to regain his lost fan base. It also gave him the opportunity to let his natural comic flair come forth and really be himself much like Douglas Fairbanks or later Errol Flynn.

Rudy took no chances with this film. He got a top flight director in Clarence Brown who would later become Garbo's favorite. He got William Cameron Menzies to design the sets and a wonderful performance from Louise Dresser as Czarina Catherine the Great. Their scene together at the beginning is a delight to watch even on repeated viewings. Vilma Banky makes a great heroine and would work with Valentino again. This movie rather than THE SHEIK or BLOOD AND SAND is the ideal introduction to Valentino.

This DVD version is virtually the same as the old VHS version although the picture is marginally better and so 4 stars instead of 5. While it's great to have the Killiam Collection coming out on DVD, I just wish that some new restoration work had been done on this film. The other two (BELOVED ROGUE & TUMBLEWEEDS) are in better shape although they could use some work as well. Still these are superior to the old VHS copies and are likely to be the best we'll have for awhile. Lee Erwin's old organ score is a good one but it could have been sonically enhanced.

Rudolph Valentino is a Russian Cossack, young, eager to please and oh! so dashing. The Czarina wants to have an affair with him but he rejects her and finds himself in deep trouble...wanted dead or alive and in dire straits, banished and disgraced. Eventually he becomes a bandit known asThe Eagle and falls for a beautiful girl who comes from the family that has robbed and caused his fathers fall into poverty and hopelessness.
This movie is one of Rudys best. He covers every emotion and nuance of expression from comedy to hopelessness with a grace and adeptness that is so natural and charming that one cannot take their eyes from his presence on the screen.
Vilma Banky plays his love interest and they have a lovely chemistry in their scenes together. The story is exciting and I enjoyed it immensley. I am a Rudy fan and generally like all his movies but The Eagle is one that will show his talent and appeal to a very high level and lets the viewer see for themselves what all the shouting is about. I heartily recommend this film if you want to see Rudolph Valentino at his finest.