The Eagle Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		3.5
Audio		4.0
Extras		3.0
Overall		4.0

The Eagle Blu-ray Movie Review

A high-adventure with enough energy and romance to thoroughly entertain to the end

Taking off into flight, The Eagle is a compelling golden-age action-adventure with enough energy and remarkable stunts to keep audiences entertained. Based on the novel written by Alexander Pushkin and featuring production by John W. Considine Jr. (The Emperor's Candlesticks, Salute to the Marines) and Joseph M. Schenck (Reaching for the Moon, Hallelujah I'm a Bum), The Eagle is an example of great old-fashioned fun.

The highly regarded Russian lieutenant Vladimir Dubrovsky (Rudolph Valentino) is a first-rate leader within the Imperial order who is tossed into a number of unexpected events when he becomes the center-of-attention for The Czarina, Catherine II (Louise Dresser). Catherine II wishes to marry Dubrovsky and she only has eyes for him (and no one else). When the stubborn Vladimir decides to reject her undying affections, events quickly begin to escalate with Catherine II turning the Russian leader into a fugitive who must flee from her grip to save himself.

Once he returns to his beloved home-town, Vladimir Dubrovsky leaves behind his military role for one which is far more intriguing and shadowy: that of the masked-avenger known as “The Eagle”. Wearing his black mask, he fights the bad-guys and seeks to bring down the ruthless villain Kyrilla Troekouroff (James A. Marcus) who is bringing trouble to the ordinary people of his community. But can Vladimir escape the wrath of the scorned Catherine II when he is unmasked at last?

The feature-film has a remarkable lead performance by the great Rudolph Valentino. While it is true that many thought of Valentino as being more a sex symbol or classic-era film icon than a leading performer with acting chops to spare, The Eagle proves to be an impressive role for him. There is certainly heft to his significant part as leading man. Valentino delivers a truly superb performance capable of bringing joy and excitement to audiences the world over.

Soar to new heights with the excellent Blu-ray of The Eagle.

The film is also a visual feast for the eyes that will make one full. There is remarkably bold visuals on display with cinematography by George Barnes (Rebecca, Spellbound, The Greatest Show on Earth) that demonstrates how beautiful filmmaking can add a great deal of subtext and enthusiasm to film. The Eagle takes on the role of an icon: someone who stands for more than just nobility but for the human quest for justice and peace.

Featuring beautiful costumes designed by Adrian (Rope, The Wizard of Oz), The Eagle evokes Zorro and other classic staples of golden-era filmmaking. The production design efforts created by William Cameron Menzies (Gone with the Wind) elevate the filmmaking surroundings for a production that seems even more bold and visionary than one would expect to experience given the age and resources available for the production.

While the screenplay written by Hanns Kräly (One Hundred Men and a Girl, The Last of Mrs. Cheyney) is never too showy or original, the dialogue is charming and downright sly. The fun experiences had by The Eagle as he attempts to thwart the bad-guy is enormously entertaining. Clarence Brown (Intruder in the Dust, The Human Comedy) wants for the audience to simply sit back and enjoy themselves with this sweet and charming action-adventure confection. Brown's efforts pay off splendidly as he crafted something worthwhile. What fun!

The end-result of the journey taken is one that feels rewarding in every sense of the word. The Eagle might not be an undisputed classic but it's a charming and fun film that rewards audiences with a bristling good time at the movies. A perfect Saturday matinee worth watching with loved ones, The Eagle is a fantastic experience and is well worth-a-watch. Seek it out and soar into the skies.

The Eagle Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Soaring into the skies like a high-flying bird, The Eagle features a brand new 2K restoration which was sourced from 35mm. The 1080p MPEG-4 AVC encoded high definition presentation is in the aspect ratio of 1.19:1 full frame. The gorgeous black and white photography looks downright splendid to behold at times and there are so many sequences which manage to impress with the vivid artistry.

Kino Lorber utilized two different quality 35mm film prints created for the new 2K restoration and the optical sound was included on the original prints so the ratio appears as 1.19:1 as a result. The image is mostly impressive (though there are many instances of thin scratches and minor deficiencies). For a film that is around 100 years old, it's remarkable how beautiful it looks. The level of clarity and detail on display is superb. While it's not a perfect restoration its commendable given the age of the source elements that were utilized.

The Eagle Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The audio is presented in lossless 16 bit uncompressed PCM. The film presentation features a new score which was performed by the Alloy Orchestra. The music is the perfect accompaniment to the fantastic visuals and the film is brought to greater heights of entertainment as a result of the high-quality recording.

Simply put: the music compositions sound terrific, through-and-through, and the end result of the new score matches the quality filmic restoration which was given. As a silent film, there is no dialogue and the emphasis is entirely on the score and it's quality reproduction. The track effectively brings new life to The Eagle and greatly enhances the overall experience.

The Eagle Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

Audio Commentary by film historian Gaylyn Studlar

The Eagle Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

There is something remarkably entertaining about experiencing classic action-adventure cinema like The Eagle (especially in this day and age of CGI blockbusters). The results are highly satisfying. The filmmaking is so exquisitely done and it evokes wonderful energy that bristles from beginning to end. The star power of Rudolph Valentino is the main reason to see the film. Valentino delivers a superb performance and audiences will have a good time going along for the wild ride at hand. The Blu-ray release features a good presentation (even if the film print still shows some wear) and is worth-a-watch. Fans are certainly encouraged to pick up the film and add it to their collection.