Valentino is a biographical drama film very loosely based on the life of Rudolph Valentino, directed by Ken Russell. It is based on the book Valentino, an Intimate Exposé of the Sheik, written by Chaw Mank and Brad Steiger.
Upon release the movie was critically and commercially a failure most likely due to the dramatic license taken with Valentino's life.[1] Russell has described his decision to make the film as the biggest mistake of his career.[2] Regrettably on occasion events from the film that never really occurred (such as Valentino being a thief or being taunted in prison) are cited as fact by those who take the movie too literally.
Plot
The film begins with a faux newsreel sequence, showing the chaos around film star Rudolph Valentino’s (portrayed by Rudolph Nureyev) untimely death at the age of 31. Thousands of fans mob the funeral home until order is restored, at which point the important women in Valentino's life come to mourn; each remember him via flashbacks.
First a sexy, young, movie executive and screenwriter named June Mathis (portrayed by Felicity Kendal), mourns him. She appears to suffer an unrequited love for the dead man. She then remembers his early days. In New York City, before his fame he washes dishes, is a taxi dancer, and a gigolo. Professing a love of farming, he aims to own an orange grove in California. After being robbed by mobsters, he is forced to make the move. Once in California he upsets Fatty Arbuckle (portrayed by William Hootkins) by grabbing the starlet next to him, romancing her into becoming his first wife Jean Acker (portrayed by Carol Kane). Seeing Acker's glamorous life from acting in movies, Valentino decides to give acting a shot as well.
Mathis recalls discovering him in a bit part and recommending him for a part in her next film The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse.
Back at the funeral, an excessive entrance is made by Alla Nazimova (portrayed by Leslie Caron). She proceeds to make a scene and when the photographers ask her to redo it, she obliges. Nazimova claims a relationship with Valentino and recalls working on Camille with him.
Next Natacha Rambova (portrayed by Michelle Phillips) enters and tells reporters that though they are physically separated, she and Valentino are still spiritually close. Her flashback shows her as Nazimova's lover, but she notices Valentino's star will far outweigh Nazimova's and with a social climber's move she takes advantage of his infatuation with her. On the set of The Sheik she recalls seducing Valentino with a seven veils dance in the Arabian tent set. Despite knowing he is in the midst of divorcing Acker, she insists on going to Mexico so they can marry. Once they return to the states Jesse Lasky (portrayed by Huntz Hall) refuses to bail Valentino out, and he spends a torturous night in jail. There he is taunted by the guards and prisoners about his masculinity. He is denied bathroom privileges and completely humiliated.
On the set of Monsieur Beaucaire Rambova and Sidney Olcott (portrayed by John Justin) take over directing. Two stage hands wonder if "Rambova calls the shots in bed too." They toss a pink powder puff onto Valentino's lap. Rambova insists whoever did it come forward or she and Valentino will walk off set. Valentino finishes the picture, but Rambova insists he refuse future work at Paramount until Lasky meets their demands. Lasky suspends them and they end up broke. They are approached by George Melford (portrayed by Seymour Cassel), whose name is a play on George Ullman. He offers to help them book personal appearances for Mineralava, a beauty product company. The tour is a success and with Melford's help they negotiate a good deal with Lasky.
A dramatic moment comes when Valentino reads a newspaper article that questions his manhood. Earlier in the film we have seen memories of Valentino dancing with Vaslav Nijinsky (Anthony Dowell) so as to cast doubts on Valentino's sexuality. Whatever his true sexuality, Valentino is outraged and challenges the report to a duel; which for 'legal reasons' becomes a boxing match. Rory O'Neil (Peter Vaughn) stands in for the reporter, and just happens to be a professional boxer. The boxing match becomes a ballet of sorts, and flashbacks to the dance with Nijinsky parallel the match. Valentino eventually lands a blow which wins him the fight.
However now he begins to exhibit signs of an ulcer that would perforate and kill him. Despite this O'Neil asks for a rematch, this time a drinking contest. Valentino accepts and again beats him.
Historical Inaccuracies
This film is notorious for its inaccuracies, some of which have been repeated as fact since the it opened in 1977. Valentino was a taxi dancer, though whether he was a gigolo or not has never been proven. He left New York due to the DeSaulles case, not a robbery. He hated agriculture though he had studied it in Italy. When moving to Hollywood his interest was solely acting which he had taken up in New York City.
He never insulted Fatty Arbuckle; in fact the two had been good friends and when Arbuckle was blacklisted Valentino saw to it he received some work. He had known Acker for awhile before he married her, and was madly in love with her, not after a lavish lifestyle. Mathis was not a sexy, young woman. She was plainer and older than portrayed. She also did not exhibit anything other than a platonic love for her friend. She had discovered Valentino in a bit role, but he had come to her office for an audition with led to her recommendation for Four Horsemen.
Valentino was jailed on bigamy charges; though it is unlikely his stay was as extreme as portrayed, he was deeply upset with the event. The pink powder puff event was actually a remark by a reporter for the Chicago Tribune after Valentino had ended his relationship with Rambova. He did challenge the reporter to a boxing match; however the reporter never responded and the match did not take place.
The rest of the film is almost pure fantasy. Valentino was never in a boxing match and the perforated ulcer that killed him was likely caused by stress and a refusal to see a doctor. He may have actually recovered from the ulcer, but an infection which set in after an operation to fix the ulcer finally killed him.
Reception
The film was a commercial and critical failure[3][4]. Most reviewers agreed there was 'too much sex' and sub par acting including the leads.[4][5] [6] Many felt that the historical inaccuracies did not help to portrayal of Valentino, and had not gotten past 'the legend to the man'.[7]
Russel fans were not pleased with the film and the director himself later denounced it saying, "What idiot made this?"[3] The film cost $5 million to make; his most expensive film at that date. The commercial failure almost ended his career.[3]
References
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