Cobra (Full Frame)

Last Minute Sales & Specials

Rudolph Valentino's first independent production, "Cobra," was released less than a year prior to the actor's untimely death at age 31. It is an unusual and contradictory showcase for the actor who is remembered more than any other as the icon of irresistible sexuality in Hollywood silent film. Beleaguered by women in his native land, a promiscuous Italian Count, Rodrigo Torriani (Valentino) escapes to New York to work for an elegant antiques dealer specializing in Italian objects d'art. The ambitious young man cannot suppress the Don Giovanni within himself and is soon embroiled in a new series of romantic entanglements with secretaries, husband hunters, and extortionists. But when his best friend's new wife captures suave Torriani in her Cobra-like gaze, he reforms just in time to avoid disgrace and even death-by-fire. "Cobra" was made a t a time when every element of the young star's professional life was controlled by his wife, Natacha Rambova. Imagining that Valentino would out-do Douglas Fairbanks in films notable for scenes of pageantry, athleticism, and derring-do, she wrote for Rudy a treatment for an enormous spectacle of medieval Spain to be called "The Hooded Falcon." With proposed co-star Nita Naldi, the Valentinos traveled to that country where they spent more than one hundred thousand dollars of producer J.D. Williams' money on Spanish antiques and props. Rambova committed for the services of other actors. Joseph Henabery, who endured Rambova's interference with his direction of "A Sainted Devil," was engaged for the same task. Also hired were cameraman Harry Fischbeck, whose photography of Valentino's previous two films had been much admired; and William Cameron Menzies(fresh from Fairbanks' awe-spiring "The Thief of Bagdad" for sets.