Cobra

Cobra is a 1925 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. 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 to work... more

Cobra is a 1925 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. 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 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... less