Cobra (1925)

Director:

Joseph Henabery

Writers:

Martin Brown (play)
Anthony Coldeway (writer)

Release Date:

30 November 1925 (USA)

Genre:

Drama

Plot:

Plot Keywords:

Society | Based On Play

Cast

Rudolph Valentino	...	Count Rodrigo Torriani
Hector Sarno	...	Vittorio Minardi
Casson Ferguson	...	Jack Dorning
Claire de Lorez	...	Rosa Minardi
Gertrude Olmstead	...	Mary Drake
Henry A. Barrows	...	Henry Madison (as Henry Barrows)
Nita Naldi	...	Elise Van Zile
Lillian Langdon	...	Mrs. Huntington Palmer
Eileen Percy	...	Sophie Binner

Runtime:

70 min | 75 min

Country:

USA

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Silent

Company:

Ritz-Carlton Pictures

Trivia:

Cinematographer Harry Fischbeck quit after a conflict with director Joseph Henabery and was replaced by Devereaux Jennings.

Fascinating film - top notch Valentino performance.

What a fascinating film this is! The tale of a womanizer who gets his comeuppance, a bauble of a man whose sense of honor delivers a happy ending for his friends, an empty one for him.

The tale of a Count who meets and befriends an American auctioneer while on holiday in Paris begins with Valentino escaping an irate father's wrath for dallying with his daughter. The auctioneer notes the Count's knowledge of and ownership of rare antiques and suggests employing him in NYC. However, he is soon up to his old tricks - he is a fool for romance. He has his eye on his friend's secretary but allows himself to almost be seduced by his friend's new and unfaithful wife, played very well by Nita Naldi. When his playful dalliancess ends in the death of the wife, he is torn as to whether to tell his friend of her unfaithfulness and his part in the death or to suffer in silence. All comes out in the end and he is forgiven but when he returns to hopefully claim the secretary as his bride, he finds in his absence she and the best friend have formed a bond. Rather than break it, he leaves for France, a sadder and wiser man.

Valentino gives one of his best screen performances here, shifting easily from the comic opening scenes to the dramatic second half. He shows a fine natural flair for comedy and is a natural with the romantic scenes. His proves himself a subtle and sensitive dramatic actor in the last scenes. Certainly if there had been Academy Award nominations then he would have received one for best Actor for his work here (as well as nods for his other fine work in FOUR HORSEMEN OF THE APPOCALYPSE and BLOOD AND SAND). Very worth seeking out.