The eagle (film)

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Movie
German title The Eagle
Original title The Eagle
Country of production United States
original language English
Publishing year 1925
length 73, 80 minutes
Rod
Director Clarence Brown
script Hanns Kraly
production John W. Considine junior ,
Joseph M. Schenck
music various
camera George Barnes
cut Hal C. Kern
occupation

The eagle (original title: The Eagle ) is an American adventure and costume - silent film with Rudolph Valentino in the lead role. The novel Dubrowsky by Alexander Pushkin served as a template .

action

The Russian lieutenant Vladimir Dubrovsky, who is in the service of Her Majesty, Tsarina Catherine II, is a proud and brave Cossack . In his splendid uniform he attracts the eyes of many young women in love. But even the tsarina became aware of him - at least since Vladimir rescued the young Mascha Troekouroff and her aunt when their horses ran over during a carriage ride. Katharina then wants to appoint Dubrowsky general, which the latter has no objection to. But when his ruler demands that he also become her lover, Dubrowsky immediately fled. The Russian Empress is beside herself with anger, she is not used to such humiliation. Katharina then puts a bounty on the unwilling Cossack.

Soon afterwards, Vladimir receives terrible news from his father. The villainous aristocrat Kyrilla Troekouroff snapped the Dubrowskys' land holdings and has been terrorizing the entire area ever since. Vladimir rushes home and has to see that his father has since passed away. The former model soldier Dubrowsky is now the "black eagle", a masked rebel, a Russian Zorro and Robin Hood in the fight against the injustice and the despotism of the aristocratic authorities. Vladimir vows to avenge his father and free the peasantry from Troekouroff's tyranny. Disguised as a French tutor, he sneaks into the villain's household to gain his trust. To make matters worse, however, the “black eagle” has to recognize that Masha, who was once rescued by him, is the daughter of the land robber and oppressor Troekouroff.

Between Vladimir, the rebel, and Mascha, the daughter of the hated opponent, more and more heartfelt love blossoms out of sympathy, and Vladimir begins to doubt whether it would be good to seek revenge on the villainous father of his beloved Mascha. Finally the young lovers decide to flee. The "black eagle" falls into the clutches of Katharina's henchmen. The tsarina is still angry with her stubborn Cossack lieutenant and initially plans to have him executed. But in the face of the young happiness she lets him go, on the condition that he leaves Russia with a new (French) name. Both young people then go to Paris and find happiness there.

Production notes

The eagle ran into the United States on November 8, 1925. The flick marked Vilma Bánky's breakthrough in Hollywood. In Germany, Valentino's penultimate film was shown the following year, 1926, the year he died.

The film construction was done by William Cameron Menzies , the costumes were designed by Adrian . The then unknown Gary Cooper can be seen in a tiny, unnamed role .

Reviews

“Mr Valentino is indeed lucky to have received the services of Vilma Banky thanks to Samuel Goldwyn, as Miss Banky is so lovely to look at that her beauty makes the hero's gallantry all the more convincing. In this production, which would have suited some film celebrities like the agile Douglas Fairbanks, Mr. Valentino can assert himself with flying colors. His appearance takes advantage of Clarence Brown's direction and a grateful addition from Miss Banky, a valuable asset in the film. It was also a brilliant idea to engage Hanns Kräly, Mr. Lubitsch's clever writer, who wrote the script for The Eagle "

- Mordaunt Hall in the New York Times, November 9, 1925.

"Valentino plays a kind of Russian Robin Hood in this entertaining costume film."

- Leonard Maltin : Movie & Video Guide, 1996 edition, p. 371.

"Enjoyable brawl in the wave of Robin Hood, Scarlet Pimpernel and Zorro, the glow-eyed star is almost in his best form."

- Leslie Halliwell : Halliwell's Film Guide, Seventh Edition, New York 1989, p. 303.

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