Rudoph Valentino

A page dedicated to a silent film star who emoted with the best of them in the sticky sweet romantic flicks of the 1920s? Yes, of course! Valentino was more than a star playing dress-up, he was an icon of the sophisticated masculinity that would save us all from the swaggering ruthless machismo of raw capitalism, fascistic nationalism, imperialism and bolschevik oppression. Alas, things didn’t quite work out that way. Valentino died at the age of 31 in 1926 and the world was tossed into two decades (and more) of madness. Just a coincidence? I think not!

Take a look at these beautiful images of Rudolph Valentino from among the many that are available on the web.

There is no record of his speaking voice, but his accent is described by Hollywood women as seductive and pleasing. There are two imperfect recordings of his baritone singing voice which can be found online. However, we do have lots of film of Valentino. Unfortunately, most of it is action in silly costume romances. This video shows Valentino in a more relaxed light.

And where goes Valentino, can Ramon Novarro be far behind? A video tribute to this other great Latin Lover of the 1920s:

Pola Negri singing, Mein Herz hat Heimweh nach deiner Liebe, (My heart is homesick for your love). Recorded in 1936, ten years after Valentino’s death, in the darkened heart of Nazi Germany. Too silly? Imagine watching your country go down the toilet of hatred and demagoguery, and imagine then thinking back on the beauties and the freedoms and the loves of your past.

Curious about plans for a Valentino Film Festival? There are people in this world who are passionate about their Rudolph Valentino, and many of them would be thrilled by such an event. Check this website. The Rudolph Valentino Film Festival.

Hala Pickford, one of the organizers of the Film Festival, also has written to announce that the film that launched Valentino’s career, the Horsemen of the Apocalypse, is now in public domain. This film was an enormous hit, and it is still fascinating to watch today. Here all of Valentino’s acting skills are on display, right at the start of his career. The film can be streamed or even downloaded at the Internet Archives.

Enjoy it!