Instrumentation

2(II=picc).2(II=ca).2(II=bcl).2 - 3.2.0.ophicleide (or tuba) - timp - perc(2): BD/2 SD/cyms/2 susp.cym/ch.cym/2 tam-t/tamb/tgl/whip/2 wdbl/xyl/glsp/crot/t.bells/3 bell plates - (accordion) - (mandolin) - harp - strings (8.6.4.4.2)

Availability

Full score and parts for hire

Programme Notes

Starring: Rudolph Valentino, Vilma Banky
Director: Clarence Brown
Production Company: Art Finance Corporation, 1925
Film Print: 35mm restored B&W print available from Photoplay Productions (Film Speed: 23 frames pet second)

Director Clarence Brown drew from Valentino, in The Eagle, one of his finest performances. Nominally based on Alexander Pushkin's story 'Dubrovski', but also containing many elements of Douglas Fairbanks' swashbuckler ‘The Mark of Zorro’, The Eagle is set in Russia during the days of Catherine the Great. Valentino plays army lieutenant Vladimir Dubrovski, who turns outlaw and wreaks revenge on the evil Kyrilla whilst falling in love with his enemy's daughter, played by the Hungarian beauty Vilma Banky. Clarence Brown's directorial trademarks are admirably displayed. He was a brilliant technician and introduced a number of surprisingly modern technical flourishes to the picture including a spectacular travelling shot along a banqueting table. Carl Davis's score is thoroughly and gloriously Russian, with echoes of Rimsky-Korsakov, Borodin and Tchaikovsky.

The Eagle

No Venue (Topeka, KS, USA)

Mont Alto Motion Picture Orchestra/tbc

The Eagle

Carpenter Theatre, Centre Stage (Richmond, VA, USA)

Eckart Preu/Richmond SO

The Eagle

BFI Southbank (London, United Kingdom)

Recorded Music