Handsome Russian officer Rudolph Valentino (as Vladimir Dubrovsky) saves lovely damsel in distress Vilma Bánky (as Mascha Troekouroff) when her stagecoach goes awry. This helps earn him an audience with Czarina Louise Dresser (as Catherine II). Amorous Ms. Dresser decides to lure Mr. Valentino into her boudoir; but, the virtue loving Cossack spurns her advances. After Valentino escapes Dresser's clutches, she makes him a more criminally "Wanted" man. Soon, Valentino is posing as a French tutor in the home of his father's enemy, James Marcus (as Kyrilla Troekouroff); there, he falls in love with Ms. Bánky, whom he had rescued earlier.
Valentino becomes a black-masked Zorro-like vigilante known as "The Black Eagle" to strike fear into the heart of bad guys like Mr. Marcus.
This is a good-looking film; George Barnes (photography), Clarence Brown (direction), George Marion Jr. (title cards), and William Cameron Menzies (sets) excel. Dresser is a pleasure to watch; Valentino is charming and effective. "The Eagle" is a very formulaic movie - which worked out very well for Valentino. Due, in large part, to the film's popularity at the box office, Rudolph Valentino became the #1 Box Office Star in the United States (overtaking Norma Talmadge). Since he died before 1926 ended, Valentino left the stage on top.
******* The Eagle (11/8/25) Clarence Brown ~ Rudolph Valentino, Vilma Bánky, Louise Dresser
Valentino becomes a black-masked Zorro-like vigilante known as "The Black Eagle" to strike fear into the heart of bad guys like Mr. Marcus.
This is a good-looking film; George Barnes (photography), Clarence Brown (direction), George Marion Jr. (title cards), and William Cameron Menzies (sets) excel. Dresser is a pleasure to watch; Valentino is charming and effective. "The Eagle" is a very formulaic movie - which worked out very well for Valentino. Due, in large part, to the film's popularity at the box office, Rudolph Valentino became the #1 Box Office Star in the United States (overtaking Norma Talmadge). Since he died before 1926 ended, Valentino left the stage on top.
******* The Eagle (11/8/25) Clarence Brown ~ Rudolph Valentino, Vilma Bánky, Louise Dresser