The Eagle Blu-ray - Rudolph Valentino

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S E A R C H D V D B e a v e r

Directed by Clarence Brown
USA 1925

In a departure from his onscreen persona of Latin lover, silent-era sex symbol Rudolph Valentino delivered one of the most nuanced and powerful performances of his career in this epic romance set in 18th-century Russia, directed by Clarence Brown (Flesh and the Devil, Anna Karenina). Valentino stars as Vladimir Dubrovsky, a lieutenant in the Imperial Guard who becomes a fugitive after he rejects the amorous attentions of the Czarina Catherine II (Louise Dresser). Returning to the land of his father, Dubrovsky becomes a masked defender of justice known as the Eagle, and swears vengeance upon a nobleman (James A. Marcus) who has been victimizing the poor and weak. But before he can right the wrongs of the evil Kyrilla Troekouroff, Dubrovsky’s true identity is revealed and he must face the judgment of the spurned Catherine.

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Vladimir Dubrouvsky, a lieutenant in the Russian army, catches the eye of Czarina Catherine II. He spurns her advances and flees, and she puts out a warrant for his arrest, dead or alive. Vladimir learns that his father's lands have been taken by the evil Kyrilla Troekouroff, and his father dies. He dons a black mask, and becomes the outlaw The Black Eagle. He enters the Troekouroff household disguised as a French instructor for Kyrilla's daughter Mascha. He is after vengeance, but instead falls in love with Mascha.

Excerpt from B+N located HERE

Posters

Theatrical Release: November 8th, 1925

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Review: Kino - Region 'A' - Blu-ray

Box Cover		CLICK to order from:
Distribution	Kino - Region 'A' - Blu-ray
Runtime	1:12:46.583
Video	1.22:1 1080P Single-layered Blu-ray Disc Size: 17,136,572,183 bytes Feature: 17,023,995,456 bytes Video Bitrate: 27.80 Mbps Codec: MPEG-4 AVC Video
	NOTE: The Vertical axis represents the bits transferred per second. The Horizontal is the time in minutes.
Bitrate Blu-ray:
Audio	LPCM Audio English 1536 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 1536 kbps / 16-bit (New musical score composed and performed by Alloy Orchestra) Commentary: Dolby Digital Audio English 192 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 192 kbps
Subtitles	English Intertitles
Features	Release Information: Studio: Kino 1.22:1 1080P Single-layered Blu-ray Disc Size: 17,136,572,183 bytes Feature: 17,023,995,456 bytes Video Bitrate: 27.80 Mbps Codec: MPEG-4 AVC Video Edition Details: • Audio commentary by film historian Gaylyn Studlar Blu-ray Release Date: October 22nd, 2019 Standard Blu-ray Case Chapters 8

Comments:

NOTE: The below Blu-ray captures were taken directly from the Blu-ray disc.

ADDITION: Kino Blu-ray (September 2020): Kino Lorber present an all new 2K restoration of Clarence Brown's "The Eagle" starring silent-era sex symbol, Rudolph Valentino. (described in the press release as a "2K Restoration from 35mm material"). The 1925 picture takes up most of the single-layered Blu-ray disc. As the back cover states, "This 2K restoration was mastered from a combination of two separate 35mm elements, both of which had optical soundtracks imposed on the picture. As a result, the image lacks the full width of the standard 1.33:1 aspect ratio." The actual image here is closer to 1.22:1 (though the back does state 1.19:1). The picture is supported by a reasonable bitrate. There are multiple instances of damage throughout the picture, showing tears, speckles and lines. Though perhaps not as extensive a restoration as could have been achieved, the image still shows a rather decent black and white image with a moderate contrast to match. Most shots and sequences in the film have a certain soft focus to them, so details can seem to be shrouded a tad. When compared to other 1925 films that we have reviewed, (ie "Variete", "The Gold Rush", "The Phantom of the Opera", "Tartuffe", and "The Lost World") this transfer falls near the bottom of the pack, most likely due to the source footage used in this 2k scan. Still, worth checking out for fans of the era, and Rudolph Valentino (and that adorable bear.)

There is an all new musical score to accompany the film, performed by Alloy Orchestra. This audio track is a linear PCM affair, in 16-bit 2.0 stereo. Though at times moderately interpretive, the score also serves to underline and recreate the film's diegtic goings on (for example, an early intertitle describes a blare of trumpets, and we subsequently here said horns). What impresses me most about the score is the range, not just in terms of tone and tempo, but instruments as well. The only other audio option is a commentary which I will discuss below.

The Blu-ray from Kino Lorber provides the option of watching the film alongside an audio commentary from Gaylyn Studlar (author of "This Mad Masquerade: Stardom and Masculinity in the Jazz Age"). While this is the sole extra on the disc, Studlar has a scholarly and effortless tone to her track. An enjoyable and informative listen, especially with regards to Valentino, and the filmmakers.

While perhaps only notable to fans of silent film and Valentino, Clarence Brown's "The Eagle" deserves a wider modern audience and this new Blu-ray from Kino Lorber is a step in the right direction. Though we have seen much better restorations in the past, we have also seen much, much worse. The included commentary track, on the Blu-ray, by film historian Gaylyn Studlar is a priceless addition to the film.