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.
Acting
Valentino's smolder could power a small city. No audio needed.
Costume
That black mask ensemble? Still iconic a century later.
Direction
Clarence Brown keeps 73 minutes tighter than most three-hour epics.
Director
Clarence Brown
Rudolph Valentino
Lt. Vladimir Dubrovsky / The Black Eagle / Marcel Le Blanc
Vilma Banky
Mascha Troekouroff
Louise Dresser
The Czarina, Catherine II
Albert Conti
Kuschka
James A. Marcus
Kyrilla Troekouroff
George Nichols
Judge
Carrie Clark Ward
Aunt Aurelia
Spottiswoode Aitken
Dubrovsky's Father (uncredited)
Gustav von Seyffertitz
Court Servant at Dinner (uncredited)
Russell Simpson
The Eagle's Lieutenant / Coach Driver (uncredited)
Otto Hoffman
Man Whose Purse is Stolen (uncredited)
Jean De Briac
Minor Role (uncredited)
Mario Carillo
Marcel Le Blanc - French Tutor (uncredited)
Eric Mayne
Official Asking for Signature (uncredited)
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Valentino and Banky were so electric together they reunited immediately for The Son of the Sheik—Hollywood knew a cash cow when it saw one.
This was MGM's attempt to prove silent film romance could still dominate as talkies loomed; Valentino's sudden death the following year made it unintentionally elegiac.
US
