Rating: 
Summary: "The Eagle" on DVD -- wonderful film but poor print
Review: "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.
Rating: 
Summary: a classic Valentino film...
Review: 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.
Rating:
Summary: The Eagle
Review: 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.
Rating:
Summary: The Eagle
Review: 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.
Rating: 
Summary: Could We Have The Old Version, Please?
Review: 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.
Rating:
Summary: Could We Have The Old Version, Please?
Review: 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.
Rating: 
Summary: Revenge Is Sweet, But Sometimes A Girl Is Sweeter
Review: 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.
Rating:
Summary: Revenge Is Sweet, But Sometimes A Girl Is Sweeter
Review: 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.
Rating:
Summary: One of Rudy's Best Now On DVD.
Review: 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 SHIEK 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.
Rating:
Summary: Great film, lackluster restoration
Review: 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.
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