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Cobra (1925 film)
Encyclopedia
Cobra is a 1925 American silent film
starring Rudolph Valentino
and Nita Naldi. It is the screen adaptation of the play Cobra written by Martin Brown, which played at the Hudson Theatre
on Broadway
in 1924.
Roridgo accepts an invitation from friend Jack Dorning (Ferguson) to come to New York City
to work as an antiques expert. While the job is rewarding, Rodrigo finds the temptation from the women surrounding him, including Dorning's secretary Mary Drake (Olmstead) and wife Elise (Naldi) challenging.
When Jack is away, Elise reveals to Rodrigo that she is still in love with him. The two arrange to meet at a hotel. However, at the last minute, Rodrigo remembers he cannot betray his friend and refuses to go to the rendezvous. It turns out to be a wise decision; the hotel burns to the ground in the middle of the night, killing Elise.
Rodrigo desperately wants a relationship with Mary. However, after Elise's death, he turns Mary's attentions toward Jack and decides to leave New York. The film ends with Rodrigo gazing out at the sea and the Statue of Liberty as he sets sail back to Europe.
The production of Cobra was marred by bickering and soaring production costs. Furthermore, its studio Paramount Pictures
, unhappy with the final film and fearing it would flop with audiences and critics, held off releasing it until Valentino (whose popularity had declined somewhat) appeared in a stronger, unequivocally successful picture. Eventually Cobra was released in late 1925, a few weeks after what proved to be Valentino's comeback feature, The Eagle.
Cobra has survived and has been made available to the public, on both VHS
and DVD
, by independent film dealers and major movie distributors.
Silent film
A silent film is a film with no synchronized recorded sound, especially with no spoken dialogue. In silent films for entertainment the dialogue is transmitted through muted gestures, pantomime and title cards...
starring Rudolph Valentino
Rudolph Valentino
Rudolph Valentino was an Italian actor, and early pop icon. A sex symbol of the 1920s, Valentino was known as the "Latin Lover". He starred in several well-known silent films including The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse, The Sheik, Blood and Sand, The Eagle and Son of the Sheik...
and Nita Naldi. It is the screen adaptation of the play Cobra written by Martin Brown, which played at the Hudson Theatre
Hudson Theatre
The Hudson Theatre is a former Broadway theater located at 141 West 44th Street, in midtown Manhattan, New York. Today the Hudson functions as a conference center and television studio. It is owned by Millennium & Copthorne Hotels.-History:...
on Broadway
Broadway theatre
Broadway theatre, commonly called simply Broadway, refers to theatrical performances presented in one of the 40 professional theatres with 500 or more seats located in the Theatre District centered along Broadway, and in Lincoln Center, in Manhattan in New York City...
in 1924.
Synopsis
Valentino plays Count Rodrigo Torriani, an Italian noble. A charming libertine, his weakness is women--the "cobras" referred to in the title of the film.Roridgo accepts an invitation from friend Jack Dorning (Ferguson) to come to New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
to work as an antiques expert. While the job is rewarding, Rodrigo finds the temptation from the women surrounding him, including Dorning's secretary Mary Drake (Olmstead) and wife Elise (Naldi) challenging.
Rodrigo desperately wants a relationship with Mary. However, after Elise's death, he turns Mary's attentions toward Jack and decides to leave New York. The film ends with Rodrigo gazing out at the sea and the Statue of Liberty as he sets sail back to Europe.
The production of Cobra was marred by bickering and soaring production costs. Furthermore, its studio Paramount Pictures
Paramount Pictures
Paramount Pictures Corporation is an American film production and distribution company, located at 5555 Melrose Avenue in Hollywood. Founded in 1912 and currently owned by media conglomerate Viacom, it is America's oldest existing film studio; it is also the last major film studio still...
, unhappy with the final film and fearing it would flop with audiences and critics, held off releasing it until Valentino (whose popularity had declined somewhat) appeared in a stronger, unequivocally successful picture. Eventually Cobra was released in late 1925, a few weeks after what proved to be Valentino's comeback feature, The Eagle.
Cobra has survived and has been made available to the public, on both VHS
VHS
The Video Home System is a consumer-level analog recording videocassette standard developed by Victor Company of Japan ....
and DVD
DVD
A DVD is an optical disc storage media format, invented and developed by Philips, Sony, Toshiba, and Panasonic in 1995. DVDs offer higher storage capacity than Compact Discs while having the same dimensions....
, by independent film dealers and major movie distributors.
Cast
- Rudolph ValentinoRudolph ValentinoRudolph Valentino was an Italian actor, and early pop icon. A sex symbol of the 1920s, Valentino was known as the "Latin Lover". He starred in several well-known silent films including The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse, The Sheik, Blood and Sand, The Eagle and Son of the Sheik...
- Count Rodrigo Torriani - Nita Naldi - Elsie Van Zile
- Casson FergusonCasson FergusonCasson Ferguson was an American film actor of the silent era. He appeared in 54 films between 1917 and 1928.He was born in Alexandria, Louisiana, and died in Los Angeles, California.-Selected filmography:...
- Jack Dorning - Gertrude OlmsteadGertrude OlmsteadGertrude Olmstead was an American actress of the silent era. She appeared in 56 films between 1920 and 1929.-Career:...
- Mary Drake - Hector V. Sarno - Victor Minardi
- Claire De Lorez - Rosa Minardi
- Eileen PercyEileen PercyEileen Percy was an Irish actress of the silent era. She appeared in 68 films between 1917 and 1933.She was born in Belfast and died in Los Angeles, California...
- Sophie Binner - Lillian LangdonLillian LangdonLillian Langdon was a New Jersey-born American film actress of the silent era. She appeared in 86 films between 1912 and 1928.She died in Santa Monica, California, aged 82.-Selected filmography:...
- Mrs. Porter Palmer - Henry Barrows - the store manager
- Rosa Rosanova - Marie(uncredited)
- Natasha RambovaNatacha RambovaNatacha Rambova was an American silent film costume and set designer, artistic director, screenwriter, producer and occasional actress. Later in life she worked as a mildly successful fashion designer and Egyptologist....
- A Dancer(uncredited)