VALENTINO

UK, 1977, 127 minutes, Colour.
Rudolf Nureyev, Leslie Caron, Michelle Phillips, Carol Kane, Felicity Kendal, Seymour Cassel, Peter Vaughan.
Directed by Ken Russell.

Valentino by a comparatively restrained Ken Russell! The exuberance and subjective interpretation of an art celebrity is to the fore (and suggestions of hysteria) but Valentino (played quite strikingly at times by Rudolf Nureyev) elicits a sympathetic treatment from Russell. Bizarre Hollywood, calculating business and showbiz manipulation get satiric treatment. Valentino himself is presented as the Latin dream lover victimised by macho American hostility in boxing ring and bar. He is also naive migrant succeeding in the new world until an early unnecessary death. Many sequences and some supporting roles (Peter Vaughan's journalist, the alcoholic dancing partner) are brilliant, even if nauseating (the Mexican prison). A Valentino study, not biography.

1. The reputation of Valentino as actor, star, popular idol of the '20s? The interest of the audience of the '70s? Later? The appeal of Valentino as a person to Ken Russell? Ken Russell's interpretation of Valentino as a person, his career, impact? Russell's insight into Valentino?

2. The work and style of Ken Russell? Flamboyant, extravagant, creative, fantasy? A subjective interpretation of the person and his impact? Russell's re-creation of the United States in the '20s, the re-creation of Hollywood and the world of the movies? How well did he re-create the American atmosphere of Valentino and his impact - for an English director and an English production?

3. The traditional structure for the biography study of a famous personality: the death and its impact, the popular response, the commentary by various people who knew the personality well, the mysterious symbol - the orange and what it signified? The return to the funeral at the end in the light of the flashbacks and insights? The selection of episodes to illustrate Valentino's personality and impact rather than a chronological narrative? The cumulative effect of the incidents and their insight? The blend of reality, memory and interpretation, fantasy? A valid approach to understanding Valentine?

4. The flamboyance of Ken Russell's style as matching the personality of Valentino and his impact? Hysteria, excess? The importance of image and public response to image compared with reality? The hero, sex appeal, the magazine and advertising popularising of these aspects? The artificiality? Valentino and his art, his skill as an entertainer? The macho aspects of Valentino's appeal and the contesting of these in his real life? The exhibitor and the promotion of Valentino - and his being a victim of his publicity and believing in his publicity?

5. Russell's sympathy for Valentino or not? For the myths or not? His eliciting audience sympathy for the person, for the myths? The implications about the relationship between myth and reality? The value of idols, the basic sexual appeal of the male star? The significance of the choice of Rudolf Nureyev for Valentino? Nureyev's personality, style, publicity, skill and impact as a dancer? The skill in presence, poses? How important were these for conveying something of the impact of Valentino?

6. The lifestyle of the '20s in the United States, decor, costumes, the jazz age, the music and the use of popular songs and music of the time? The nostalgia of the '70s and its response to the visualising of the '20s? As influential in interpreting Valentino?

7. The impact of the funeral and using it as focus for the film? The crowds, Valentino being made up, the various personalities visiting, the business partners and executives visiting, Valentino being left alone in death? The artificiality and glamour of his death? Russell's comments on the treatment of death in relationship to the treatment of the idol during life? The reporters, Nazimova and her visit and memories? Her artificiality and its interpretation on the light of the flashbacks?

8. The episode with Bianca? Valentino and his Italian background, arrival in the United States, self-promotion, his ability as a dancer, Bianca as hostess, Valentino's charm, dancing with the older women, the equivalent of a gigolo, making money? The significance of the introduction of Nijinsky - and the Russian ballet overtones? Valentino and his dancing with Nijinsky - the homosexual innuendo? The talk about Valentino, the fire, what erupted, the death, the court case, the impact for his life?

9. The Los Angeles nightclub and Marjorie as his drunken partner? His skill in supporting her? The reasons for her drinking? Fatty and his girlfriend and the disruption of the act? The clash with Fatty? Valentino's one-upmanship? His liaison with Fatty's girl? Her persuading him to a film career and the introduction to June Mathis? The opening for the future?

10. The character portrayal of Fatty's girl, as a type, insight into the world of the starlet in the early film industry? Influence on Valentino?

11. The introduction to June Mathis? The successful Hollywood personality, her skills at writing, business? Her relationship with the various executives and her influence on them? The screen tests and her backing Valentino? The introduction to the Hollywood personalities - the executives and the portrayal of studio heads, producers, writers, actors, various types with the Hollywood reputation - sexual relationships, the drug addict hero etc.? What comment was the film making on Hollywood and its personalities?

12. Valentino's screen career and the recapitulation of some of his famous films, the visualising of these: The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse, Camille. The Sheikh, Monsieur Beaucaire?

13. The introduction of Nazimova? What kind of woman was she in herself, her image of herself, her eccentricities in appearance., manner, style? Her roles in films? The artificiality of her art? Her friendship and dependence on Natasha, their poses? As a symbol of the eccentricities of the '20s? Nazimova's relationship with Valentino, her jealousy, her visiting him when dead?

14. Natasha as an attractive girl? Her explanation of her background. her father, her hopes? Valentino's infatuation with her? The lyrical sequences, the beach? Mexico. The motivation for marrying her? (And the obscurity and ambiguity about his first marriage?) The possibilities of a relationship.. of love? Valentino and his self-absorption? His reputation as a lover and inability to relate to women? Natasha and her dependence on Nazimova? The homosexual and lesbian innuendo? Their work together, the popularity of the marriage, publicity and the magazines?

15. The significance of the sequence of Valentino's arrest, Mexico, jail and the sadism of that scene?

16. June and her work in Hollywood, her continued interest in Valentino. her help? The making of The Sheikh? The importance of the screening of The Sheikh? The black and white photography. the fantasy of June imagining herself as the heroine being taken off? Her response illustrating that of the fans and the public. Of the audience of Russell's film? The indications of audience identification with the films and the stars?

17. The portrayal of the directors, Valentino's clash? Money deals, personality clashes. Publicity adverse to Valentino, the powder puff innuendo and its implications, the starlet? The actual confrontation and the incident with the real powder puff?

18. The importance of the dance tour, Natasha and Valentino on tour? Their popularity? The humiliation for Valentino? George Ullman and his personality? His influence on Valentino and stage managing him?

19. The personality of Rory O' Neill. the aggressive newspaper reporter and the world of the press? An unsympathetic character? His attacks on Valentino.. the macho challenge? Valentino's decision to fight? The visual presentation of the bout, audience sympathies. the crowd? The finale of the bout with the macho drinking?

20. Valentino’s illness and his unwillingness to let this be known, his self-assertion in fighting and drinking? The repercussions for death? What stage of his career had he reached? Had he peaked in popularity? Would there have been much left for him in terms of career had he lived?

21. The impact of the ending? What was the audience left with in terms of understanding a Hollywood star and idol?

22. A portrait of a man. a migrant to the United States and benefiting by its opportunity, being victim of its opportunity? Insight into the world of moviemaking, the industries associated with the movies? The 20th. century world and its uglier aspects?