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Rudolph Valentino
Born	Rodolfo Alfonzo Raffaelo Pierre Filibert Guglielmi di Valentina d'Antonguolla May 6, 1895(1895-05-06) Castellaneta, Italy
Died	August 23, 1926 (aged 31) New York City, New York, U.S.
Spouse(s)	Jean Acker (1919-1923) Natacha Rambova (1923-1926)

Rudolph Valentino (May 6, 1895 – August 23, 1926) was an Italian actor, sex symbol, and early pop icon. Known as the "Latin Lover",^[1] he was one of the most popular stars of the 1920s, and one of the most recognized stars from the silent movie era. Some of his best known roles include the silent films The Sheik and The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse. His untimely death at age 31 caused mass hysteria among his female fans, propelling him into icon status.^[2] Image File history File links taken with permission from Silent Ladies & Gents. ... is the 126th day of the year (127th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1895 (MDCCCXCV) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Sunday of the 12-day-slower Julian calendar). ... Castellaneta is a city of the province of Taranto (formerly in the province of Lecce), in Puglia region, in Southern Italy, about twenty-four miles from Taranto (Tarentum) and a suffragan diocese (Castellanetenis) of the archbishop of Taranto. ... {| style=float:right; |- | |- | |} is the 235th day of the year (236th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1926 (MCMXXVI) was a common year starting on Friday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... New York, New York and NYC redirect here. ... This article is about the state. ... For other uses of terms redirecting here, see US (disambiguation), USA (disambiguation), and United States (disambiguation) Motto In God We Trust(since 1956) (From Many, One; Latin, traditional) Anthem The Star-Spangled Banner Capital Washington, D.C. Largest city New York City National language English (de facto)1 Demonym American... Jean Acker (October 23, 1893–August 16, 1978) was an American film actress with a career dating from the silent film era through the 1950s, though she was perhaps most notorious as the estranged wife of silent film star Rudolph Valentino. ... Natacha Rambova (January 19, 1897 – May 6, 1966) was an American costume and set designer, art director, playwright, silent film actress, fashion designer, Egyptologist, collector of antiquities, and the second wife of the silent film star Rudolph Valentino. ... is the 126th day of the year (127th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1895 (MDCCCXCV) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Sunday of the 12-day-slower Julian calendar). ... {| style=float:right; |- | |- | |} is the 235th day of the year (236th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1926 (MCMXXVI) was a common year starting on Friday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... For other uses, see Actor (disambiguation). ... Marilyn Monroe, one of the most iconic and famous female sex symbols of all time. ... For the British television series, see Pop Idol. ... See Latin Lover (TV series) for the Spanish language series. ... The 1920s they were sexy referred to as the Jazz Age or the Roaring Twenties, usually applied to America. ... A silent film is a film which has no accompanying soundtrack. ... The Sheik was a 1921 silent movie produced by Paramount, directed by George Melford and starring Rudolph Valentino, Agnes Ayres and Adolphe Menjou. ... For the 1962 film version, see Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse (film). ... Mass hysteria, also called collective hysteria or collective obsessional behavior, is the sociopsychological phenomenon of the manifestation of the same or similar hysterical symptoms by more than one person. ... Look up icon in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ...

Biography

Early life

Valentino was born Rodolfo Alfonso Raffaello Piero Filiberto Guglielmi in Castellaneta, Italy, to a French mother, Marie Berthe Gabrielle Barbin (1856 - 1919), and Giovanni Antonio Giuseppe Fidele Guglielmi, a veterinarian who died of malaria when Valentino was 11.^[3][4] He had an older brother, Alberto (1892-1981), a younger sister, Maria, and an older sister Beatrice who died in infancy.^[5] Castellaneta is a city of the province of Taranto (formerly in the province of Lecce), in Puglia region, in Southern Italy, about twenty-four miles from Taranto (Tarentum) and a suffragan diocese (Castellanetenis) of the archbishop of Taranto. ... Malaria is a vector-borne infectious disease caused by protozoan parasites. ... Year 1892 (MDCCCXCII) was a leap year starting on Friday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian Calendar (or a leap year starting on Wednesday of the 12-day slower Julian calendar). ... AUGUST 25 1981 US Marine Sean Vance is Born on the 25th of August {ear nav|1981}} Year 1981 (MCMLXXXI) was a common year starting on Thursday (link displays the 1981 Gregorian calendar). ...

As a child, Valentino was reportedly spoiled and troublesome. His mother coddled him while his father disapproved of his behavior.^[6] He did poorly in school, and was eventually enrolled in agricultural school where he received a degree.^[7]

After living in Paris in 1912, he soon returned to Italy. Unable to secure employment, he departed for the United States.^[8] This article is about the capital of France. ... 1912 (MCMXII) was a leap year starting on Monday in the Gregorian calendar (or a leap year starting on Tuesday in the 13-day-slower Julian calendar). ...

New York

Arriving in New York City, Valentino soon ran out of money and spent a period of time on the streets. He eventually supported himself with odd jobs such as bussing tables in restaurants and gardening.^[8] Eventually, he found work as a taxi dancer.^[9] New York, New York and NYC redirect here. ... A taxi dancer is a professional dance partner in one of many forms of partner dance. ...

Valentino eventually befriended Chilean heiress Blanca de Saulles who was unhappily married to prominent business man John de Saulles, with whom she had a son. Whether the two actually had a romantic relationship is unknown, but when the couple divorced, Valentino took the stand to support Blanca de Saulles' claims of infidelity on her husband's part. Following the divorce, John de Saulles reportedly used his political connections to have Valentino arrested, along with a Mrs. Thyme, a known madam, on some unspecified vice charges. The evidence was flimsy at best and after a few days in jail, Valentino's bail was lowered from $10,000 to $1,500.^[10] Blanca Errázuriz and John De Saulles (1912) Blanca Elena Errázuriz Vergara (b. ... John Gerard Longer de Saulles (b. ... Vice is a practice or habit that is considered immoral, depraved, and/or degrading in the associated society. ...

The trial and subsequent scandal was well publicized, following which Valentino could not find employment. Shortly after the trial, Blanca de Saulles fatally shot her ex-husband during a custody dispute over their son. Fearful of being called in as a witness in another sensational trial, Valentino left town, joining a traveling musical that led him to the West Coast.^[11]

Film career

In 1917, Valentino joined an operetta company that traveled to Utah where it disbanded. He then joined an Al Jolson production of Robinison Crusoe Jr., travelling to Los Angeles. By fall, he was in San Francisco with a bit part in a theatrical production of Nobody Home. While in town, Valentino met actor Norman Kerry, who convinced him to try a career in cinema, still in the silent film era.^[5] Operetta is a genre of light opera, light in terms both of music and subject matter. ... This article is about the U.S. state. ... Al Jolson (May 26, 1886–October 23, 1950) was a highly acclaimed American singer, comedian and actor of Jewish heritage whose career lasted from 1911 until his death in 1950. ... Flag Seal Nickname: City of Angels Location Location within Los Angeles County in the state of California Coordinates , Government State County California Los Angeles County Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa (D) Geographical characteristics Area     City 1,290. ... This page is a candidate for speedy deletion. ... Norman Kerry Norman Kerry (June 16, 1894 - January 12, 1956) was an American actor whose career spanned over twenty-five years in the motion picture industry beginning in the silent era at the end of World War I. Born Arnold Kaiser in Rochester, New York of German parentage, he changed... A silent film is a film which has no accompanying soundtrack. ...

Valentino, with Kerry as a roommate, moved back to Los Angeles and took up residence at the Alexandria Hotel. He continued dancing, building up a following which included older female clientele who would let him borrow their luxury cars.^[5] Flag Seal Nickname: City of Angels Location Location within Los Angeles County in the state of California Coordinates , Government State County California Los Angeles County Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa (D) Geographical characteristics Area     City 1,290. ...

With his dancing success, Valentino found a room of his own on Sunset Blvd and began actively seeking screen roles. His first part was as an extra in the film Alimony, moving on to small parts in several films. Despite his best efforts he was typically cast as a "heavy" (villain) or gangster.^[10] At the time, the major male star was Douglas Fairbanks, with a fair complexion, light eyes, and an All American look, with Valentino the opposite and seemingly "exotic".^[12] Sunset Boulevard is a street in the western part of Los Angeles County, California, that stretches from Figueroa Street in downtown Los Angeles to the Pacific Coast Highway at the Pacific Ocean in the Pacific Palisades. ... Douglas Fairbanks (May 23, 1883 – December 12, 1939) was an American actor, screenwriter, director and producer, who became noted for his swashbuckling roles in silent movies such as The Mark of Zorro (1920), The Three Musketeers (1921), Robin Hood (1922), The Thief of Bagdad (1924) and The Black Pirate (1926). ... The term All-American has two uses: It can be used as a reference to an athlete selected as a member of an All_America team, as in Eddie George was named an All-American football player by both wire services in 1995. ...

By 1919, he had carved out a career in bit parts. It was a bit part as a "cabaret parasite" in the drama The Eyes of Youth that caught the attention of screenwriter June Mathis, who thought he would be perfect for her next movie.^[13] Year 1919 (MCMXIX) was a common year starting on Wednesday (link will display the full calendar). ... Screenwriters, scenarists, or script writers, are authors who write the screenplays from which movies and television programs are made. ... June Mathis (June 30, 1892, Leadville, Colorado USA - July 26, 1927, New York City, USA) was born June Beulah Hughes, and adopted her stepfathers surname, Mathis. ...

Stardom

Displeased with playing "heavies", Valentino briefly entertained the idea of returning to New York permanently. He returned for a visit in 1917 staying with friends in Greenwich Village. It was here he met Paul Ivano; someone who would help his career greatly.^[14] The Washington Square Arch Greenwich Village (IPA pronunciation: ), also called simply the Village, is a largely residential area on the west side of downtown (southern) Manhattan in New York City named after Greenwich, London. ...

While traveling to Palm Springs, Florida to film Stolen Moments, Valentino read the novel The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse by Vicente Blasco Ibáñez.^[14] Seeking out a trade paper, he discovered that Metro had bought the film rights to the story. In New York, he sought out Metro's Office; only to find June Mathis had been trying to find him. She cast him in the role of Julio Desnoyers. For director, Mathis had chosen Rex Ingram, with whom Valentino did not get along, leading Mathis to play the role of peace keeper between the two.^[14] Palm Springs is a village located in Palm Beach County, Florida. ... Vicente Blasco Ibáñez Woman Triumphant, a translation of La maja desnuda by Vicente Blasco Ibáñez into English Vicente Blasco Ibáñez (January 29, 1867 - January 28, 1928) was a Spanish realist novelist writing in Spanish, a screenwriter and occasional film director. ... A rapid transit, underground, subway, tube, elevated, or metro(politan) system is a railway — usually in an urban area — with a high capacity and frequency of service, and grade separation from other traffic. ... Rex Ingram (October 20, 1895 - September 19, 1969) was an African American film and stage actor. ...

The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse, was released in 1921, becoming a commercial and critical success. It was one of the first films to make $1,000,000 at the box office, as well as the 6th best selling silent film ever.^[13][15] For the 1962 film version, see Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse (film). ... See also: 1920 in film 1921 1922 in film 1920s in film years in film film Events February 20 - The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse, starring Rudolph Valentino, premieres. ...

Valentino with the Arabian Stallion Jadaan. Publicity photo for Son of the Sheik, 1926

Metro Pictures seemed unwilling to acknowledge it had made a star. Most likely due to Rex Ingram's lack of faith in him, the studio refused to give him a raise beyond the $350 a week he had made for Four Horsemen. For his follow up film, they forced him into bit part in a B film called Uncharted Seas. It was on this film that Valentino met his second wife, Natacha Rambova.^[14][16] Image File history File links ValentinoandJadaan. ... Image File history File links ValentinoandJadaan. ... The Arabian horse is a breed of horse with a reputation for intelligence, high spirit, and outstanding stamina. ... Metro Studios, Culver City, CA. in 1918 Metro Pictures Corporation was an American motion picture production company founded in 1916 by Richard A. Rowland (1880-1947) and Louis B. Mayer (1885-1957). ... Natacha Rambova (January 19, 1897 – May 6, 1966) was an American costume and set designer, art director, playwright, silent film actress, fashion designer, Egyptologist, collector of antiquities, and the second wife of the silent film star Rudolph Valentino. ...

Rambova, Mathis, Ivano, and Valentino began work on the Alla Nazimova film Camille. Valentino was cast in the role of Armand, Nazimova's love interest. The film, mostly under the control of Rambova and Nazimova, was considered too avant garde by critics and the public.^[16] Alla Nazimova, born Mariam Edez Adelaida Leventon (May 22, 1879 – July 14, 1945) was an American theater and film actress, scriptwriter, and producer. ... This is an article about the 1921 film version of Camille. ... For other uses, see Avant-garde (disambiguation). ...

Valentino's final film for Metro was the Mathis penned The Conquering Power. The film received critical acclaim and did well at the box office.^[16] After the film's release, Valentino made a trip to New York where he met with several French producers. Yearning for Europe, better pay, and more respect, Valentino returned and promptly quit Metro.^[16]

The Sheik

After quitting Metro, Valentino took up with Famous Players-Lasky, a studio which films that were more commercially focused. Mathis soon joined him, angering both Ivano and Rambova.^[16] Famous Players-Lasky Corporation studios Famous Players-Lasky Corporation was an American motion picture company formed in 1916 from the merger of Famous Players Film Company and the Jesse L. Lasky Feature Play Company. ...

Jesse Lasky intended to capitalize on the star of Valentino, and cast him in a role that would solidify his reputation as the "Latin Lover". In The Sheik. Valentino played the starring role as Sheik Ahmed Ben Hassan. The film was a major success and would go on to define not only his career but his image and legacy. Valentino tried to distant the character from a stereotypical portrayal of an Arab man. Asked if Lady Diana (his love interest) would have fallen for a 'savage' in real life Valentino replied, "People are not savages because they have dark skins. The Arabian civilization is one of the oldest in the world...the Arabs are dignified and keen brained."^[17] Jesse Louis Lasky (September 13, 1880 - January 13, 1958) was a pioneer Hollywood film producer. ... The Sheik was a 1921 silent movie produced by Paramount, directed by George Melford and starring Rudolph Valentino, Agnes Ayres and Adolphe Menjou. ... In modern usage, a stereotype is a simplified mental picture of an individual or group of people who share a certain characteristic (or stereotypical) qualities. ...

Famous Players produced four more feature length films over the next 15 months. His leading role in Moran of Lady Letty was of a typical Douglas Fairbanks nature, however the bankability of his perceived led to his character being given a Spanish name and ancestry.^[17] The film received mixed reviews but was still a hit with audiences.^[17]

In November 1921, Valentino was set to star alongside Gloria Swanson in Beyond the Rocks. The film contained lavish sets and extravagant costumes, though Photoplay magazine said the film was "a little unreal and hectic". Released in 1922, the film was a critical disappointment. Years after its release, Beyond the Rocks was thought to be lost, save for a one minute portion.^[18] In 2002, the film was discovered by the Netherlands Film Museum. The restored version was released on DVD in 2006.^[19] Gloria Swanson (March 27, 1899 – April 4, 1983) was an Academy Award-nominated, Golden Globe-winning American Hollywood actress. ... Beyond the Rocks is a 1906 novel by Elinor Glyn and a 1922 silent film, based on that novel, in which Gloria Swanson and Rodolph Valentino starred together for the only time. ... A lost film is a feature film or short film that no longer exists in either studio archives or private collections. ...

In 1922, Valentino began work on another Mathis penned film, Blood and Sand. Co-starring Lila Lee and Nita Naldi, Valentino played the lead, bullfighter Juan Gallardo. Initially believing the film would be shot in Spain, Valentino was upset to learn that the studio planned on shooting on a Hollywood back lot. He was further irritated by changes in production, including a director of whom he did not approve.^[20] Blood and Sand was a 1922 silent movie directed by Fred Niblo and starring Rudolph Valentino, Lila Lee and Nita Naldi. ... Lila Lee Lila Lee (July 25, 1901 - November 13, 1973) was a prominent screen actress of the early silent film era. ... Nita Naldi Nita Naldi (April 1, 1897 - February 17, 1961) was one of the most successful silent film actresses of the Roaring Twenties. ... Matador Antonio Barrera (matador) in the capote de paseo (dress cape) before a bullfight during the 2003 Aste Nagusia festival in Bilbao, Spain For other uses, see Matador (disambiguation). ...

After finishing the film, Valentino married Rambova, which led to a bigamy trial. The trial was a sensation and the pair was forced to annual and separate for a year. Despite the trial, the film was still a success, with critics calling it a masterpiece on par with Broken Blossoms and Four Horsemen. Blood and Sand went on to become one of the top 4 grossing movies of 1922, breaking attendance records, and grossing $37,400 at the Rivoli Theatre alone. Valentino would consider this one of his best films.^[21] Broken Blossoms (also called The Chink and the Child, Scarlet Blossoms and The Yellow Man and the Girl) is a 1919 film which tells the story of a Chinese man who goes to England to enlighten Christians about the teachings of Buddha. ...

During his forced break from Rambova; the pair began working (separately) on the Mathis penned The Young Rajah. Only fragments of this film, recovered in 2005, still remain.^[21] The film did not live up to expectations and underperformed at the box office. Valentino felt he had underperformed in the film, being upset over his separation with Rambova.^[21] Missing Rambova, Valentino returned to New York after the release of The Young Rajah. They were spotted and followed by reporters constantly. During this time Valentino began to contemplate not returning to Famous Players, although Jesse Lasky already had his next picture, The Spanish Cavalier, in preparation. After speaking with Rambova and his lawyer Arthur Butler Graham, Valentino declared a 'One man Strike' against Famous Players.^[21] The Young Rajah is a 1922 silent film starring Rudolph Valentino. ...

Strike against Famous Players

Valentino's reasons for striking were financially based. At the time of his lawsuit against the studio, Valentino was earning $1,250 per week, with an increase to $3,000 after three years. This was $7,000 per week less than what Mary Pickford made in 1916.^[22] He was also upset over the broken promise of filming Blood and Sand in Spain, and the failure to shoot the next proposed film in either Spain or at least New York. Valentino had hoped while filming in Europe he could see his family; whom he hadn’t seen in ten years.^[17]

In September 1922, he refused to accept paychecks from Famous Players until the dispute was solved, although he owed them money he had spent to pay off Jean Acker. Angered, Famous Players in turn filed suit against him.^[23]

Valentino did not back down,^[23] and Famous Players realized how much they stood to lose. In trouble after shelving Fatty Arbuckle pictures, the studio tried to settle by upping his salary from $1,250 to $7,000 a week. Variety erroneously announced it as a 'new contract' before news of the lawsuit broke. Valentino, ever prideful, threw the offer back in their faces.^[21]

Valentino went on to claim that artistic control was more of an issue than the money. He wrote an open letter to Photoplay, entitled "Open Letter to the American Public", where he argued his case,^[21], although the average American had trouble sympathizing, as most made $2,000 a year.^[23] Famous Players made their own public statements deeming him more trouble than he was worth (the divorce, bigamy trials, debts) and that he was temperamental, almost diva-like. They claimed to have done all they could and that they had made him a real star.^[23]

Other studios began courting Valentino. Joseph Schenck was interested in casting him opposite his wife, Norma Talmadge, in a version of Romeo and Juliet.^[23] June Mathis had moved to Goldwyn Pictures where she was in charge of the Ben-Hur project, and interested in casting Valentino in the film.^[23] However, Famous Players exercised their option to extend his contract, preventing him from accepting any employment other than with the studio.^[23] Joseph M. Schenck, born December 25, 1878 - died October 22, 1961, was a pioneer executive who played a key role in the development of the United States film industry. ... Norma Talmadge Norma Talmadge (May 26, 1893 – December 24, 1957) was an American actress. ... For other uses, see Romeo and Juliet (disambiguation). ... Goldwyn Pictures Corporation was an American motion picture production company founded in 1916 by Samuel Goldfish in partnership with Broadway producers Edgar and Archibald Selwyn using a combination of both last names to create the name. ... Ben-Hur is the second silent film, and first feature-length version, based on the novel Ben-Hur by Lew Wallace. ...

By this point Valentino was around $80,000 in debt.^[23] Valentino filed an appeal, a portion of which was granted. Although he was still not allowed to work as an actor, he could accept other types of employment.^[23]

Mineralava Dance Tour

Valentino met George Ullman in late 1922. He told Ullman how he wished to dance again during the strike. Ullman would soon become Valentino's manager. Ullman previously had worked with Mineralava Beauty Clay Company, and convinced them that the Latin Lover would be perfect as a spokesman with his legions of female fans.^[24]

Ullman conceived much of the tour himself. It would contain a local beauty pageant with the winner competing against the other winners to name an ultimate Beauty Queen with a chance at a movie contract. Valentino would make speeches promoting the beauty crème. At other interludes he would take the chance to blast Famous Players. ^[25]Valentino and Rambova would dance together in costume. Ballroom dancing had gone out of fashion for the new jazz dances, so there was concern as to how popular it would be. However, each stop on the tour proved very successful;^[26] the couple signed contracts for $7,500 a show plus 50% of the profits.^[27] A beauty contest, or beauty pageant, is a competition between people, based largely, though not always entirely, on the beauty of their physical appearance. ...

His fans could not control themselves, mobbing him and trying to steal buttons and ties off his person. Some women would faint, especially if called to the stage. Valentino wished to be one on one with his fans but found their actions frightening (as they would usually endanger him and his wife’s safety), as well as confusing (he felt they were after his image, not him).^[28]Overall the tour ran for 88 performances all over the US. The final event, held at Madison Square Garden and was filmed by David O. Selznick, was titled "Valentino and his 88 American Beauties" and is found on some DVD releases. His fans had enjoyed it, but the same journalists continued to denounce him.^[29] Madison Square Garden, often abbreviated as MSG, and known colloquially simply as The Garden, has been the name of four arenas in New York City. ... David O. Selznick David Oliver Selznick (May 10, 1902–June 22, 1965), was one of the icon Hollywood producers of the Golden Age. ...

European Trip

On May 14, 1923, while in New York City, Valentino made his only two vocal recordings; "Kashmiri Song" ("The Sheik") and "El Relicario" ("Blood and Sand"). The recordings were not not released until after Valentino's death.^[30] May 14 is the 134th day of the year (135th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1923 (MCMXXIII) was a common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Kashmiri Song is a well-known song by Amy Woodforde-Finden based on a poem by Laurence Hope, pseudonym of Adela Florence Nicolson. ...

Eventually homesick and wanting his siblings to see his new bride, Valentino considered a trip back to Italy. Unlike other stars, Valentino's movies had barely played overseas; his family had never seen him in a picture.^[31]

Wishing to improve his prospects in Europe; Valentino began a new publicity campaign. He teamed up with Movie Weekly to serialize his writings, "My Own Story of My Trip Abroad." In addition he planned and did indeed film parts of his trip. He hoped to show them documentary style in theatres; though this never occurred. They have however appeared on DVD.^[32]

The Valentinos first stopped in London, then Paris. They stayed in France till September 1923. During their stay they had visited several towns and caught up with friends and family as well as shopped. After a week at Rambova's Aunt's home they borrowed a Voisin and drove off to Italy. Upon entering Italy the guards insisted on a 600 French cigarette 'duty' (bribe).^[33] Rambova grew weary of the traveling and neither she nor Valentino were used to the anonymity they received as his films had not been played in Italy. Valentino achieved as he wished: he seen his sister and his brother; and was able to arrange a screening of one of his films them.^[34] Voisin is a French surname meaning neighbour. ...

Return to Pictures

There was talk of returning to film after his arrival back in the States. Ritz-Carlton Pictures (working through Famous Players) wanted to offer Valentino a dream deal: $7,500 a week, creative control, filming in New York. It was for this deal he turned down an offer to film an Italian film, Quo Vadis in Italy.^[35] Rambova herself (via power of attorney) negotiated the deal giving Valentino a 2 picture deal with Famous Players and 4 pictures for Ritz Carlton. All parties accepted.^[36]

The first film chosen under this deal was Monsieur Beaucaire. The Valentinos' found it an acceptable offer and Rambova was given creative control.^[37] Valentino played the lead, Duke of Chatres. The film did poorly and did nothing to help Valentino's fight for masculinity as American audiences found it 'effeminate'.^[38] Jesse Lasky would personally hold Rambova guilty for the choice though Famous Players had offered them the script, and Valentino surely had approved himself.^[39] This film is often seen as proof of Rambova's controlling nature and would later be cause to bar her from Valentino's sets.^[40] Monsieur Beaucaire is a 1924 silent film drama based on the Booth Tarkington novel. ...

Valentino made one final movie for Famous Players. In 1924 he starred in The Sainted Devil which is now one of his rare lost films. It had lavish costumes but apparently a weak story. It opened to strong sales but soon dropped off in attendance and ended up as another disappointment.^[41]

Ritz Carlton Setbacks

With his contract fulfilled, Valentino was released from Famous Players but still contracted by Ritz Carlton for 4 films.

The Valentinos hoped to film Cobra however discovered that Ritz Carlton would not be able to finance the film as they wished. They were horrified to learn that Ritz Carlton had a distribution deal via Famous Players.^[42] With a small budget they were forced to film in Hollywood, and no one involved in the production was happy with the final outcome. Rambova herself admitted being too focused on The Hooded Falcon.^[43] The film was shelved for several months before finally being released to a lukewarm reception. Critics found it 'mundane' and some felt John Gilbert had finally taken Valentino's place as the lover of the screen.^[44] Cobra is a 1925 silent film starring Rudolph Valentino and Nita Naldi. ... John Gilbert may refer to several people: John Gilbert (actor) John Gilbert (naturalist) John Gilbert (painter) John William Gilbert (British, Labour Party politician) John Gilbert (Canadian politician) (NDP) This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists other pages that might otherwise share the same title. ...

The couple tried to counter the negative buzz by appearing at high profile events; playing up their image as one of Hollywood's leading couples.^[45]

After filming of Cobra, The Valentinos headed back to Europe to gain inspiration for Valentino's 'pet project' film The Hooded Falcon. Nita Naldi was to play his love interest. The cast flew to France to be fitted for costumes. After 3 months they headed back to the States where a sensation was caused by Valentino's new beard which he had grown for the film.^[46] The crew and cast headed to Hollywood to begin preparations for the film but much of the budget was taken up during preparations.^[47] Nita Naldi Nita Naldi (April 1, 1897 - February 17, 1961) was one of the most successful silent film actresses of the Roaring Twenties. ...

After the release of Sainted Devil Valentino held meetings with Mathis which led to rumors of another movie between the pair.^[48] However not too long after their friendship was severed over Rambova's control. Mathis had been asked to work on The Hooded Falcon and was told her scenario would not do. She took it as a great insult and did not speak to Valentino for almost 2 years.^[49]

The production now dragged on longer as they sorted out script issues; all the while paying personnel and draining the budget. After a fight with the director; the film was postponed indefinitely and the Valentinos' headed for a vacation in Palm Springs. While on vacation George Ullman called to tell them that the director had pulled the plug, $150,000 had already been spent, and Ritz Carlton was terminating their contract. Ullman felt it was for the better; concerned Valentino playing a Moor with a beard and dark skin would only further alienate him from his fans.^[50] Look up moor, Moor in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ...

United Artists

Back when he filmed Monsieur Beaucaire both Charlie Chaplin and Douglas Fairbanks both spoke to him in private about joining with United Artists. Both were quieted by their lawyers until Valentino was free of his contract.^[51] Yaweh redirects here. ... This article is about the film studio. ...

It took until his time at Ritz Carlton was up for a contract to be negotiated between Valentino and United Artists. Valentino would be paid $10,000 a week, make 3 pictures a year, receive a percentage of the profits, and have a choice over leading lady. He would also be given 'prominence' right up with Mary Pickford, Douglas Fairbanks, and Charlie Chaplin. However Rambova was to be excluded and not allowed on set. Valentino agonized over the decision but eventually felt he had no choice but to sign. Ullman felt bad and offered Rambova $30,000 to finance a film of her own. It became her one and only called What Price Beauty? and starred Myrna Loy.^[52] Myrna Loy (August 2, 1905 – December 14, 1993) was an American motion picture actress. ...

Valentino chose his first project, "The Eagle". His marriage was under strain and once shooting began Rambova announced they were on a separation.^[53] After a very public send off she announced their troubles to reporters. Much publicity came from rumors that Valentino was dating his co-star Vilma Banky.^[54] The film opened to good critical reviews but a moderate box office. It however performed better then his previous 3 films which was a good sign.^[55] The Eagle was a 1925 silent movie directed by Clarence Brown and starring Rudolph Valentino, Vilma Banky, Louise Dresser and James A. Marcus. ... Vilma Banky on the cover of a 1920s fan magazine Vilma Banky (January 9, 1898* - March 18, 1991) was an American/Hungarian silent film actress. ...

For the film's release he headed to London where it was met with great fanfare. Valentino ended up staying in London as well as France; spending money with abandon while his divorce took place. By the time he returned to the states the divorce. It would be awhile before he made another picture; ironically his last would be The Son of the Sheik despite his hate of the sheik image.^[56] Poster for The Son of the Sheik. The Son of the Sheik was a 1926 silent movie directed by George Fitzmaurice and starring Rudolph Valentino and Vilma Banky. ...

The film began shooting in February 1926. Though initially reluctant Valentino was given choice director and another pairing with Banky whom he enjoyed working with.^[57] He was also able to use the authentic costumes he bought abroad and play a character role as the Father as well as the Son. Valentino was ill during production; but felt he needed to keep on to pay his many debts.^[58] The film opened on July 8, 1926 to great fanfare; making about $32,000 a week. Its opening at the Million Dollar Theatre was a big success. During the premiere Valentino reconciled with Mathis; the two hadn’t spoken in almost 2 years.^[59] The Million Dollar Theater on Broadway in downtown Los Angeles, opened in February 1918, is one of the first movie palaces built in the United States. ...

Before his death Valentino had been slated to play in a film based on the life of Benvenuto Cellini which Banky would not be available for. There was talk of either Dolores Del Rio or Greta Garbo playing the love interest. However it was never filmed.^[60] Gold Salt cellar by Cellini. ... Dolores Del Rio Dolores del Río (August 3, 1905 - April 11, 1983) was a Mexican film actress. ... Greta Garbo (September 18, 1905 – April 15, 1990) was a Swedish-born actress during Hollywoods silent film period and part of its Golden Age. ...

Acting Style

Valentino had no formal training before taking up with a theatre group in New York. Fascinated with pictures he began to study acting. One agent named John Higgins loaned him a copy of Justin Hunley McCarthy's 'If I were King'. According to Higgins, Valentino lived the role and memorized the entire play.^[61] It is also said that Alla Nazimova greatly influenced his acting style.^[62]

Valentino was a method actor. For many of his roles Valentino would stay in character even while not filming (once refusing to speak anything but Italian as his character would; despite the crew not understanding a word of the language).^[63] Valentino would later consider Blood and Sand one of his best films though he wished to have shot on location; with real bulls.^[64] Method acting is the endeavour to apply natural rules and laws to the theatre and film acting which can aid an actor with the process of playing a role. ...

Behind the Camera Ambitions

Valentino was fascinated with every part of movie making. During production on a Mae Murray film he sat and spent a good amount of time studying the directors plans.^[65] He craved authenticity and wished to shoot on location.^[66] He was not able to fulfill this dream usually due to the studios reluctance to finance such an extravagance, however he did film home movies of his trip to Italy.

In 1925 he formed his own production company, Rudolph Valentino Productions.^[67] Valentino, George Ullman, and Beatrice Ullman were the incorporators.

The Rudolph Valentino Medal

Valentino was one of the first in Hollywood to arrange some type of award for artist accomplishment in films. The Academy Awards would later follow suite. In 1925 he gave out his one and only medal to John Barrymore for his performance in Beau Brummell. The award was named The Rudolph Valentino Medal. The requirements were Valentino and 2 judges; along with 75 critics would vote on who deserved the medal. Everyone but Valentino was eligible.^[68] Academy Award The Academy Awards, popularly known as the Oscars, are the most prominent and most watched film awards ceremony in the world. ... This article is about John Barrymore, Sr. ... Brummell, engraved from a miniature portrait. ...

Image

Ever since the de Saulle trial in New York when his masculinity had been slandered in print, Valentino had been very sensitive with the way he was perceived. Women loved him and thought him the epitome of romance. However, American men were very threatened and would walk out of his movies in disgust. With the Fairbanks type being the epitome of manhood, Valentino was seen as a threat to the All American man. One man asked in a street interview what he thought of Valentino in 1922 replied, "Many men desire to be another Douglas Fairbanks. But Valentino? I wonder..." Women in the same interview found Valentino, "Triumphantly seductive. Puts the love making of the average husband or sweetheart into discard as tame, flat, and unimpassioned." Although men may have wanted to act like Fairbanks, they copied Valentino's look. A man with perfectly greased back hair was called a 'Vaselino'.^[69] The term All-American has two uses: It can be used as a reference to an athlete selected as a member of an All_America team, as in Eddie George was named an All-American football player by both wire services in 1995. ...

Journalists were constantly calling his masculinity into question: his greased back hair, his clothing, his treatment of women, his views on women, and whether he was effeminate or not. Valentino hated these stories and was known to carry the clippings of them around and criticize them. ^[5] Effeminacy is character trait of a male showing femininity, unmanliness, womanliness, weakness, softness and/or a delicacy, which contradicts traditional masculine, male gender roles. ...

In July 1926, The Chicago Tribune reported that a vending machine dispensing pink talcum powder had appeared in an upscale hotel washroom. An editorial that followed used the story to protest the feminization of American men, and blamed the talcum powder on Valentino and his sheik movies. The piece infuriated Valentino, who happened to be in Chicago at the time. The actor challenged the writer to a duel and then a boxing match. Neither challenge was answered. Shortly afterward, Valentino met for dinner with the famed journalist H.L. Mencken for advice on how best to deal with the incident. Mencken advised Valentino to "let the dreadful farce roll along to exhaustion", but Valentino insisted the editorial was "infamous." Mencken found Valentino to be likable and gentlemanly and wrote sympathetically of him in an article published in the Baltimore Sun a week after Valentino's death: // The Chicago Tribune is a major daily newspaper based in Chicago, Illinois and owned by the Tribune Company. ... For other uses, see Chicago (disambiguation). ... A duel is a formalized type of combat. ... H. L. (Henry Louis) Mencken (September 12, 1880 - January 29, 1956) was a twentieth century journalist and social critic, a cynic and a freethinker, known as the Sage of Baltimore and the American Nietzsche. He is often regarded as one of the most influential American writers of the early 20th... The Baltimore Sun is the major newspaper in Baltimore, Maryland, with a daily press run of about 430,000 copies, and a Sunday run of 540,000 copies. ...

After Valentino challenged the Tribune's anonymous writer to a boxing match, the New York Evening Journal boxing writer, Frank O'Neill, volunteered to fight in his place. Valentino won the bout which took place on the roof of New York's Ambassador Hotel.^[71]

Racial Barriers

During his lifetime Valentino was not considered 'white'. Italians were seen as dark and 'Latin'; unable to be the Douglas Fairbanks type. Before Valentino only one other non Caucasian male had found success as a leading man in American Silents: Sessue Hayakawa. Hayakawa found more barriers by being Japanese but much like Valentino he was regulated to playing the 'exotic lover' or 'foreign man out for revenge'.^[72] Due to anti miscegenation laws, Hayakawa was not allowed to kiss a non Asian woman on film. Valentino was lucky in escaping the same barrier; though when he did 'get the girl' he was somehow shown as white (such as in The Sheik).^[73] Douglas Fairbanks (May 23, 1883 – December 12, 1939) was an American actor, screenwriter, director and producer, who became noted for his swashbuckling roles in silent movies such as The Mark of Zorro (1920), The Three Musketeers (1921), Robin Hood (1922), The Thief of Bagdad (1924) and The Black Pirate (1926). ... Sessue Hayakawa (早川雪洲 Hayakawa Sessue, June 10, 1889 - November 23, 1973) was a Japanese actor in American films, including two in the U.S. National Film Registry: The Cheat in 1915 The Bridge on the River Kwai in 1957, for which he was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Supporting... Frederick Douglass with his second wife Helen Pitts Douglass (sitting) who was white, a famous 19th century American example of miscegenation. ...

Like Hayakawa; Valentino fought such typecasting. Unlike Hayakawa, Valentino was much more successful even playing 'American' or 'Irish' men early in his career. This was not lost on reviewers. For the film A Society Sensation, a reviewer from Variety noted, "Rodolpho De Valentino makes a very American Dick Bradley despite the fact that he is a fairly recent arrival from Italy".^[74] The word typecasting (past participle typecast) can mean more than one thing: typecasting (programming) typecasting (acting) in acting This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists other pages that might otherwise share the same title. ... Variety is a daily newspaper for the entertainment industry. ...

After playing "The Sheik", Valentino was even given a 'white lover' role in Moran Lady of Letty. However he did not wish to play 'white'. He wanted to make the exotic men (Arabs, Indians, Italians) accepted the same as white. One example of this would be with The Sheik. Valentino choose not to play the role stereotypically.^[75]

Personal life

In 1919, prior to the rise of his career, Valentino impulsively married actress Jean Acker. Acker, who was a lesbian, quickly regretted the marriage and locked Valentino out of their room on their wedding night. The couple separated soon after and never consummated the marriage.^[4]The couple remained legally married until 1921, when Acker sued Valentino for divorce, citing desertation.^[13] Year 1919 (MCMXIX) was a common year starting on Wednesday (link will display the full calendar). ... Jean Acker (October 23, 1893–August 16, 1978) was an American film actress with a career dating from the silent film era through the 1950s, though she was perhaps most notorious as the estranged wife of silent film star Rudolph Valentino. ... This article is about same-sex desire and sexuality among women. ... As a verb, consummate means to bring something to its completion, such as a transaction, concept, plan or action. ... Year 1921 (MCMXXI) was a common year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar). ...

At the time, the divorce trial caused a sensation due to Valentino's new star status. Valentino found it embarrassing to have to charge desertion and Acker's refusal to consummate the marriage. The divorce was granted with Acker receiving alimony. Despite her antics and use of the name "Mrs. Valentino" (a name to which she had no legal right), she and Valentino eventually renewed their friendship until his death. Look up abandonment in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ...

Valentino and Natacha Rambova, his second wife. Portrait by James Abbe.

Valentino first met Natacha Rambova, a costume designer and art director who was a protégé of Nazimova, on the set of Uncharted Seas in 1921. The two also worked together on the Nazimova production of Camille, by which time they were romantically involved. They married on May 13, 1922, in Mexicali, Mexico. This resulted in Valentino being jailed for bigamy, since he had not been divorced for a full year based on the law in California at the time. Days passed and his studio at the time, Famous Players-Lasky, refused to post bail. Eventually, a few friends, including Thomas Meighan and June Mathis, were able to post the cash bail.^[76] Image File history File links RudolfValentinoandNatachaRambova. ... Image File history File links RudolfValentinoandNatachaRambova. ... Natacha Rambova (January 19, 1897 – May 6, 1966) was an American costume and set designer, art director, playwright, silent film actress, fashion designer, Egyptologist, collector of antiquities, and the second wife of the silent film star Rudolph Valentino. ... James Abbe (1883-1975) was an American photographer. ... Natacha Rambova (January 19, 1897 – May 6, 1966) was an American costume and set designer, art director, playwright, silent film actress, fashion designer, Egyptologist, collector of antiquities, and the second wife of the silent film star Rudolph Valentino. ... The term art director, is an overall title for a variety of similar job functions in advertising, publishing, film and television, the Internet, and video games. ... Camille may refer to: Camille or The Lady of the Camellias, a 1852 novel and play by Alexandre Dumas, fils Camille, a 1866 painting by Claude Monet, also known as The Woman in the Green Dress Camille (film), the name of several films Camille (given name), the given name of... is the 133rd day of the year (134th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1922 (MCMXXII) was a common year starting on Sunday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Mexicali is the capital of the State of Baja California, Mexico as well as the seat of the municipality of Mexicali. ... Polygamy, literally many marriages in ancient Greek, is a marital practice in which a person has more than one spouse simultaneously (as opposed to monogamy where each person has a maximum of one spouse at any one time). ... This article is about the U.S. state. ... Famous Players-Lasky Corporation studios Famous Players-Lasky Corporation was an American motion picture company formed in 1916 from the merger of Famous Players Film Company and the Jesse L. Lasky Feature Play Company. ... Thomas Meighan ( April 9, 1879 Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania - July 8, 1936 Great Neck, Long Island, New York) was an American actor of the silent era. ...

Still having to wait the year or face the possibility of being arrested again, Natacha and Valentino lived in separate apartments in New York City, each with their own roommates. On March 14, 1923, they legally remarried.^[77] New York, New York and NYC redirect here. ... Year 1923 (MCMXXIII) was a common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ...

Many of Valentino's friends disliked Rambova and found her controlling.^[78] During his relationship with her, he lost many friends and business associates including June Mathis. Toward the end of their marriage, Rambova was banned from his sets by contract. One of the few people who supported her was a then-unknown actress named Myrna Loy, whom Rambova had discovered and had cast in the film What Price Beauty? Myrna Loy (August 2, 1905 – December 14, 1993) was an American motion picture actress. ...

The end of the marriage was bitter, with Valentino bequeathing her one dollar in his will. The money and property he originally intended for her instead went to her Aunt Teresa, whom they both adored. Despite popular rumors, Natacha was not a lesbian. She and Valentino had an active sexual life, attested to by many friends. Paul Ivano (their roommate through much of their dating) stated that one night, Valentino ran out in a panic thinking he had killed her during an all night session of love making, when in fact she had just passed out and was revived with cold water by Ivano.^[16]

Valentino's sexuality has been the subject of much speculation over the years. It has been suggested he was in homosexual relationships with roommates Paul Ivano and Douglas Gerrad, as well as Norman Kerry, openly gay French actor Jacques Herbertot and Andre Daven.^[5] However, Ivano maintained that it was completely untrue and both he and Valentino were heterosexual.^[14] Since its coinage, the word homosexuality has acquired multiple meanings. ... Heterosexuality is a sexual orientation characterized by esthetic attraction, romantic love or sexual desire exclusively for members of the opposite sex or gender, contrasted with homosexuality and distinguished from bisexuality and asexuality. ...

Shortly before his death, Valentino was dating actress Pola Negri. Upon his death, Negri made a scene at his funeral, claiming they had been engaged. The engagement claim has never been proven.^[77] Pola Negri Pola Negri [1] (December 31, 1894 - August 1, 1987) was a Polish film actress who achieved notoriety as a femme fatale in silent films between 1910s and 1930s. ...

Death and funeral

On August 15, 1926, Valentino collapsed at the Hotel Ambassador in New York City. He was hospitalized at the Polyclinic in New York and underwent surgery for a perforated ulcer. The surgery went well and he seemed to be recovering when peritonitis set in and spread throughout his body. He died eight days later, at the age of 31.^[13] is the 227th day of the year (228th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1926 (MCMXXVI) was a common year starting on Friday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... A perforated ulcer, also known as a bleeding ulcer[1] or a perforated peptic ulcer[2] is a very serious condition where the untreated ulcer can burn through the wall of the stomach (or other areas of the gastrointestinal tract, allowing digestive juices and food to leech into the abdominal...

A mourner pictured with the body of Rudolph Valentino at the actor's funeral

An estimated 100,000 people lined the streets of New York City to pay their respects at his funeral, handled by the Frank Campbell Funeral Home. The event was a drama itself: actress Pola Negri collapsed in hysterics while standing over the coffin, windows were smashed as fans tried to get in, and Campbell's hired four actors to impersonate a Fascist Blackshirt honor guard, which claimed to have been sent by Benito Mussolini. It was later revealed as a planned publicity stunt.^[79] Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Pola Negri Pola Negri [1] (December 31, 1894 - August 1, 1987) was a Polish film actress who achieved notoriety as a femme fatale in silent films between 1910s and 1930s. ... For the University of Nebraska–Lincoln football teams defense, see Blackshirts (football). ... Mussolini redirects here. ...

Valentino's funeral mass in New York was held at Saint Malachy's Roman Catholic Church, often called "The Actor's Chapel", as it is located on West 49th Street in the Broadway theater district, and has a long association with show business figures.^[80] Saint Malachys Roman Catholic Church is in Manhattan on West 49th Street, between Broadway and Eighth Avenue. ...

After the body was taken by train across the country, a second funeral was held on the West Coast, at the Catholic Church of the Good Shepherd in Beverly Hills.^[80] Valentino had no final burial arrangements and his friend June Mathis offered her crypt for him in what she thought would be a temporary solution. However, she died the following year and Valentino was placed in the adjoining crypt. The two are still interred side by side in adjoining crypts at the Hollywood Memorial Park Cemetery (now the Hollywood Forever Cemetery) in Hollywood, California.^[80] Hollywood Forever Cemetery entrance Hollywood Forever Cemetery entrance Hollywood Forever Cemetery is located at 6000 Santa Monica Boulevard in the Hollywood district of the City of Los Angeles, California. ... Greetings from Hollywood Hollywood is a district of the city of Los Angeles, California, U.S.A., that extends from Vermont Avenue on the east to just beyond Laurel Canyon Boulevard above Sunset and Crescent Heights Boulevards on the west; the north to south boundary east of La Brea Avenue...

Estate

Valentino left his estate to his brother, sister, and Rambova's aunt Teresa Werner, who was left the share originally bequeathed to Rambova.^[81] His Beverly Hills mansion, Falcon Lair, was later owned by heiress Doris Duke. Duke died death there in 1993. The home was later sold and underwent major renovations, though the exterior remains largely the same as it did when Valentino owned it.^[80] For other uses, see: Beverly Hills (disambiguation). ... Doris Duke (November 22, 1912 – October 28, 1993) was an American heiress and philanthropist. ... Year 1993 (MCMXCIII) was a common year starting on Friday (link will display full 1993 Gregorian calendar). ...

Legacy

After his death many of his films were reissued to help pay his estate. Many were reissued well into the 1930s (long after the demise of silent film). Several books were written including one by Rambova.^[82] Several songs, including one by first wife Jean Acker, entitled "There's a New Star in Heaven Tonight", were written and best sellers.^[9]

Over the years a "woman in black" carrying a red rose has come to mourn at Valentino's grave usually on the anniversary of his death. Several myths surround the woman though it seems the first woman in black was actually a publicity stunt cooked up by press agent Russel Birdwell in 1928. Several copycats have followed over the years.^[83]

Films about Valentino

The life of Rudolph Valentino has been filmed a number of times for television and the big screen. The most notable of these biopics is Ken Russell's 1977 film, Valentino, in which Valentino is portrayed by Rudolf Nureyev. The film itself is only loosely based on his life; taking creative license with several important parts of his life. Henry Kenneth Alfred Russell, known as Ken Russell (born July 3, 1927), is an English film director, particularly well-known for his films about famous composers and his controversial, often outrageous pioneering work in film. ... // Events In the Academy Awards, Peter Finch, Faye Dunaway and Beatrice Straight win Best Actor and Actress and Supporting Actress awards for Network. ... Valentino is an american biographical drama film about the life of Rudolph Valentino, directed by Ken Russell. ... This article needs additional references or sources for verification. ...

An earlier feature film about Valentino's life, also called Valentino, was released in 1951 and starred Anthony Dexter as Valentino.^[84] See also: 1950 in film 1951 1952 in film 1950s in film 1940s in film years in film film Events Sweden - May Britt is scouted by Italian film-makers Carlo Ponti and Mario Soldati Top grossing films North America David and Bathsheba Show Boat tie The Great Caruso and An...

The short film "Daydreams of Rudolph Valentino", with Russian actor Vladislav Kozlov as Valentino, was presented at Hollywood Forever cemetery on August 23, 2006, marking the 80th anniversary of Rudolph Valentino's death. Daydreams of Rudolph Valentino is a short 2006 film that depicts the last days of Rudolph Valentinos life as they are relived in a vision experienced while in his coma. ... {| style=float:right; |- | |- | |} is the 235th day of the year (236th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

Author

Valentino published a book of poetry which was released in 1923, entitled Day Dreams,^[85] He would later serialize events in various magazines. With Liberty magazine, he wrote a series entitled, "How You Can Keep Fit" in 1923.^[85] "My Life Story" was serialized in Photoplay during his dance tour. The March issue was one of the best selling ever for the magazine.^[86] He followed that with "My Private Diary" serialized in Movie Weekly magazine. Most of the serials were later published as books after his death.^[87] Liberty was a general-interest weekly magazine, published in the United States between 1924 and 1950. ...

Quotations

• "Women are not in love with me but with the picture of me on the screen. I am merely the canvas on which women paint their dreams."

Other names by which Rudolph Valentino was known:

Filmography

All Night is a 1918 silent film starring Rudolph Valentino and Carmel Myers. ... The Married Virgin (also known as Frivolous Wives) is a 1918 silent film starring Vera Sisson, Kathleen Kirkham and Rudolph Valentino. ... The Delicious Little Devil is a 1919 black-and-white silent film starring Mae Murray and Rudolph Valentino. ... Stolen Moments is a silent movie starring Rudolph Valentino and Marguerite Namara. ... Once to Every Woman is a 1934 film adaptation of A. J. Cronins short story, Kaleidoscope in K. The film was made by Columbia Pictures and stars Ralph Bellamy and Fay Wray. ... The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse was a 1921 silent movie produced by Metro Pictures Corporation, directed by Rex Ingram and starring Rudolph Valentino, Pomeroy Cannon, Josef Swickard and Alice Terry. ... This is an article about the 1921 film version of Camille. ... The Sheik was a 1921 silent movie produced by Paramount, directed by George Melford and starring Rudolph Valentino, Agnes Ayres and Adolphe Menjou. ... Beyond the Rocks is a 1906 novel by Elinor Glyn and a 1922 silent film, based on that novel, in which Gloria Swanson and Rodolph Valentino starred together for the only time. ... Blood and Sand was a 1922 silent movie directed by Fred Niblo and starring Rudolph Valentino, Lila Lee and Nita Naldi. ... The Young Rajah is a 1922 silent film starring Rudolph Valentino. ... Monsieur Beaucaire is a 1924 silent film drama based on the Booth Tarkington novel. ... A Sainted Devil is a 1924 drama film starring Rudolph Valentino. ... Cobra is a 1925 silent film starring Rudolph Valentino and Nita Naldi. ... The Eagle was a 1925 silent movie directed by Clarence Brown and starring Rudolph Valentino, Vilma Banky, Louise Dresser and James A. Marcus. ... Poster for The Son of the Sheik. The Son of the Sheik was a 1926 silent movie directed by George Fitzmaurice and starring Rudolph Valentino and Vilma Banky. ...

References

2008 (MMVIII) is the current year, a leap year that started on Tuesday of the Anno Domini (or common era), in accordance to the Gregorian calendar. ... April 7 is the 97th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (98th in leap years). ... 2008 (MMVIII) is the current year, a leap year that started on Tuesday of the Anno Domini (or common era), in accordance to the Gregorian calendar. ... April 7 is the 97th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (98th in leap years). ... Year 2004 (MMIV) was a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 108th day of the year (109th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 2008 (MMVIII) is the current year, a leap year that started on Tuesday of the Anno Domini (or common era), in accordance to the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 95th day of the year (96th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 11th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 2008 (MMVIII) is the current year, a leap year that started on Tuesday of the Anno Domini (or common era), in accordance to the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 95th day of the year (96th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 2008 (MMVIII) is the current year, a leap year that started on Tuesday of the Anno Domini (or common era), in accordance to the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 101st day of the year (102nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1926 (MCMXXVI) was a common year starting on Friday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 269th day of the year (270th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 2008 (MMVIII) is the current year, a leap year that started on Tuesday of the Anno Domini (or common era), in accordance to the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 83rd day of the year (84th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 2008 (MMVIII) is the current year, a leap year that started on Tuesday of the Anno Domini (or common era), in accordance to the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 101st day of the year (102nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ...

Further reading

• Menefee, David W. The First Male Stars: Men of the Silent Era. Albany: Bear Manor Media, 2007.
• Basinger, Jeanine. Silent Stars. 1999. ISBN 0-8195-6451-6.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to:

Rudolph Valentino

• Rudolph Valentino homepage
• Rudolph Valentino at the Internet Movie Database
• Rudolph Valentino photo gallery at Silent Gents.
• Audio history (MP3, 17:23). Emily Leider, author of Dark Lover: The Life and Death of Rudolph Valentino discuss what made Valentino such a sensation in life and death. Produced: February, 2005.
• Affairs Valentino. This site contains details of a recently discovered unpublished memoir by George Ullman about his years as Valentino's manager. It is to be the basis of a forthcoming new book about Valentino.
• A retouched photographic collage that claimed to show Valentino's surgery, featured on George Mason University's History Matters site
• Valentino biography in Spanish, Italian & English
• Rudolph Valentino at Find A Grave