The Eagle

 "The Eagle" 1925 directed by Clarence Brown, based on the posthumously published 1841 novel, "Dubrosky", by Alexander Pushkin and adapted by Hans Kraly and George Marion Jr., produced by Joseph M. Schenck and John W. Considine Jr. United Artists.

Rudolph Valentino, Vilma Banky, Louise Dresser, Albert Conti, James A. Marcus, George Nichols, Carrie Clark Ward, Spottiswood Aitken, Mack Swain, Mario Carillo, Gary Cooper, Russell Simpson, Otto Hoffman, Gustav von Seyffertitz.

The film was based on a novel which did not have a character called The Black Eagle, but the character was inspired by the Douglas Fairbanks performance in "The Mask of Zorro". The story is set during the reign of Catherine the Great who died in 1796, but the costumes are similar to those worn during the early nineteenth century and at one point Vladimir (Valentino) lights a candle with a friction match which was not invented until 1826. This is a film which is entertaining but one must suspend disbelief as it calls for you to believe a mask alone will prevent a person from being recognized and the voice will not give them away. Errol Flynn and Tyrone Power would later do films inspired by this and the films of Douglas Fairbanks. The sets, cinematography and direction are all excellent, but I wish Valentino had not been made-up so much.