VALENTINO
US, 1951, 102 minutes. Colour.
Anthony Dexter, Eleanor Parker, Richard Carlson, Patricia Medina, Joseph Calleia, Donna Drake, Lloyd Gough, Otto Kruger.
Directed by Lewis Allen.
Valentino is an early film biography of Rudolph Valentino, the heartthrob of silent films of the 1920s. Italian-born, he came to the United States and became a sensation in films, marrying the writer-actress Nazimova. Nazimova herself objected to many facets of the screenplay which were altered, making this more of a fiction, a portrait rather than a biography. It was issued to mark the twenty-fifth anniversary of Valentino’s death in 1926.
Anthony Dexter looks the part, but appeared only in a few films and television programs in the 50s and 60s. Eleanor Parker is a strong presence as the actress Joan Carlisle. In support are Richard Carlson and, especially, Patricia Medina.
The film shows something of life in Hollywood during the period. There was a more flamboyant biography of Valentino, for the fiftieth anniversary of his death, directed by Ken Russell and starring Rudolf Nureyev.
1. An entertaining fictional biography? Historical value? Audience interest in Valentino his time, in the 1950s, later? His appeal?
2. The fictional biography of film stars around 1950? Fictional conventions, romanticizing, presentation of the exotic? Differences in the genre over the decades? Later trends? Telling more of the truth, showing more of the faults? How conventional was this biography?
3. The importance of the colour photography, Italy, New York and Hollywood settings? The re-creation of Hollywood in the 1920s? The music and the atmosphere of Valentino’s films and his personality?
4. How credible the plot? For the purposes of this kind of biography? Valentino and his Italian origins, fascination for women, talent as a dancer? Entry into America, his early work, again, the fascination for women? The encounter with Joan? His career and the Hollywood build-up? Credibility of his success? Presentation of his talent as an actor, the audition for The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse? Gradual success? Love for Joan, her rejection, the rendezvous with her, the credibility of Lila and her helping him? The sudden impact of his death? The well-known historical facts and this interpretation? How much was meant to the biography, how much romanticized idol-worship? The film 25 years after his death?
5. How well drawn the character of Valentino, Anthony Dexter’s looks, manner, personality? Humble origins? Maria and her dance troupe, his behaviour on the ship and encounter with Joan, working in New York, Italian friends and the continued support? Ambitions? His attraction to and behavior with wealthy women? Hollywood, talent, his imposing himself for The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse? Joan and Lila? The emotional tangles, their effect on him? His impulsiveness? His response to Joan marrying King? Working with her, the difficulties of the romantic scenes? The importance of his meeting her, the harsh attitudes of the press? His reactions? The impact of these films, the people at his funeral, the lady in black 25 years later? The sufficient character sketch for an audience to understand him?
